A light is slowly moved over top of the span to allow team members positioned on the first floor to identify any obvious gaps or natural checking in the summer beam where the light is breeching through. Additional plasticine is applied to prevent the epoxy from leaking.

The team guides and pours the epoxy into the prepared openings.

Two team members wear protective hazmat (hazardous materials) clothing. They are situated in the living room on the first floor below the pour area to promptly address leaks or drips during the pour process.

The project mason has removed the stone from an exterior wall area above the kitchen window, revealing the steel lintel. This opening is created to receive two beams which will rest on the steel lintels in place on the east and west walls of the kitchen.

The blue tarpaulin is in place over the scaffolding for weather protection, allowing the mason to continue his work through inclement weather and to protect the interior of the home.

Working from atop the scaffolding, the team hoists a beam weighing over 400 pounds, and guides it through the opening, while a team in the kitchen receives it and positions the beam into its resting place on the interior west wall.

The men maneuver the living room steel beam for an east-west placement just under the Pearl S. Buck bedroom.

Viewing the ceiling from below, one can see the beam originally placed in the room in 1937. Home movies from the Walsh family collection reveal men using chains to hoist the “thunder beam” in place.

The north-to-south running thunder beam has been abutted with an additional steel beam for further reinforcement and support of the east to west running summer beam which supports the Pearl S. Buck bedroom above.

The preparation of the epoxy mixture and installation into the cavity of the summer beam must be done correctly and within proper time limitations. The mixture (comprised of a modified epoxy resin mixed with a reaction product until the desired viscosity, pigment and accelerators are achieved) is similar in composition and color to motor oil. Once mixed the epoxy needs to be installed (poured) before the liquid hardens (within approximately 20 minutes). Working quickly but meticulously, the epoxy is mixed in a bucket, and then poured into a funneling tray to direct the epoxy into the channels of the mock beam. Another funnel like tray is placed on the other side to catch any overage and to prevent slow moving epoxy from escaping.

Because the liquid must be evenly distributed throughout the routed beam, a worker hammers the wood mock up case, to create a vibration resulting in a leveling of the epoxy liquid.

Given the full span of the massive summer beam supporting the second floor under Pearl Buck’s bedroom, bolts will also be installed to control potential expansion and support the steel plates, wood inlays, and epoxy of the W.E.R. system. During the mockup demonstration, the bolts, as well as any natural checks in the lumber that may not be evident to the eye are monitored throughout the pouring process so that any epoxy leakages are promptly eliminated. If leaks are evident, additional plasticine is applied to further seal the area.

The wood lintel is evident above the stone. The plaster layers over the stone were likely made during renovations by the Walsh family (Ms. Buck privately used Mrs. Walsh, from her husband Richard J. Walsh). Plaster walls and arches between the living room and dining room remain in place from the Walsh renovations between 1935-1938.

Our last entry explained the routing and leveling of the first floor summer beam which supports the Pearl S. Buck bedroom. The application of plasticine (grey) which will prevent the epoxy from escaping is evident in this photo. The next step is the installation of the steel plates and epoxy. Note the silver conduit is for electrical wiring which runs along the summer beam interior. A portion of a red clamp can be seen in place above the living floor and under the Pearl Buck bedroom. The clamps are in place to help prevent changes to the summer beam as a result of the W.E. R. system installation.

A closer view of the plasticine application.

The newly inserted steel beam will rest on the steel beams that are pictured here. The west beam directly over the kitchen window was added during Phase I. With the use of the east west running beam the weight of the second floor over the kitchen will now be more effectively distributed. Note: the joists are cut to accommodate the addition of the new steel beam insert. All of these modifications will be in place and covered with a new ceiling, rendering the resulting work unnoticeable and undetected by future visitors.

The team stone mason has identified this stone as argillite. Argillite is a very strong material that was most likely quarried near the home.

The removal of the ceiling and plaster wall board reveals a portion of the stone wall that has been undisturbed since the origins of the 1825 portion of the house. During tour seasons, this portion of the wall is found directly behind a Pennsylvania Dutch armoire which resides in the living room near the piano.

The rough framing for the new wall that is being built to divide the room as it once stood is now in place.

The double sided LVL (laminated veneer lumber) beam is shown with north south surfaces for each side of the new room.

Although the wall support appears to be strengthened by the framework below, the support of the wall itself is mostly carried on the east west beam ends.

A closer view of the area reveals the original floorboard color that has been hidden under the masonry. This corner fireplace was added by Miss Buck during the family occupation of the house.

This fireplace on the west wall of the Pearl S. Buck bedroom was originally the room of Mr. Richard Walsh, Miss Buck’s publisher husband. This fireplace dates to circa 1825. The absent floor board will cover the existing beam after it is reinforced for strength with a steel plate and an epoxy filling. Note that the hearth stone has been lifted and a small area has been recessed into the hearth area awaiting replacement of the treated beam.

A detail of a peg in a hand-hewn beam. Note the chisel marks of the builders from long ago, perhaps from 1825.

The flooring of the balcony room is examined. This room had many uses during the Walsh family occupation.

The balcony room floor reveals itself to be much stronger than believed. Note what appears to be a sub floor evident between the beams. Perhaps this was a sound proofing effort to protect the room occupant from the busy dining room below.

Removal of floorboards revealed planks held together solely by wooden pegs. The roman numerals etched into the wood are visible above.

A shot of the fireplace flanked by wooden supports to the second floor.

Before: The piano area during the 2009 Festival of Trees Display. After: The piano area with decorations removed and artifacts packed away to make room for the wooden supports to the Pearl S. Buck bedroom on the second floor.