Victorian restoration / Orinda, CA
1889 Victorian home restoration
Historic restoration of an 1889 two-story Victorian home requiring a whole-house lift to replace failing unreinforced brick footings with an engineered concrete foundation. Wake Construction restored the curved wrap-around porch back to 1889 period specifications, updated mechanical systems, and built custom stucco fencing.
- Project
- 06 of 18
- Category
- Victorian restoration
- Location
- Orinda, CA
- Scope highlights
- 6
- Photographs
- 26
Before and after
Drag the slider to compare before and after
Compare the property before work began with the finished build crafted by Wake Construction.
Project story
What the home needed, and how we built it
What the property needed
Failing 1889 brick pier foundation, rotted porch framing, deteriorated exterior fish-scale siding, and dated interior electrical and plumbing systems.
How Wake Construction built it
Elevated the two-story home on steel I-beams and timber cribbing, excavated failing brick piers, poured a reinforced concrete perimeter foundation, hand-milled curved porch handrails and turned balusters, and rebuilt interior kitchen and bathrooms.
Scope of work delivered
6 items- 01Whole-house hydraulic lift
- 02Reinforced perimeter concrete foundation
- 03Curved 1889 period porch restoration
- 04Fish-scale gable shingle repair
- 05Complete rewiring and replumbing
- 06Custom stucco fence and redwood gates
Project photographs
The job in construction order
From the site as we found it, through framing and structure, to the finished rooms.
During construction
23 photographs
In ProgressConstruction under wayWhole house elevated on steel I-beams during brick foundation removal 
In ProgressConstruction under wayExcavation beneath raised home for reinforced concrete perimeter footing 
In ProgressConstruction under wayRebuilding structural floor joists and subflooring over new foundation 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship 
In ProgressConstruction under way1889 Victorian home restoration: construction progress and structural craftsmanship
Completed work
1 photograph
CompletedCrafted by Wake ConstructionCustom stucco perimeter wall and heavy-plank redwood gates with clavos
From the client
What Larry & Linda Scott said about the project
"Living out of the area we were skeptical about a major renovation performed on our 1889 Victorian home. We contacted Wake Construction and were very comfortable from the first phone call. The communication and explanation of the scope of work to be performed were excellent throughout the project. Not seeing the house for several weeks prior to completion, WOW, our 1889 Victorian home turned out beautiful and we want to share it with everyone."
More projects
Explore all 18 projectsTalk with Gary Wake
Planning something similar?
Tell us about the house and what it needs. We explain the scope of work in plain terms and put it in a detailed written contract. We respond within 2 business days.