Engineering Investigation and Restoration of Exterior
Walls and Roofs of Old Post Office Building
(1884 Truro Federal Building) 695 Prince Street, Truro, Nova Scotia
Owner and Client: Town of Truro, Truro, Nova Scotia
01. Front (South) elevation of the Old Post Office Building (Truro Federal Building). Photograph taken while building was occupied as a school and prior to the Cowie restoration construction of the main three-storey building.
02. South and West elevations. The photograph was taken while the building was occupied as a school and prior to the Cowie restoration construction of the main three-storey building.
03. Plaque describing history of the building. Prior to the Cowie restoration, a band of sandstone between the first and second floors on the front elevation was covered with stucco.
04. Stone arch window opening of the third floor and upper portion of South gable end of the building. The brickwork was cracked and bulged, and the stone arch was spreading.
05. View along the South (front) gable wall. Shows the wall bulged outward.
06. Top portion of the South gable wall with diamond pointed cut sandstone units.
07. East elevation of the building prior to the Cowie restoration while the building was occupied as a school.
08. Example of past repair efforts to resolve roof water leaks. Photo of copper sheet roofing and slate.
09. Northeast corner of the North annex to the main three-storey building. The building was occupied as a school.
10. Back (North) elevation of the main three-storey building prior to the Cowie restoration. The building was occupied as a school.
11. Job sign at the commencement of the restoration construction. At the commencement of the restoration construction, the building was occupied as a school.
12. Access scaffolding extending across the front (South) elevation and along the East and West elevations of the main three-storey building.
13. Outer wythe of brickwork removed around the third floor central stone masonry arch window of the South gable wall.
14. Installed reinforcing steel for construction of the reinforced concrete wall beam to prevent further spreading of the arch and the outward bulging of the South gable wall.
15. Reinforced concrete wall beam surrounding the South gable central arch.
16. Reconstruction of the masonry wall of the South gable above the third floor central arch window.
17. Reinstallation of diamond pointed cut sandstone units with reinforced concrete block masonry back-up wall at the top portion of the South gable wall.
18. Third floor and attic portion of the West gable wall. The brickwork was cracked and bulged and the sandstone capstones were shifted.
19. Sandstone capstones removed revealing deteriorated clay brick masonry wall construction.
20. Additional capstones removed from the West gable wall revealing deteriorated clay brick masonry construction.
21. Outer wythe of brickwork of West gable removed revealing the deteriorated condition of the remaining brickwork construction. West gable wall above the third floor.
22. Outer wythe of brickwork removed from West gable wall above third floor. Lime/sand mortar had lost all bond strength, and brickwork had lost all structural integrity. Numerous bricks deteriorated from freeze-thaw action.
23. Example of extensive wood rot within the roof framing in the valley area at the bearing wall support.
24: Rebuilt timber framed construction shown in photo 23.
25. Reconstruction of the roof soffit at the third floor area of the South elevation.
26. Reconstructed third-floor knee wall and roof framing.
27. East and North elevations of the North annex to the main three-storey building while the building was occupied as a school. Viewing Southwest.
28. Existing masonry wall construction along East wall of North annex (see photo 27). Lime\/sand mortar had lost all bond strength - bricks had shifted, and clay bricks could be easily removed by hand.
29. Outer wythes of clay bricks removed from East & North elevation of North annex. Brickwork was extensively deteriorated, and timber roof construction rotten. Original timber roof sloped down from East to West.
30. North elevation at Northeast corner of North annex. Shows original (1884) roof sloping down from East to West.
31. Wood rot within original (1884) timber roof construction (see photo 30).
32. Deteriorated brickwork throughout the North wall of the North annex. Shows the original timber lintel above the window opening.
33. Deteriorated brickwork in Northwest corner of North annex. Inner wythes of brickwork were in advanced state of deterioration and beyond repair. Outer wythes of brickwork were installed during the 1950's.
34. South & East elevations of main 3-storey building with original masonry walls & roofs of 1884 North annex replaced with new steel-framed construction (Jan.2002). Building vacant, but to be re-occupied by school upon completion of restoration.
35. North & West elevations of the main building, w. North annex ext. walls demolished. New steel-framed construction w. a flat roof covered remaining timber roof of North annex - to remain in place if school re-occupied building.
36. North & East elevations of brick masonry chimney. Extended in height, as revealed by colours of brickwork, it was cracked throughout and the mortar was in advanced deterioration from exfiltration of chimney flue gases. Chimney had no liner.
37. Section of original (1884) chimney construction and ease in which bricks were removed. Deterioration was beyond repair & chimney was demolished and replaced with brick masonry chimney w. insulated stainless steel flue.
38. New brick masonry construction with 10-inch diameter insulated stainless steel flue.
39. Reinforced concrete chimney cap on the brick masonry chimney. Shows the insulated stainless steel flue extending through the chimney cap.
40. New chimney construction.
41. Central North\/South sloped roof w. new sheet copper cap & flashings installed on roof edge. Original slate shingles removed, roof deck restored & covered w. waterproofing membrane and ready for instalation of new slate shingles.
42. Example of installation of new slate shingles.
43. Original North elevation louvre to vent attic. The wood had deteriorated beyond economical repair.
44. New wood louvre made to match the existing wood louvre shown in photo 43.
45. New sheet copper caps, sheet copper flashings & new slate shingles. New copper work and slate shingles installed by Heather & Little Ltd. of Toronto.
46. New slate shingles & new copper caps and flashings.
47. Top of East gable at intersection w. East/West roof ridge w. new sheet copper caps and flashings.
48. New sheet copper on walls and roof of the dormer and new slate shingles.
49. Example of new copper gutter, new slate shingles & new electric heat tracing.
50. New copper gutter showing installation of copper mesh screening to prevent the entry of leaves, etc.
51. New wood fascia & new copper gutters.
52. Example of underside of vented soffit (see photo 51).
53. East & North
54. Typical example of large notches cut in the timber floor joists to permit installation of heating pipes.
55. Shows the installation of a new steel shelf angle for support of the restored timber floor joists.
56. Example of strengthened timber floor construction supported along exterior wall by new steel shelf angles anchored to the new continuous reinforced concrete spandrel beam.