The frame is solid, The attic was severely damaged, the roof as well as the ridge and joists will have to be replaced. The exterior cladding on the north and west sides will have to be removed and replaced. The second story sub floor will have to be replaced, buckled from heat and water damage. All the electric and plumbing will have to be redone as well, pretty much a total gut and rebuild.

Oh no !! Please tell me your ultra cool cameras didn't perish in the fire.....

The Korona and the Seneca are being evaluated to see if they can be cleaned. The Eastman was in the garage, I was prepping for my Halloween shoot, so it's untouched. The Raja was in pretty bad shape, not sure if it can be saved, no real loss there, it was pretty cheap to begin with. I haven't heard yet about the Graflex, it should be OK though, those things are tough and the bellows is plastic so I don't have to worry about mold like the leather bellows on the Korona and Seneca. All the lenses got pretty soaked though, may loose the spring operated shutters but the glass should be fine. The real loss was all of my film holders, none of them survived. They were stored where the fire was the worst.

I pray that it comes back better for you...

I can't imagine dealing with all the items that are gone, especially your cameras :/

But there is always a special feeling with a rebirth of something old! You may not have the same quality of some materials, and it is a shame that some of the architectural details may be lost... but as you say it will be a tighter house with improved utilities. That won't be a bad thing!

I hope you'll have a housewarming party when it is again livable. I can bring you a milk crate or two and some concrete blocks to start your "fine furniture" collection :)

Indeed, I do hope to have a party when it's done, if I can still afford food.

I can bring some hay. Though I have to admit, it's kind of crappy hay... :/

Good grief. Again, if I can help any, give me a shout.

Look at it this way - now you can redo the studio with more shelving, better light control, put in plumbing, etc. Use that insurance!

Unfortunately insurance doesn't work that way. They'll only pay to replace what was there and not update or add anything new.

I would think you could squeeze them on electrical, can't you? I don't see how they can rewire to anything less than current NEC, which would probably be a massive upgrade in terms of access points, etc.

Yes, bringing everything up to code is required, so the insurance company is on the hook for that.

Years ago I rewired an old farmhouse for a friend. It had one single-bulb ceiling light in each upstairs room, with pull chains to switch them :) The only receptacle in the entire upstairs was the two-prong one on the side of the light above the bathroom sink! Yes, there WAS a bathroom!

Some things have gotten better with time :)

At least they will pay for what is mandatory/up to code.

A drunk ran off the road and through my grandma's kitchen. They had to redo the electrical in most of the house because of how crappy it was in the kitchen.

wow... to have an office/studio like that!

Good luck with the rebuild...

V.