If you followed along with the stunning outcome of our recent project (which you can review here: Recent Story Link: Alabama Road MD Project), you saw the finished results of a beautifully crafted home by RMC Builders. While most projects go off without a hitch, not every project is without its challenges.
Unforeseen structural and masonry challenges are an almost guaranteed part of working on historic homes. They require on-the-spot problem-solving and expertise—and this project was no exception.

The Challenge

Our latest challenge involved adding an expansion to a beautiful home with original construction dating back to the 1920s. The scope required integrating the new addition with the existing architecture. When we began the demolition and preparation for the tie-in, we encountered a significant structural surprise: the original exterior wall was a massive 22 inches thick of solid, load-bearing granite stone masonry.

This was no straightforward demo and framing project; this was a fortress built a century ago. The stone was beautiful, but it presented a formidable challenge.

The weight of the original stone structure and the intricate nature of marrying new structural elements (like steel beams and modern framing, as seen in the construction images) to a wall of this thickness required a precise, phased approach. Breaking through that 22 inches of dense granite to create new framed openings —including the doorways and recessed niches that would define the beautiful new spaces—was a labor of intense calculation and careful execution.

The Beautiful Result

Ultimately, the structural challenge became one of the most compelling aesthetic features of the completed space. Instead of completely concealing the historic stone, we intentionally exposed sections of the thick masonry to become a stunning accent wall in the new basement bedroom and en-suite.

The original stone now provides a dramatic, textured backdrop that tells the story of the home's long history, perfectly balancing the modern, light, and airy finishes of the new addition.

Unbeknownst to the casual observer, the structural challenges of this project are now hidden behind walls that showcase the final results; a happy customer and a beautiful project!