Kitchen door jambs and sill

Digital photograph showing detail view of lower segment of DTR09PH50--1001.01.134, showing receding water table. Water table at kitchen door sill dropped about 6 inches during 3 days without rain. Pumping after heavy rainfall had only temporary effect on lowering the water table inside or outside the entry threshold because of the continuous percolation of ground water from the surrounding watershed to the creek. A combination of a restored gravity drain "tunnel" through the foundation, completed in December, 2009 [see DTR09PH82--1001.01.171], and a back-up sump pump will be installed to conduct excess surface runoff from the cellars faster than would occur through natural seepage through fissures and pores in the brick-paved earthen floor, bedrock sub-floor, and masonry joints. The stone sill and south [left] jamb were 2-3 inches to the left [south] of this location prior to its re-alignment northward during restoration [see Field Notes drawing DTR09FN3--1001.01.176 delineating the movement of the sill and the relative asymmetry between the outlookers, jambs, lintel, and stone sill]. Note jamb feet "bleached" from water saturation. The red jack and steel post were used to support and level the steel I-beam supporting the structure during restoration of masonry piers. Laurence Ward, 2009