Historic Structure Report project is underway!

The architecture and planning firm of CRSA is working with the Salt Lake Solutions partners team to evaluate the Fisher Mansion property. Additionally, the Existing Building Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Utah (SEAU) is providing a pro bono evaluation of the property and recommended approaches for structural and seismic upgrades. CRSA and SEAU have held meetings with the core advisory group as well as with the SLC building officials. Discussion items have included code requirements for new uses of the building as well as approaches for balancing preservation objectives and life-safety issues.

The advisory group held an afternoon meeting on Wednesday September 9th, out at the Fisher Mansion site. Earlier that day, the CRSA team conducted a site visit and did some hands-on investigation in the main house to determine flooring materials and their condition, as well as the framing of the building. The advisory committee toured the home to see what was discovered during the investigations that day.

Findings

Flooring:
The flooring on the main level has been found to consist of three layers. The bottom layer is a subfloor of 1 x 6 boards laid on diagonal across the joists. On top of this rests a 1 x 4 tongue and groove subfloor of fir, which is commonly found in homes from this time period. The top layer is a hardwood floor, but is a 3/8 x 2 tongue and groove veneer, rather than a thicker ¾ x 2 that would typically be used for hardwood flooring. This indicates that some level of economy was taken in the final construction of the home.

The hardwood flooring in the southeast parlor and dining room appear to be in fairly good condition underneath the layers of carpet, padding, and linoleum tile. The linoleum tile has a masonite backing that was nailed into the floor, rather than being glued down with an adhesive, leaving the original floor in better shape. The ceramic tile floor in the west room was put down on top of a mortar bed with wire mesh, which appears to be on top of masonite board.

Framing:
The framing of the main and second levels consists of 2 x 12 joists that are spaced 16 inches on center. The upper attic level appears to consist of 2 x 8 joists, with the same spacing as the lower levels. CRSA is creating framing drawings of the building, which will inform the structural evaluation by the SEAU group.


Next Steps

CRSA will conduct another investigative site visit to gather more information on original details of the house. Specific items include:

* Checking for a date on the back of the wallpaper that currently lines the upstairs linen closet and sitting room closet.
* Estimating the height of the railing that used to enclose the balcony above the front porch.
* Conducting a paint analysis to determine the exterior color scheme.
* Cataloguing the different species of wood used in the house.
* Removing floor coverings on the east wall of the southeast parlor to look for additional evidence of a fireplace at this location. The location of the chimney on the exterior, the pattern of the wood wainscot paneling, and the patching of the picture rail in this area suggest a fireplace was once located on this wall.
* Verifying if masonite was used underneath the ceramic tile in the west room.