2025 Foundation Repair Projects
The Cohen Bray House foundation is made of brick and was built in 1882. The kitchen foundation and under the expanded kitchen porch was replaced in 1992.
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Our mission is to continue to repair or replace the bad sections of the whole foundation. Luckily, with help from our members and a bequeathment, we raised the funding and have almost completed the repairs in two very bad sections: 3 (still need to repoint the bricks) and 3a (see below) in the failing original brick foundation.
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We need your help to raise the additional funding for the repair of 3c -under the craftsman rooms. and then under the sun porch.
The blue line in 3a shows was proposed, but as we took out the brick we realized that we needed to go under the library and the pocket door, the framing and mud sill had slipped, and needed to be replaced. See photos below.
Foundation Project in Process
Next steps- 3C- from
N to E. with your help.
Architect Kirk Peterson and Engineer Gene St. Ong designed the plans for the permits. We have hired Connor Daly Construction to do the work which began June 16 and is continuing.
Section 3a - Before
Section 3a - our biggest concern
This is where the sewer pipe comes down from the second story bathroom to the ground level. For 40 years the connection to the street lateral pipe was leaking. This has caused the soil to collapse and the mud sill and bricks to move. The pipe had been fixed but the damage has been done. The weight of the building has caused almost a 3" subsidence. We have researched leveling the building up 3" and learned that that process will damage the plaster and the historic wallpapers and possibly pop out the windows. This will not comply with our mission to do no harm. Therefore, we replaced the failing wood and bricks with cement to re-support the building as it is, in place.
The bricks from the foundation are being reused to cover the concrete and to line the paths in the garden.
Here is our foreman Saul, tamping the wet concrete down around the sewer line which corrects the main cause of the foundation failure in this location.
Section 3a Foundation is completed.
This part of the foundation project has cost us $53,220.00. The funding is from the trust of Mary Israel and through memberships and donations. Thank-you all.
Section 3 - Before
In March 2025 we replaced the 40-year- old jacks under the laundry room (indicated as #3 on the plan) with wood framing, drilled the sill plate and inserted a threaded rod which is epoxied in place. The mud sill on the right was water-damaged and had to be replaced.
Section 3 - During
Below is the not quite completed "during" picture.
The 6"X 6" corner support was repaired with the exact piece (found on the floor) that had been cut out 40 years ago! Yes, the epoxied bolts have been tightened and inspected.
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Next in this location, we need to replace the crumbling bricks and repoint with lime-based mortar here and the nearby chimney base under the kitchen and dining room. (Est. $9K)
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3b
3a
Cut bricks will be added along here.
Next steps
We need to continue the foundation sections under the Craftsman room, the sunporch, restroom and under the breakfast room. Please donate now, if you can help us continue with this project.
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Mark is cutting the original bricks in half. We will use them to hide the concrete in the completed areas. 3a
The front of the house will look as it always has as required by our historical status.
