Doc #4 Parsons House Kris Thomson Narrative for work on basements
362 Kennedy Rd.
Leeds, MA 01053
(413) 695-6487
Historic Northampton
46 Bridge St.
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 584-6011
3 September 2014
Narrative: Parsons House
Kris Thomson has over fifteen years of experience working in the restoration of historically
important homes and regional vernacular architecture, including timber framing. In light of this
experience, Kris Thomson Carpentry was approached by Historic Northampton’s Nancy Rexford to
evaluate termite damage to the Parsons House, as well as a widening gap between the ceiling and
the sidewall in rooms 208 and 209. Due to the importance and historic value of the Parsons House,
Kris consulted a career timber framer and early timber framing expert with a broad base of
preservation experience, Alicia Spence of the Timber Framers Guild.
While investigating the separation of the wall from the rest of the structure, Kris and Alicia noted
that the roof structure of the Parsons House appears sound and stable, with visibly sound framing
evident in the attic. They recognized that the structural problems leading to the wall separation are
not coming from the attic or roof structure, and so their attention turned to the foundation.
A foundations serves many important functions within a building. It stabilizes the structure, so that
the building doesn’t move and shift with seasonal changes in temperature. It also provides a barrier
against moisture and insects that are natural and wanted in earth – but not in a house. Rooms 110
and 111, and half of room 109, does not have a “foundation,” in the modern sense. Without a barrier
between indoor space and the earth, moisture and pests can migrate freely into the structure. On
lifting the floorboards in room 109, Kris and Alicia found that the room’s joists are only about eight
inches directly over dirt – and the sill below the separating wall has rotted away over a length of
about twenty-five feet.
In the early 1980’s, the foundation beneath room 102 and the other half of room 109 was dug out to
create a full, modern, concrete wall and slab basement approximately eight feet high. Kris proposes
to extend this finished basement space below the rest of room 109, 110, and 111, including a three-
inch layer of spray foam insulation on the concrete walls to act as a vapor barrier. Finishing the
basement begun in the eighties will stabilize the building and minimize problems with moisture,
pests, and mold. In addition, the usable storage space created in the basement will free up valuable,
usable space elsewhere in the building.
Currently, the basement space is only accessible via a winding staircase, through the three hundred
year old parlor. This staircase is not up to current safety standards, and basement access is limited.
The addition of a bulkhead off the back of the building would increase basement accessibility, and
thus increase usable space.
Kris Thomson Carpentry is well-versed in historic renovation, and has extensive experience
enforcing best practices during historically important renovations. Every step in the process will be
carefully documented, with photos and measurements, and every effort will be made to save
original materials. The timber stock used will be solid, locally-sawn wood of similar species to the
original, and wherever possible, like materials will be used to replace building components that are
no longer sound.
By finishing the job begun in the eighties and extending a modern basement to the rest of the
house’s footprint, many threats to the structure will be minimized or eliminated, including sinking,
moisture, mold, pests, and extreme temperatures. This project will help ensure that the Parsons
House and its historic collections remain sound, stable, accessible, and usable for the future. Kris
Thomson Carpentry is honored to work with Historic Northampton to preserve the handiwork of
the past for future generations.
Sincerely,
Kris Thomson
Kris Thomson Carpentry