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Preserving History: How We Repaired A 100-Year-Old Prescott, AZ Home’s Foundation Problem.

 

Lifting and Leveling modern structures has become almost like a template. Except for a few circumstances, repairing a home’s foundation has become almost like a one-size-fits-all approach. This means that installing piers, foam lifting, or other methods of foundation repair has allowed for relatively quick repairs with satisfying results. But there are structures that can’t be a quick fix or even a quick plan. It started with the Antiquities Act of 1906, which set in motion other laws that protect historical buildings from either demolition or unfit. Performing foundation repairs on these buildings requires more than just a permit. When we were called by a family to do foundation work on their 100-year-old Prescott Home that’s listed in the National Registrar of Historic Places, we knew it would be more than just showing up and fixing.

 

According to the Prescott Historic District: 

All work requiring a City of Prescott permit on any building, structure, or site in a local historic district must be reviewed and approved by the Preservation Commission before work can be carried out…. The intent of these Standards is to ensure the long-term preservation of a property’s significance through the preservation of historic materials and features.

https://prescott-az.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/BLD-PropOwnersGuideHP-20230720.pdf

 

A brief History of the property is as follows:

The Hazeltine House – built in 1903, and located at 202 S. Mt. Vernon St. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1978, reference #78003233. Moses Hazeltine Sherman was a teacher, who was invited by the third Governor of Arizona Territory, Gov. Anson P. K. Safford in 1873 to organize the Territory's schools. In Prescott, he built the Prescott Free Academy, the first graded school in the Territory and the second school building in Prescott. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/9378dc21-b00f-4850-b36a-71e3df5e2d85

So What Are Historical Buildings Built Out Of?

It was common practice in the Late 1800s around Yavapai and Coconino County to utilize local sedimentary stones(Sandstones) in building structures. Many are still in use today. This is one of the many things we found fascinating about the Hazeltine House. In the basement, where most of the repairs were made, we found one of the walls still had the old stone wall from the turn of the century. This could have been recycled from a previous structure as most of the rest of the basement was built with bricks, this information was not available.

A close look at the bricks used resembles the same bricks used to build the Samuel Hill Hardware Company Warehouse which is still operating today. We found old Lath and Plaster walls still present and strong. Lath and Plaster were what proceeded modern sheetrock practices of today. There’s a reason things were once built to last. Lath and Plaster is stronger than common drywall so a foundation issue wouldn’t be apparent until a major break. Drywall will give you indications sooner because of its weaker structure.

 

After All The Red Tape Is Cut, And The Work Begins.

It wasn’t enough just to stabilize the foundation. The basement had water problems for some time, according to the homeowners. It was important to not only stabilize the building, we had to ensure that water was managed to protect the property for years. The homeowner intends to keep it a forever home and pass it down to their children.

 Working with Stone, Brick, wood beams and Lath and Plaster all in the same house is fascinating and anxiety-inducing. For the Pier installation we installed 21 Push Piers, 21 Angle Iron, and 21 Concrete R&R which means remove and restore. When lifting and stabilizing a home with old stone and Masonry, there's the possibility the mortar has deteriorated over time so proper care must be in place when attempting to lift or stabilize. Keeping an eye on the old Lath and Plaster was important to ensure bending or breaking didn’t occur.

Following the Pier installation was concrete lifting using Polylevel foam and Crack Stitching. Polylevel covered an area of 642 Square Feet and 150 feet of crack stitching.

 Lastly, we waterproofed the basement using 2,500 square feet of Cleanspace, dug a 40-foot exterior discharge line, installed 2 Triple Safe Sump Pumps, and installed 300 ft of advanced drainage system pipes. This was to ensure any water that might find its way in would be redirected and no longer cause any issues.

 

The Takeaway

            No matter the age or condition of the home, a solid foundation is the building block. Protecting and preserving your home doesn’t have to be on the level of historical preservation. In Arizona, homes qualify for historical protection if it’s over 50 years old, and is of exceptional importance. Like this home, we’ve had opportunities to repair places of historical significance including The Prescott Court House, and Santa Rita Hall in Phoenix where Cesar Chavez's 24-Day Fast for Justice in 1972 took place.

Whatever the case with the age of the home, whether it’s placed in a registrar or a generational family residence, keeping your home’s foundation protected can ensure stability not only for 100 years but for generations.