Jake Butcher Mansion: The Ballroom

 

Butcher Mansion ballroom is approximately 1200 sqft

From first glance, the ballroom appears to be in pretty good shape. But what you don't see here in the photos, you'll see in the video currently being uploaded to youtube. There is extensive mold throughout the ballroom as there is throughout the house.


Over the fireplace, on the walls, on the ceilings and most notably on the beams, mold is everywhere and it appears to have been painted over, but is now bleeding through. Merely painting over mold will not make it go away.


There are parquet floors in the ball room and the window you see in the upper photo is the location of the water-damaged, buckled parquet.

The ballroom sits about 2 feet below ground and mulch sits right up against the foundation. I'm not a fan of mulch up against the house because it tends to retain the water. Mulch attracts bugs, termites and invites dry rot. I'm not a fan. I much prefer gravel up against a foundation.

But no matter what your preference, proper drainage is key. And you don't have it with this house. The gutters are clogged, there are saplings growing in the gutters. Trees loom large over the house too close to the gutters and thus requiring constant cleaning. The drains are busted and consequently, you're going to continue to have problems until it's taken care of.

Buckled parquet in Jake Butcher Ballroom