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HomeMy WebLinkAbout154 Center St Unit 1,2,3,4 Building Code Consultant Report 02.27.2006T. CIFRINO and Associates Building Code Consulting York, Me. To whom it may concern: 2-27-06 An examination of the building and cottages at 154 Center St. in Yarmouthport reveal two small buildings of fairly similar age (approximately 1920-1940) and a vintage 1850 main building. COTTAGES The exterior walls of the cottages were studded with 2x4s which were of actual measurement (actual 2 inch by actual 4 inch instead of 1.5 inch by 3.5 inch). These studs are 2' on center in most areas and in other areas 3' on center. The windows had no jacks or headers, and the doors had one stud on each side. The exterior sheathing is composed of three quarter inch lx8 and 1x10 lumber. The exterior boarding is virticle. The windows are single pane glass 8 over 8 and were fabricated on site. The age of the windows are from the 1950s or earlier. This can be determined by the old cast iron hardware locks which can not be purchased today and the fact that several of the panes are the slightly distorted glass which easily pre- dates 1940. The floor systems are 2x4s 16" on center with three quarters inch 1x8 spruce boards sheathing. It should be noted that the 1951 Yarmouth local building code called for floor joists to be a minimum of 2x6s. This would also support the supposition that the cottages dated before 1951. The roof rafters are 2x4s and 3x4s 2' on center and the ridges are 1 x8s. This type of construction is typical of construction before codes as well. Most convincingly though, the buildings are designed as cottages. This is the opinion of the Yarmouth Assessor and I share that. There are no old barn door openings covered over, no chicken doors, no pen petitioning covered over and no other indicators of any other use other than single family. The assessors state on their earliest records that the age of the buildings predate 1940. If this is a fact, then the original 1940 uses were as residential single family uses, not accessory buildings. MAIN BUILDING The main building which is a two family home was constructed in the mid 1800s. The joists are irregular shaped by hand made members, many still with bark on them. The exterior sheathing is three quarter inch vertical 1 x l Os and 1 x 12s, and the windows have all distorted glass. Unit # 1 is the original home, and has this older construction type. Unit #2 is the left side wing of the house and most likely was added near the turn of the century with heat supplied around 1940. There is no crawl space or basement like Unit # 1, and the building sag is obvious like unit # 1. The demising wall between the two units is nominal 2x4s 2 feet on center with single top plates and vertical irregular I x 10 sheathing. The main front entry is into a small concrete slab 6x6 room which allows entry to either of two doors to each of the two units. These entry doors are turn of the century constructed doors of solid fir with old cast iron hinges and two inches thick. The kitchen construction are "made on site" pine shelving rather than pre- fabricated cabinets. The plumbing is old cast iron pipes and the sinks are the deep cast iron sinks with the front cast facing, the age of which is turn of the century. It is my professional opinion that the building age is pre-1900, and the two kitchens are vintage 1940. The front right corner of the building is a room that houses the two heating furnaces. This room is accessed from outside only. The units are gas forced hot water units vintage 1970, but the old oil lines are still visible and the hot water lines to both apartments are the old 1 inch copper lines painted white. When the oil furnaces were removed, the copper lines and cast iron slant fin baseboards heaters were kept. The old slantfin units are vintage 1940 which is consistent with the age of the lines. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to call. Tom Cifrino 1-207-641-7101 STATEMENT 3-1-06 MY NAME IS THOMAS MARCELLO. I AM A LICENSED DEP SOIL EVALUATOR FROM BARNSTABLE. I LOOKED AT THE CESSPOOLS AT 154 CENTER ST. IN YARMOUTHPORT AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING. THE CESSPOOLS WERE BUILT WITH LOOSELY STACKED BLOCKS OF DIFFERENT SIZES BUT SIMILAR SHAPES. NO CEMENT WAS USED EXCEPT THAT THE COVERS WERE POURED IN PLACE APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES THICK. THE PIPES ENTERING THE CESSPOOLS FROM THE DWELLING UNITS ARE CAST IRON WITHOUT ANY "TS". THE WALLS WERE ROUNDED BLOCK WITH A CAVITY DIAMETER OF APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET. THE DEPTH IS ABOUT 6 FEET HOWEVER THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CESSPOOLS WERE FILLED WITH SOIL YEARS AGO. WHILE CESSPOOLS WERE INSTALLED UP TO THE EARLY 1960S IN MASSACHUSETTS, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THESE CESSPOOLS WERE MUCH OLDER BASED ON THE CONDITION OF THE BLOCK AND THE FACT THAT THE COVERS WERE POURED ON SITE INSTEAD OF PRE CAST AS MOST WERE IN THE EARLY 1960S. IT IS MY BEST GUESS THAT THESE CESSPOOLS WERE INSTALLED IN THE 1940S OR EARLIER. THOMAS MARCELLO BARNSTABLE SOLMONTE PLUMBING AND HEATING Serving the South Shore and the Cape Yarmouth, Massachusetts To whom it may concern: 2-26-06 I am familiar with the property at 154 Center St and have done plumbing work on the main building and the cottages there. The cottages have full bathrooms that were plumbed with old cast iron drain lines leading to the old cesspools which have been discontinued but are still on site. The lines up to the title V upgrade lines of two years ago are very old and are the original lines. The plumbing vents are old 2" galvanized pipes that go up the outside of the buildings instead of through the building. This diameter pipe venting toilet fixtures is a pre 1950 method and clearly before plumbing codes were used on the cape. Since 1950 uniformed plumbing methods mandated 3--4 inch diameter vent stacks and the exterior location outside the building was not done anymore. Cast iron vents were still used but they went through the roof instead. In summery. It is my opinion that the cottage plumbing is pre-1950 in age. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to call. Robert Solmonte 508-221-5798 r, v`-,�'-�.&� - i '.`F� v" y,�y, �f� y�+ar � t � r � ,t � �.s a�; ''�rwry�7`;��i ) r•:r t sr 'ors I � � i i ' S r ''► P fo o z15� a raj � � ; Si� i �'✓ ��. �+.- -. �� - 4 AM t"'i<ir..al �r�. ... .. .f.' : - ✓'rat i J � r 4 t n 3r ' ;i 5l Y � i i. -f �.} 16• t `••� F � � F � t M 5 lY I �Yl� i1�gy�yf(+rF�Y % a f • a Vr'i i.,�ilio�4� .