Standards and Guidelines 2023-0607

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 14 Residential Standards: Foundations General understanding and approach Foundations support a building with materials that contribute to the architectural look . The original foundation materials should be maintained to keep out water and repaired with methods and materials like the original . Read more about historic foundation materials, repair recommendations and foundation construction here . What is your project? Repair a foundation or masonry porch pier • Foundations should be repaired by reusing the original materials or with new materials to match the original damaged pieces. Re-pointing should be done with a mortar that is of similar strength and patterning as the original . • Repair of mortar joints should replicate the original rake (look), depth and color as the original. • Correction of leaning masonry porch piers that are otherwise sound should be considered for mud-jacking or other similar correction measures rather than demolition and reconstruction . Remove an original element such as a coal chute, basement windows or exterior entrances • Original basement windows should be retained and repaired . • Security measures should be installed on the interior of the basement opening leaving the original windows in place . • Glass block infill can be considered when the existing basement windows and coal chutes are beyond repair or security is a paramount concern. Glass block infill should be set back to the same depth as the original and be screened with landscaping . Replace an entirely failed foundation • Replacement of a failed foundation should be done in a manner that preserves the look of the original building proportions including height from grade to sill . • The new foundation should match the original in materials, texture, color, and mortar joint details . • The material of the foundation below grade should be of quality materials to ensure the stability of the house but do not need to match the original . • The original grade should be maintained while facilitating adequate drainage away from the structure . Foundations Administratively Approvable Replacement of a foundation matching the original in all as- pects outlined in the Standards. Administratively Approvable Installing security measures on the inside of the basement leaving the original elements installed. Administratively Approvable Repair with salvaged materials from the existing foundation or with new materials and mortar to match in color, texture, and detailing as well as mud jacking of porch piers.