At Axe Builders, we’ve been fortunate to work on some truly unique and high-end projects. But 313 S. Smedley Street in Philadelphia’s Historic District has been one of the most memorable yet. The city estimates this property was originally built over 200 years ago, and what a journey it has had!

Originally a single-family home, it was converted in 1925 into the offices of renowned local architects Silverman and Levy. Later, it became a duplex, and eventually (after a demolished wall) was transformed back into a single-family residence. By the time we stepped in, the home had seen years of neglect and was ready for a full gut renovation to restore its historic charm.

Working on historic homes always comes with surprises, and this project taught us valuable lessons that future Philadelphia homeowners and renovators can learn from.

Challenges of Renovating a Historic Philadelphia Home

When working on properties in Philadelphia’s Historic District, you learn quickly to expect the unexpected. At 313 S. Smedley, three major challenges stood out:

Refurbishing rather than replacing historic elements (budgetary considerations)
Faulty old framing (structural safety concerns)
Missing party walls (fire and safety issues)

1. Historic Refurbishment: Restoring the Facade

The most notable challenge was preserving the historic facade. We salvaged everything we could, including masonry, windows, doors, railings, and the original cornice.

What we didn’t predict were the costs of compliance. Replacement windows, for instance, had to meet historical standards. Custom replacements came in at about $10,000 apiece. To stay on budget, we pivoted to refurbishment. That meant repairing individual panes, sanding down window frames to bare metal, and repainting them to reflect their former glory.

The front doors told a similar story. While we preserved the doors themselves, the old hardware was beyond repair. To get historically accurate replacements, we had to track down a locksmith who specialized in antique locks. After two months of back-and-forth, we finally had custom hardware that honored the home’s original style.

Lesson Learned: Always budget more than expected for historic facades, especially when windows, doors, and exterior details are involved.

2. Faulty Framing: Structural Surprises Behind the Walls

Once demo began, the house’s long renovation history revealed itself. We uncovered:

Old roof lines
Exterior doors that had been converted into windows
Windows that had been turned into doors

But the biggest issue? Faulty framing. We found that the roof was being held up by old floorboards nailed together, an immediate safety concern.

Our first step was to call in a structural engineer and install temporary support walls to hold up the roof. From there, we replaced the unsafe framing with secure new materials. While this added time to the project, it ensured the home would be structurally sound for decades to come.

Lesson Learned: Always build extra time into the timeline for unforeseen structural issues when renovating historic homes.

3. Missing Party Walls: A Major Fire Safety Concern

Perhaps the most surprising discovery came on the third floor. No party wall existed at all. After demo, we were staring at the back of our neighbor’s sheetrock, with their wiring exposed and even a small hole that let daylight shine through.

This was an enormous safety concern, as there was zero fire-stopping ability between the homes. Fortunately, our neighbors were cooperative, and we worked together to implement a solution.

We framed a new interior wall, insulated it, and double-sheetrocked it to create the necessary fire separation. While this cost us a few inches of space on the third floor, safety always comes first.

Lesson Learned: Increase your contingency budget from the very beginning. In historic renovations, hidden surprises are guaranteed.

The Outcome: A Philadelphia Historic Home Restored

Despite the challenges, this 200-year-old Philadelphia home renovation was an incredibly rewarding project. Our clients, who brought a wealth of building experience themselves, were fantastic partners throughout the process. Together, we transformed 313 S. Smedley back into a safe, beautiful, and historically respectful home that we are proud to have our name on.

At Axe Builders, we believe every historic renovation is an opportunity to blend craftsmanship, safety, and respect for architectural heritage.

Thanks for following along on this journey. Here’s to health, wealth, and building homes that stand the test of time.