Day Three

Today’s main accomplishment was taking the pitched roof off of and removing the asphalt roofing that was underneath. The roof came off without any major hitches, and most of the day was spent taking the thick layers of asphalt, tar and felt roofing off the original flat roof. The pitched roof was not original to the house’s design, but was added in the 1980s, most likely to help deal with moisture issues the inhabitants were experiencing with the flat roof. Beneath the asphalt was a wooden roof deck, probably pine, which was factory-made for the original flat roof of the house. It was still in good condition for the most part, but unfortunately could not be saved and reused in the restoration.

The removal of the pitched roof returned the house to its original silhouette. This significantly changes Rusty’s appearance, and gives us a better idea of what the house would have looked like according to the General Houses’ design. It is now much closer to the initial International Style design that shows the modernist ideas behind General Houses’ plan.

Everything on the inside of the house, with the exception of the bathtub, interior walls, and insulation, has now been taken out, and although Rusty looks a little bare, it’s great to see the original layout of the house. The open plan is more apparent, and the tight layout where everything is positioned most efficiently is more visible. Looking at the exterior walls, the amount of natural light that General Houses included in its design is also clear. There are multiple windows in almost every wall, with the exception of the one that abuts the garage, allowing the maximum amount of natural light, especially in the main room.

It’s great to see Rusty returning to its original plan, and get a glimpse of what the final product might look like!