The demolition phase continues on the 14 apartment units. We expect it to take several more weeks until the last unit is completely prepared for renovation. This page will add to the information I gave you in the previous page and point out a few other details and features of the building. In the next update, I will include the beginning of the electrical and plumbing work. 
Restoration 2nd Month
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          The old plaster is brittle and breaks free from the wood lath with light taps from a crow bar. Our engineers have told us that by removing the plaster and wood lath and replacing it with sheet rock, we will be reducing the total weight of the walls and ceilings by 50%.
          The wood trim throughout the building is easily removed with wooden wedges and/or pry bars. In most cases, it has several coats of paint. All of it will be stripped, stained to what we have determined was the original color and then put back in its place.
          There are no fireplaces in the building but we do have brick flues throughout that you can see here. Each unit was originally equipped with gas stoves and gas space heaters. The exhaust from these fed into the flues that carried it up and out on the roof. Central air and heat will be installed in all apartments.
          The building has a flat roof with a slight pitch to allow for drainage. Here you can see the gradual slope in the rafters above a second floor apartment. The pigeons will have to find a new home soon.
          The hardware for the sliding pocket doors is in generally good shape. After reconditioning, we expect little if any of it will need replacing.
As was the style in 1910 when the Markeen Apartments were built, double hung windows were used with sash cords and weights to hold the window in place when open. These will all be restored.
          The outside porches will need extensive work. Originally, they were screened-in porches as seen in the left photo. Only one has survived but all will be rebuilt in this style. The wood frame seen in the right photo is all that is left from two adjoining upstairs porches. The layer you see underneath the frame is bead board that was used to form the ceiling of the porch for the units below. Most of this bead board will only require cleaning but some will need replacing.
Thanks for visiting. Please send me your comments and suggestions. Just type in the box below and hit the submit button. I'll update this site with a new page(s) of photos at least once a month to show our progress on this exciting project. Click on the "Markeen Apartments" button to see all of the new pages. Each new page will have its own button (these buttons will be colors other than yellow).
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