New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects: A Tin-Roof Restoration

Architect Cindy Urban begins the project

This must be what Beiruit was like, commented the owner

The completed project

The appeal of a New Mexico tin-roofed residence and proximity to downtown drew a former Santa Fe resident to thoughts of creating a contemporary home within the requirements of Santa Fe's preservation ordinances for this historically significant home. He discussed the purchase of the home with his wife and she agreed that it was a great project for HIM. Though experienced in remodeling and building homes from scratch, the owner relied on local architect Cindy Urban to offer a wide range of possibilities and to work within the ordinance process.

Newspaper clippings found in the attic revealed the house had been built in 1902. Discussions with the former owner, an 84-year-old woman who had been born and had lived in this home her whole life, provided a history of transformations of the house during periods of economic boom and hardship for generations of the original family. A letter from the seller documenting the walling-in of the original door, allowed for the restoration of the doorway. Careful research into materials proved screened porches were added in the 1950's, allowing, under the ordinances, for the restoration of a portal and the opening of the house to additional light.

Commenting on the price of the renovation, the owner stated the renovation of the home is approximately 150% of the purchase price - you must be willing to survive the unexpected and be willing to accept the expense. Before purchasing the home, a structural engineer was hired to assess damage over the years. The crawlspace under the home revealed the foundation and the floors were in excellent condition: floors in the sitting room are made of red oak, the library of white oak and the kitchen floor is pine. All hard wood floors could be refinished. On the other hand, the engineer found that the small dip in the roof was not just a broken tress - all the trusses were either cracked or damaged. Wiring and plumbing had to be completely redone. And since everything else was being redone, it made sense to replace the roof. According to the owner, you have to have time and a refusal to panic, and you must have a contractor you can have confidence in: someone you are comfortable working with, who has done similar work in the past, and who has a good working relationship with professional and talented subcontractors.

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Opening a narrow entrance

Working on a restoration requires a leap of faith and an eye for what is possible and what should be saved. The owner was delighted that the house had no vigas. All the ceilings could be raised from 8 ft to 11 ft, the original height, except in the library. The higher ceilings provided a sense of volume while preserving the more precise and intimate spaces of a historic residence. The entrance room was opened even higher giving the narrow space, complete with high window and santos, a sense of reverence.

A vaulting sense of space

The spaces carefully combine the original and the new - sometimes in a seamless blending of elements, and at other times in a fun-loving deviation from traditional.

New materials in the bath provide a traditional look

A playful jungle painted on the dining room walls

refashioning the door into a two section window

Working within the ordinance requirements can be both frustrating and creatively challenging. The owner still questions why a boiler in a rock-walled basement had to be relocated to meet contemporary heath and safety requirements. The requirement that the appearance of doors and windows be maintained meant that an outside door had to be retained in the bathroom. The solution involved refashioning the door into a two section window (see bath picture above), an using an outside planter and balcony to block the outside.

Architect Cindy Urban applauds the owner's great care in researching the history of the building and attempting to accurately restore it as well as the seller's willingness to help in the process. Ms. Urban also wishes to note the efforts of the contractor, John Glenzinski, JP Construction, and the crew who took great care not to disturb details that were not being repaired, making their work more difficult but resulting in a project that all involved could be proud of.