Section 3- is reframed but bricks need repointing.
3c
3b
3a
Cut bricks will be added along here.
Next steps
We need to continue the foundation sections under the sunporch, restroom and under the breakfast room. Please donate now, if you can help us continue with this project.
3
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.
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 completed the repairs in two very bad sections: 3 (still need to repoint the bricks) and 3a and 3c (see below) in the failing original brick foundation.
We need your help to raise the additional funding for the repair of 3b -under the rest of the sun porch. We need to rebuild those walls and windows, repair the sliding glass door and upgrade the restroom for ADA in 2026. We are on a roll and need your help.
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.
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)
We were able to get both corners of the craftsman room and sunporch level.
This is the "newer 1907" addition, It is only one story tall and finished in redwood paneling, not lath and plaster which might have cracked off. Leveling allowed us to fix the window and wall in the sunroom porch.
John discovered that the mud sill and corner post were rotten and were not holding up the roof. The windows and exterior decorative stick work were being squeezed out. He fixed the post and was able to repair the wall and the stick work without taking it all apart. Amazing!
— Name, Title
John reframed the wall to strengthen it and prepare it to reinstall the windows.
Mark was able to finish part of the windows just in time for our Tea and Tour. He replaced the plywood with bead board under the windows and hopefully the sidelight windows that were badly damaged will be up soon.
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.
