Repair what is there; it is a primary feature of a historic house. The house reads as a unified whole, anything you do to tamper with it is going to split its personality. If you want some strategies to properly tackle the floor and roof, go on over to the Old House forum and we are standing by to assist.
Casey

what a beautiful home! I hope you ca afford t fix the porches. good luck!
Kathy

We have discussed fixing exatly what is there..and every mason/contractor we speak with comes to the same conclusion. The flat roof(water issues) plus the weight of the brick is a challenge to maintain...not sure we want to invest this much on something that may not have been the best idea to begin with?

That style was so common (because it's awesome!) there must be a way to do it properly. Keep looking for someone who knows older homes. If you are in or near a big city, it'll probably have a historical preservation squad of some sort who may be able to give you some names.

Don't give up those wonderful porches without a fight!

Do whatever you can to keep that house like it is now! It is a wonderful house. I would take fori's advice, but I would also suggest looking into having the top side of the porch roof be slanted to direct the rain into that gutter. The slant wouldn't be visible from anywhere but the upstairs and it wouldn't have to be a steep incline, so it probably wouldn't bother anyone looking out.

Ah, such a beautiful house! There are all kinds of new materials to use in such situations- rubber pond liners are lightweight and work well on flat roofs. I love the look of your house exactly as is, and would try to find a cheap solution to the problem rather than changing the design.
Renee

I have to echo the sentiments already expressed == such a beautiful, classic design that to modify it would be a crime. Keep looking for a different contractor - there has to be a reasonable solution.

What a gorgeous, dignified house and beautiful setting! I agree that the porches are so important to the look of the house that I would not want to substantially alter their appearance. I hope that you can find someone who can restore them rather than tear them out. Please post pictures of your progess once you decide what to do. It's a lovely home and will only get better!

You have a great home! I'd get a structural engineer in, someone who knows old houses, to learn about options for increasing the stability of your porches.

Our old porch was sliding sideways away from our house and we ended up having helical anchors put in underground which stopped it from moving. We also regraded so that water flowed away from the foundation....water and heavy clay soil over years caused our damage. We also have a flat
roof on a room addition and a new rubber skin was laid over it. That work was done by a flat roof specialist.

I also recommend leaving the design alone. Your house is a beauty!

Research EPDM underlayments for roofs as well as WR Grace Ice and Water Shield. Both to basically the same thing. They waterproof. Then the topping material, like for a walkout deck or brick veneer can be laid on top of that without fear of leaks as long as the contractor knows what they are doing. So far, it doesn't sound as though you've had any that know about old houses.

You want about the oldest mason that you can find. One that is experienced in restorations not new construction. If you'd indicate your general metro location on a post on the old house forum or even here, you might find someone with contacts in your area.

I have nothing to add that has not been said already, but just wanted to say that your home is a gem. Eventually all of your hard work will pay off and you will be able to enjoy all of it. My DH and I fixed up an old home too, saved it from builders, and after almost 5 years it is nearly done. And I love every inch of it.

Add one more vote to finding the right people to help you maintain something and do it the right way. It will save you time and money in the long run. Post your general location here and on the Old House forum as Casey suggested -- and as LWO suggested, look for someone, probably a nearly retired or semi-retired person who knows what they are talking about with older homes.

One more thing not mentioned -- if you are anywhere near Charleston, South Carolina, you might talk to the folks at the American College of Building Arts. They got a mention in Southern Living, founded in 2004 after Hurricane Hugo hit and there weren't enough people who could repair those older homes. They teach traditional craftsmanship and modern building trades, continuing crafts that were in danger of being lost. Yeah for them!

snagd-

I'd also post in the Building a Home or Remodeling forums, there is an architect there who goes by Renovator8 and he is very helpful with specifics, product recommendations and practical advice for people who want to do the right thing architecturally. You have such a beautiful home, hope you can find an economical solution that keeps the lines and feel of that gem.

Good luck-

sandyponder

As someone who has had flat roof sections on older homes I feel for you. I know preservation would be great but sometimes older home designs were borrowed from other parts of the country when they were built and the design and the climate don't always match up.

Are there any homes in your area with similar styling to yours and pitched and/or wrap around porches? This might buy you some forgiveness on the old house forum and allow for a new design.

In my immediate neighborhood alone I know of 5 porch failings involving flat surfaces like yours (2 stucco, 3 brick). Only one could be restored to original, 2 semi restored and 2 completely redesigned to work with the original architecture.