The first 9 months have been Awesome. After wrangling with the previous owner not Helen for 3 months on the counter to the counter offer we finally closed and moved in 3 weeks after closing. A strong cleaning of the interior space, installation of appliances, newer counter depth stainless sub-zero placed in correct location in workspace, new convection oven and front load washer. Part of our move also included the sell off of upwards of 30 pcs. of original Mission style furniture. We were lucky and were able to part with 28 pieces to one dealer. Additionally we secured the 4 original tables 2 sets of blueprints and several of the cast molds(needed for block fabrication)
Technically the McCartney project/undoing of the previous owner did not begin until I was able put the finishing touches on the bungalow that we were living in and had found wonderful tenants.
All little background of my association with McCartney house is as follows. Delivered newspapers to Ward and Helen in the 70's, worked on the exterior for Ward during summers home from college, continued to help Helen after Ward had passed. We were offered the house in the late 90's but Helen's asking price was to much. Fast forward to one year ago we stumbled upon the forsale sign and after 2 months of negotiations we were able to secure a loan.
Some of the past 9 months of work.
1. plantings, trees, shrubs all removed. They were donated and or composted.
2. pea-stone walk, landscape edge gone!
3. red dyed mulch landscaping gone.
4. treated 4x6 edging gone.
5. cheap steel edging gone.
6. 28" Birch tree at n.w. corner cut and split to be burned in tulikivi. Tree killed by previous owner. His crew buried from the base approx. 48" of soil which is a no-no and killed the beauty. It will provide 2 winters of heat.
7. 900 retaining block (Lowe's cheap-o's) were removed from the west wing and were donated to Acme tree service and Gerome in plainwell for raised bed planters. Gone.
8. 12" thick red dyed concrete patio that was installed along west wing? approx. 50 tons was removed. Partially re-used as dripline drainage and the balance transported to the concrete crusher. Gone!
9. Faux drainage boxes in concrete slab removed.
10. Concrete steps to upper concrete slaps. Gone!
11. Upper concrete slaps hammered into manageable pieces and off to conc. crusher. Gone?
12. Water fall / fountain. donated...Gone!
13. Rear west hill area was excavated to match site plan page 1, final grading and low grow fescue to be planted in spring 2013.
14. Entire edge of building footprint was excavated down and soil removed that was up against hand cast usonian block walls. A Cor-Ten 3" x 3/16" thick steel edge offset was installed with welded in place mitered corners and re-rod stakes welded in place for alignment. A erosion mat material was placed in trench and 1" crushed stone lines the top. Very clean looking and 100% dripline drainage protection. A must see.
15. Mr. Slim A.C. Mitsubishi Ductless unit was removed from west wall and interior east soffit in main living area. Removed. Un-certain to be re-installed. Made it thru 100 degree temps. this past summer.
16. Additional faux landscape lights, water fountain at entry all donated.
17. Original (incomplete) sets of plans were preserved in a Cypress hand made picture frame with a UV protected copy of the Sheet #1 placed on the front of the preserved front face of the plans.
18. Work on Bathroom #1 restore all in-kind: original tub removed (restored in 80's) and replaced, new 4" plain simple tile walls, new shower valve, new frameless shower doors.
19. In-floor heat below the tub area in bathroom #1 was exposed from original bulld-out and was discovered when original tub was removed. In-floor heat is 100% perfect, impeccable.
20. Interior work thru the winter; shelves in bedrooms per the plans will be fabricated and installed. Rewire all existing lights, receptacles, and provide proper loading to circuits, grounded receptacles and GfCI's. Analysis of all the zones / loops in the in-floor heat system, label, and review for proper zoning / thermostats of bedrooms and bathroom.
21. A Tulikivi was installed in front of the existing (inefficient) fireplace opening. Some people may frown on this but there were zero alterations to the existing structure. We see it as an additional mid-century "object" that has square clean flat lines. If burned twice a day (1-2 hrs) will provide 50% - 75% of our heat and possible install a water jacket to loop into the floors and or heat the domestic supply.
22. 2013 projects, 1. Main work space: upper roof, skylights, electrical, insulate, drainage restore. Ward and son Biff added an additional block to workspace to raise the height of the boiler flue that kept blowing out on windy days back in the 50's and 60's. That may be removed along with bubble skylights, pvc venting & excessively tall chimney flues. The roof was altered back in the 70's so water would to the perimeter. This has contributed to the water flowing down the face of the block (freeze / thaw). Boiler will be removed and replaced and hung in the boiler area were the water heater was designed to be hung. Water heater will be removed and the domestic supply will be achieved by the boiler and a heat exchanger. If time is permitted hand casting of blocks or contracted to local block plant for wall rebuilding and or selective block removal and replacement. All NP1 that was placed in the block joints will be meticulously removed by hand and a color correct duct pointing of the joint will be installed vs. elastomeric's that promote the standing water and deterioration of the block.
Much more than what is listed above has been completed and planned. Hoping that the 2013 FLLW Meeting in GR will include a day trip to Parkwyn Village to view completed work and see work in process.
More updates and photo's to follow.
Preserving the McCartney house for it's next 63 years!
J.Meyers
McCartney Restoration - Parkwyn Village, Kalamazoo, Michigan
McCartney Restoration - Parkwyn Village, Kalamazoo, Michigan
McCartney - Meyers
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Paul Ringstrom
- Posts: 4777
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2005 4:53 pm
- Location: Mason City, IA
Nice work, John ! Wrighters look forward to seeing the site and congratulating the earnest new homeowner, I'm sure.
Wright meets (Twentieth-century) reality at the hearth, presumably. Perhaps some day a return to wood-burning FP along with (solar-powered ?) slab heat will make "having one's cake and eating it too" possible ? In the meantime, whatever keeps This Old House functioning and cozy must be All Right By Us !
(Wright Chatters will distinguish between J Meyers and our young Jeff Myers by the respective spellings of their names . . .no doubt.)
I wonder if, John, you could regress to your paper-boy days and recount for us the first (and second, and third, etc) viewings of this house, and the conversations you had with its owner ? What was that progress like, for you ?
SDR
Wright meets (Twentieth-century) reality at the hearth, presumably. Perhaps some day a return to wood-burning FP along with (solar-powered ?) slab heat will make "having one's cake and eating it too" possible ? In the meantime, whatever keeps This Old House functioning and cozy must be All Right By Us !
(Wright Chatters will distinguish between J Meyers and our young Jeff Myers by the respective spellings of their names . . .no doubt.)
I wonder if, John, you could regress to your paper-boy days and recount for us the first (and second, and third, etc) viewings of this house, and the conversations you had with its owner ? What was that progress like, for you ?
SDR
Last edited by SDR on Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
block sizing
Block sizing is 12" x 16". Glass? specification readsRoderick Grant wrote:What I would like to know about McCartney is the construction of the perf blocks. It looks like the glass extends to the top edge of the block, so that there is no 'block' for about 10". Are the blocks 12"x16"?
PLASTIC INSERTS
provide and set plastic insert pieces in all interior perforated block perforations, - over all openings in piers, walls, etc. Not covered by sash. Plastic inserts shall be cut from "plexiglass" (or equal) of color selected by the Architect ( submit samples) (1/8" thick) they shall accurately fit openings they cover, and shall be set sufficiently tight to remain in place but loosely enough to allow removal if necessary, where inserts do not have to be removable ( to gain access to lamp bulbs, etc) they shall be neatly caulked in place (A.C. Horn "Vulcatex" or equal)
McCartney - Meyers
Re: Pictures
"Not sure how to post pictures? I have been taking photos with my iPhone as often as I remember"
To post pictures they must be hosted somewhere, like Flicker or Imageshack. Then there is a way to place the image address between img markers that make the photos appear in posts. I have found this both really easy and very difficult. I never quite know what I've done wrong.
As an alternative, our member sdr has graciously posted photos sent to him by using his own image hosting site. His email address is at the bottom of his posts available by clicking the little box.
To post pictures they must be hosted somewhere, like Flicker or Imageshack. Then there is a way to place the image address between img markers that make the photos appear in posts. I have found this both really easy and very difficult. I never quite know what I've done wrong.
As an alternative, our member sdr has graciously posted photos sent to him by using his own image hosting site. His email address is at the bottom of his posts available by clicking the little box.
Tulikivi Press Release.
We are hopeful that the Wright Community will support our vision.
http://www.tulikivi.com/usa-can/news/Th ... tney_House
http://www.tulikivi.com/usa-can/news/Th ... tney_House
McCartney - Meyers
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allwrightythen1
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 11:42 am
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outside in
- Posts: 1338
- Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:02 pm
- Location: chicago
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outside in
- Posts: 1338
- Joined: Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:02 pm
- Location: chicago