PAVILION II

PROBLEMS OF REPAIR


EXTERIOR

ROOF

Main Roof
The appearance of tbe slate roof that covered Pavilion II until recently differed greatly from the original tinplate roof installed during Jefferson's time. That roof consisted of tinplate shingles, approximately 6-3/4 by 10 inches, fastened together along the vertical, 10-inch dimension using a single lock seam. The borizontal courses were lapped approximately 2 inches; no lock seams were used on the overlap. This produced a very smooth, precise appearance rather than the rough texture of slate. Similar sheet-metal roofs have recently been installed on Pavilions II, X, VII, and VI using the original Jefferson techniques.

Because of its age and lack of maintenance, the slate roof was in poor condition. There were many cracked and broken slates, and the steel edge flashing/pole gutter covering was badly rusted. Along tbe south wall, water had penetrated the edge flashing and leaked through the original wood entablature.

The sheet-metal leaders or the pole gutters at the east end of the roof were badly deteriorated with failed joints. The south leader was in especially poor condidon; the joint connecting the top section with the rest of the leader bad completely broken open, allowing water collected from all of tbe soutb half of the of to splash down the east elevation of the building.

An even more serious problem with the roof was the excessively heavy weight of the slate covering. Because the wood rafters were designed to carry only the weight of the tinplate, the heavier slate caused the framing to deflect, resulting in an obvious sway to the root which was most apparent at the ridge.

Chimneys and Access Hatch
  1. The copper flashings of the main chimney had deteriorated because the sheets of copper were too large and provisions for their expansion and contraction were not adequate. The joint where the flashing enters the chimney was heavily caulked, and some of the caulking had failed, allowing water to penetrate the joint in the masonry.
  2. Both chimneys have been repointed with Portland cement mortar, which is incompatible with the original lime mortar.
  3. The roof access hatch had been covered with slate, which is both historically inappropriate and functionally impractical because of the excessive weight of the slate on the movable hatch cover. Sheet metal was the traditional covering for roof access hatches, even when slate was used as the main roof covering.

Rear Wing Roof The flat roof over the east wing consists of 20 by 28 inch terneplate pans, which originally were painted, but are now coated with asphalt. The asphalt, which contains sulfur compounds, attacks the metal because sulfuric acid is formed when the compounds unite with water.

Asphalt has been splashed on the east wall of the main block of the house and stained the original brick.

The built-in gutters of the east wing roof are not pitched properly to the leaders, resulting in standing water in the gutters. There is also standing water in the center of the roof near the east edge caused by inadequate pitching of the roof and a low area, resulting possibly from the deflection of framing members.

PORTICO AND ENTABLATURE


The portico and entablature are generally in good condition. However, localized deterioration has occurred, often because of roof and gutter failure. Repairs are needed soon before major damage occurs to the wood architectural elements.

West Elevation

  1. There are open joints in the flush boarding of the pediment.
  2. The wood trim and sill of the pediment fanlight are deteriorated and in need of consolidation.
  3. The flashing joints of the horizontal element of the pediment have opened, and rusting has occurred.
  4. On all of the woodwork there is a heavy build-up of paint, which obscures molding profiles and detailing. In many areas the paint is alligatored, cracked, and peeling.
  5. The original marble column capitals have been attacked by atmospheric pollutants containing sulfur compounds. Sulfuric acid was formed when these compounds united with water. The acid reacted with the calcium carbonate of the marble to convert it to calcium sulfate, or gypsum. The gypsum is black in color and is unstable; it washes away, exposing fresh areas of marble to attack by the atmospheric pollutants.
  6. There is a heavy build-up of paint on the column shafts, which obscures the detailing.
  7. There is a crack in the second column capital from the north and a crack in the base of the south column. There is also a crack in the shaft of the second column from the south.
  8. There are no drip edges on the horizontal moldings of the entablatures. Drip edges are necessary to shed water away from the surfaces of the moldings so that water is less likely to penetrate behind the wood elements and cause damage to unprotected areas.

Porch, West Elevation The second floor porch needs maintenance. The porch, which is suspended from the pediment framing by iron tension rods, sways or "swims." This condition is caused by minor differential settlement of the building's masonry walls and the slight misalignment of the iron rods and supporting wood framing.

  1. The beaded-board ceiling under the porch has opened up in areas.
  2. The flashing at the west edge of the porch is seriously deteriorated. Metal flashings at both the north and south edges are badly rusted, resulting in leaks. Asphalt has been applied to these flashings, compounding the deterioration of the metal. The asphalt has also been splashed on the surface of the brick where the cap flashing is let into the wall.
  3. At the north end is a transparent plastic barrier to discourage access to the porch from the terrace level of the Rotunda. This barrier is a visual intervention that is not compatible with the original architecture of the pavilion. Moisture and debris, including leaves, are trapped behind the plastic and against the porch.

Porch, East Elevation
  1. The character of the porch on the rear extension is inappropriate for the building because it is an elaborate design that is not similar to any porches Thomas Jefferson designed at the university.
  2. Many of the wood elements of the porch are deteriorated, and many of the joints have opened. The paint is loose and flaking in places.

East Elevation
  1. There are open joints in the flush boarding of the pediment.
  2. The pediment moldings of the main block are deteriorated and in need of consolidation. The flashing joints of the horizontal element of the pediment have opened.
  3. The entablature moldings have been crudely patched with new wood at the south end.
  4. On all woodwork there is a heavy build-up of paint, which obscures the molding profiles and detailing. In many areas the paint is alligatored, cracked, and peeling.

North and South Elevations

  1. The entablature moldings are deteriorated and in need of consolidation. The roof edge flashings have failed, permitting water to penetrate through and behind the moldings, resulting in damage to the entablature.
  2. On all of the woodwork there is a heavy build-up of paint, which obscures the molding profiles and detailing. The paint is alligatored, cracked, and peeling in many areas.

MASONRY WALLS


The brick exterior walls are generally in good condition. Original mortar pointing survives in sections of the west facade that have been protected by the portico and porch. The brick walls exhibit two fundamental problems. The first is differential settlement of the walls, resulting in vertical and diagonal settlement cracks in the brickwork. Although the settlement has been relatively minor, the damage to the walls has been compounded and exacerbated by repointing with hard, Portland cement mortar. The recent Portland cement mortar is considerably harder, more rigid, and less plastic than the original lime mortar so that, as settlement continues, additional damage is done to the masonry. Also, the gray color of the Portland cement mortar does not match the white color of the original mortar, and the tooling of the repointed areas does not match the original; the Portland cement mortar has been applied with considerably less care than the old mortar, and in many cases has been smeared over the faces of the brick.

Another related problem is the weathering away of both the brick arrises and pointing mortar, leaving open joints between the bricks. The joints either remain open or have been unsatisfactorily repointed with Portland cement mortar.

The second major problem with the masonry walls is rising damp. Moisture in the ground beneath the building is drawn up through the masonry by capillary action. When this moisture, which contains salts dissolved from the soil and from the masonry through which it has passed, evaporates from the surface of the wall, some of these salts crystallize on the surface, forming a white, powdery substance called efflorescence. Efflorescence on the surface usually causes little harm to the masonry, although it can draw and hold moisture on the surface of the wall. Some of the salts, however, crystallize behind the surface, exerting pressure within the masonry units. In time, the surface of the wall will become friable, and fragments of brick and mortar will spall away.

The surfaces of the brick walls are soiled from the deposition of airborne pollutants. These contaminants, especially those containing sulfur compounds, can unite with moisture to form acids that attack the brick and mortar surfaces. Additional defacing of the masonry has been caused by the chalking of the trim paint, which has run down the wall surfaces, staining the brickwork.

The following is a listing of the masonry problems on each elevation:

West Elevation
  1. Deteriorated Portland cement mortar in lower north corner and to south of south cellar window.
  2. Paint stains on brick at south end underneath balcony.

North Elevation
  1. Deteriorated pointing and open joints above water table and below first-floor windows of main block.
  2. Efflorescence in brickwork of main block.
  3. Extensive areas of improperly pointed Portland cement mortar joints and accompanying open joints in wall of east wing.
  4. Walls of main block stained by paint runoff from entablature.
  5. Ivy on walls of east wing. The ivy attacks the lime in the mortar and traps moisture against the masonry walls.
  6. The basement wall has been parged with cement stucco and painted maroon.

East Elevation
  1. Deteriorated mortar joints in south corner, at second-floor level of main block, and over south and middle windows.
  2. Improperly pointed Portland cement mortar joints over second floor north window of the main block and much of east addition wall.
  3. Extensive areas of open mortar joints and spelled brick in east addition wall.
  4. Settlement crack under north window of east addition.

South Elevation
  1. Areas of improperly pointed Portland cement mortar in main block below water table and over much of east extension wall.
  2. Damaged brick at base of main block.
  3. Wall of main block stained by paint runoff.

Telephone Cables and Electrical Conduits
  1. Exposed telephone wires draped along the north, east, and south walls. Exposed electrical conduit on north and south walls. These are not only visual intrusions but also damage the masonry by collecting moisture against the wall.

AREAWAYS

North Elevation

  1. There is standing water in areaway, resulting in excessive moisture in north wall.
  2. Ground slopes down to brick paving. Drainage is not sufficient; the only drain is at west end of areaway.

South Elevation
  1. There is excessive moisture in areaway, resulting in damage to south wall.
  2. Drainage is not sufficient; only drain is located at west end of areaway.
  3. Areaway is littered with debris.

WINDOWS


The historic wood windows are generally sound, although there is localized decay of the wood and flaking paint. Some of the existing glazing compound is deteriorated. Most of the windows need rehanging to operate properly and to reduce excessive air penetration.

  1. Many of the exterior window shutters have deteriorated.
  2. In the north elevation, the second window from the west in the basement has a vent in one of the panes.
  3. Some of the window openings contain portable air conditioners. In the south elevation, one of the basement window sash has been removed so that an air conditioner could be installed.
  4. There are crude hardware cloth screens over the basement windows of the west elevation.

DOORS

  1. There is a heavy build-up of paint on the ground floor door (east elevation).
  2. There is a deteriorated wood screen door on the balcony doorway at the first floor of the east elevation.


INTERIOR

BASEMENT

Room B01 Stair Hall

  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete.
  2. Rising damp is causing damage along west wall at north corner.
  3. Heating pipes suspended from ceiling limit headroom.

Room B02 Northwest Room
  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete.
  2. Original fireplace opening on south wall has been filled in, resulting in major dampness problems.
  3. Surface-mounted water pipes and electrical conduits on the east and north walls limit use of room.
  4. Heating pipes suspended from ceiling limit headroom.

Room B02A Pipe Room
  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete.
  2. Heating mains for all buildings on east side of Lawn are located along the west wall.
  3. Surface-mounted rigid electrical conduit is located on ceiling.
  4. Ceiling plaster is cracked and broken in areas.
  5. South and west walls have been patched with concrete, which is incompatible with the plaster wall finishes.

Room B03 Southwest Room
  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete.
  2. Original fireplace and hearth in north wall has been rebuilt with Portland cement mortar, which is not compatible with original lime mortar. The original firebox and configuration have been altered by the reconstruction.
  3. Heating pipes along the south and east walls and rigid electrical conduit along south wall limit use of room.
  4. Radiator along south wall is leaking resulting in damage to the adjacent floor and walls.
  5. Lower sash has been removed from east window opening of south walls to permit installation of window air conditioner.

Room B03A Pipe Room
  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete.
  2. Heating mains for all buildings on east side of Lawn are located along the west wall.
  3. South and west walls have been patched with concrete and the north wall patched with concrete and steel, which are incompatible with the plaster wall finishes.

Room B04 Southeast Room

  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete.
  2. Leaking radiator is causing water damage to floor in southwest corner.
  3. Fireplace firebox has been rebuilt.

Room B05 Rear Hall
  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete, the surface of which is badly damaged.
  2. North wall is plasterboard with broken and open joints. There is a wide crack between north and east walls.
  3. Heating pipes suspended from ceiling limit headroom.

Room B06 Northeast Room
  1. Original floor has been replaced with concrete, the surface of which is damaged.
  2. Leaking radiator is causing water damage to east wall.
  3. Heating pipes and electrical conduits are suspended from ceiling.

Room B07 Bathroom
  1. Heating pipes and electrical conduit are suspended from ceiling.
  2. Water closet is deteriorated and in need of replacement.
  3. Leaking radiator is causing water damage to north wall.

FIRST FLOOR

Room 101 Entrance Hall
  1. Entrance door contains multiple pieces of hardware, many of which are no longer in use.

Room 102 Living Room
  1. There are settlement cracks between ceiling and cornice in northwest corner.
  2. There are cracks between baseboard and wall in south wall and in north wall at fireplace mass, between chair rail and wall in south wall, and in panels below windows in south wall.
  3. There are cracks in wood cornice at joints.
  4. Replaced floor boards at east end of room do not match original boards.
  5. Heating pipes are exposed along east wall.
  6. Wiring for air conditioner is surface mounted along south wall.
  7. Wood trim of center window is damaged.

Room 103 Stair Hall
  1. Moisture damage in northwest corner of ceiling has been caused by bathroom leaks.
  2. There are cracks between baseboard and wall in south and east walls, between chair rail and plaster in south and east walls, and in wood window trim behind radiator.

Room 104 Study

  1. There are cracks in cornice at joints and between cornice and walls, between baseboard and wall in north and east walls, and in wood panels below windows.
  2. Heavy paint build-up on window architraves obscures molding profiles and where cracked, permits water to damage the wood.
  3. Disused electrical junction box in ceiling is covered by metal plate.
  4. Heating pipes and rigid electrical conduit are exposed along north wall.
  5. Fireplace firebox has been at least partially rebuilt, and the brick has been painted.

Room 105 Southeast Room
  1. Ceiling beam, running east-west, has been boxed in.
  2. There is a hump in floor, running east-west, below ceiling beam.

Room 106 Kitchen
  1. Plywood cabinets and vinyl flooring are not appropriate to historic quality of building.
  2. There is deteriorated plaster on west wall at north and south ends near ceiling.
  3. Holes for electric wires have been cut through window architraves.

Room 107 Bathroom
  1. Plywood cabinets and resilient flooring are not appropriate to historic quality of building.
  2. Paint has deteriorated on west wall near ceiling.

SECOND FLOOR

Room 201 Stair Hall
  1. There are cracks in wood cornice at joints.
  2. Plaster is cracked in south wall at chimney mass.
  3. There are cracks between baseboard and plaster wall on stairway to attic.

Room 202 South Hall
  1. There is heavy paint build-up on window architraves.
  2. Stops on north window are damaged.
  3. Flooring dips at midpoint of small hallway.

Room 203 Bedchamber
  1. Cornice is cracked at joints.
  2. Heavy paint build-up on window architraves.
  3. Window trim was damaged when curtain rod hardware was removed.
  4. Disused electrical junction box in ceiling is covered with metal plate.

Room 204 Bedroom
  1. Cornice is cracked at joints.
  2. There are cracks between baseboard and wall on east, south, and west walls.
  3. Heavy paint build-up on window arch traves.
  4. Window trim near radiator is damaged.
  5. Disused electrical junction box in ceiling is covered with metal plate.
  6. Window-mounted air conditioner is located in west window of south wall.

Room 205 Bedchamber
  1. Cornice is cracked at joints.
  2. There are cracks between baseboard and wall on east and south walls and in window trim, south wall.
  3. Heavy paint build-up on window architraves.
  4. Disused electrical junction box in ceiling is covered with metal plate.
  5. Window-mounted air conditioners are located in south window of east wall and west window of south wall.
  6. Stops on windows are damaged.

Room 206 Bathroom
  1. Moisture has damaged west corner of north wall.
  2. Vinyl flooring has been damaged by radiator leak near east window.
  3. Heavy paint build-up on window arch traves.
  4. Stops on windows are damaged.
  5. There are cracks between window architraves and walls.
  6. Vinyl flooring is not appropriate to historic quality of building.

Room 207 Bathroom
  1. Heavy paint build-up on window architraves.
  2. Stops on windows are damaged.
  3. Window architrave is cracked.
  4. Vinyl flooring is not appropriate to historic quality of building.

ATTIC

  1. There is a vertical settlement crack in north face of brick chimney mass.
  2. Sills of east and west fanlights are badly deteriorated.
  3. Hatch cover over stairway is made of cardboard.
  4. Partitions running east-west are faced with fiberboard, which is inappropriate to historic quality of building.

UTILITY SYSTEMS

Electrical System

The electrical system was installed early in the twentieth century and the last significant upgrading occurred in 1953. The existing system does not appear to be adequate. All existing lighting fixtures are inappropriate for a building that is as historically and architecturally significant as Pavilion II.

HVAC System

As in most of the pavilions, the heating system consists of a circulating hot water system supplied with superheated hot water piped from a central heating plant. Exchange units are located beneath the student rooms between the pavilions to convert the superheated water to medium temperature hot water, which is then circulated through the building. Rooms are heated by cast-iron radiators. The entire system was installed earlier in this century. Generally the pipes have been installed in a way that detracts from the historic appearance of the buildings. They are especially obtrusive in the basement, where the supply mains run along the ceiling and in front of the windows. In some areas, hot-water pipes have dried out adjacent masonry walls, resulting in deterioration of the masonry, plaster wall and ceiling finishes, and wood trim. In general, all of the pavilions are vastly overheated in winter.

Plumbing System

The plumbing system was last upgraded as part of the renovations carried out in 1953. The system appears to be near the end of its useful life expectancy.

Fire Detection/Suppression Systems

There are no fire detection or suppression systems in the building.


Table of Contents
Last Modified: Saturday, 22-Nov-1997 17:08:13 EST