Hatchett Design/Remodel Featured Project

An old weathered farm house, sitting on the water in Mathews was in dire need of an exterior update. The homeowners are seasoned farmers and were looking to keep the charm of the older home as well as having it as maintenance free as possible. The home called for new siding, trim, roof and repairs on the front porch. Along with this exterior project, the homeowner turned a screened porch into a year-round porch.

The year-round porch, French doors with a portico and twin brick steps was added to the east side of the house, an extended wrap around porch off the front was added on the west side of the house, and the front porch and ceiling were replaced. The porch decking material used was a tongue and grooved product called IPE (a very hard, dense wood that comes from South America) which resists insects and weathering very well and is well known for its durability and longevity. The IPE once installed, was stained to maintain its rich natural beauty.

A couple of difficulties encountered and overcome during the project were to reuse original wood columns from the front porch and incorporate them in the new entrance from the kitchen to the year-round room. The homeowners were pleased that this was accomplished and the columns were salvaged. Another obstacle was the installation of the rubberized slate shingles on the roof. This type of shingle was requested for several reasons. The homeowners wanted to preserve the integrity of the look of their home at a fraction of the cost. They are also excellent for withstanding insects, fire resistant as well as a great insulation for the home. Lastly, they are a recycled product that is environmentally green. Each shingle is required to be "worked or flexed" to allow the installers to get the best lay and fit for the shingles. This was very tedious and time consuming.

To provide the homeowners with a near maintenance free exterior, new hurricane rated vinyl siding was installed along with wrapping all exposed wood trim with aluminum coil stock. Now, very little has to be maintained on the exterior except for a gently power washing every few years.

The tired, deteriorating exterior of this beautiful farm house was given new vitality and rejuvenation the home. With the homeowners having a working blueberry farm and many visitors from all over Virginia, the renovation has given them a new sense of pride and joy in fulfilling their dream of bringing their vintage home back to its respectful and well deserved presence in the community.

---

Featured Project Gallery