You will notice that the original fiberglass-coated exterior was covered with a new thick layer of foam and then painted with brown latex paint. Unfortunately, without the original fiberglass coating, this new layer has the consistency of cake frosting - it's pretty nasty, and needs to be scraped off and re-done properly. After chatting with friends Kal and Carolynne, who seriously looked into purchasing Ensculptic, I found out that in the spring when the snow had all melted, the foam was completely water-logged and squishy.
The woodpeckers seem to have found something worth pursuing in the cake icing, as you will see in photos of the numerous holes they pecked into the sides of Ensculptic. And at some point, some of the wonderful dining room windows were broken, and rather than excavating the foam, replacing them and foaming them back in place, the openings were stuffed with an unsavory assortment of plastic, paper and rags, and there is evidence of plastic having been taped to the outside. You can also see over-spray from the ugly brown house paint dripping in places.
So without further ado, let's go back to Ensculptic! (Click the pics for a larger view and slideshow without captions.)
1.
Looking at the arch leading from the house to the parking area. The arch is concrete, with foam underneath.
2.
Looking at the front of the house through the arch. You can see the sculpted foam underbelly.
3.
Looking back toward the parking area (and Carolynne and Sandra). Note the woodpecker damage to the foam inside of the arch.
4.
Approaching the house. As you can see, the house becomes one with the landscape during a snowy winter.
5.
The house with the front door open.
6.
Here's Carolynne taking the photo of me I posted on the original Ensculptic photo-tour! Look at the way the door is hinged - very unique!
7.
Uh-oh... the woodpeckers have been at the house...
8.
It seems that they really like that soft foamy overlay. Goodness knows what's lurking inside of that foam.
9.
Walking around to the side of the house.
10.
Here are the living room windows.
11.
Look at the damage on the point from the woodpeckers!
12.
They pecked all around this area.
13.
Walking around to the dining room side of the house now.
14.
There are those wonderful dining room windows, and the patio door off of the kitchen.
15.
Looking up at the house from the lower level - the master bedroom balcony is to the left, and the lower level windows and door are beneath it. Notice the damage to some of the dining room windows.
16.
Let's take a closer look at that. It looks like two of the windows were broken out, and someone stuffed paper, plastic, foam, etc into the holes. I'm guessing that there was also plastic on the outside of the house; you can see the remnants of the adhesive tape used to stick it on.
17.
Another view of the side, looking at the master bedroom balcony and the lower level. The master balcony's wood framing is rotten and the structure is sagging and not very safe.
18.
Walking down the side of the house toward the garage.
19.
The garage, and the back door to the right of the garbage can. We were not able to see inside of the garage as the roof had shifted under the snow and blocked the garage door from moving. The door inside the house was also barred from entry.
20.
Here you can see that it looks like the foam overlay has peeled away to reveal the hard surface underneath.
As you can see, Ensculptic had survived a great deal of neglect and strange abuses. The new owners definitely have their work cut out for them, but when they are done they are going to have a wonderful home. I am so glad that the house is going to remain standing and will finally get the attention and love that it needs!
1.
Looking at the arch leading from the house to the parking area. The arch is concrete, with foam underneath.
 |
2.
Looking at the front of the house through the arch. You can see the sculpted foam underbelly.
 |
3.
Looking back toward the parking area (and Carolynne and Sandra). Note the woodpecker damage to the foam inside of the arch.
 |
4.
Approaching the house. As you can see, the house becomes one with the landscape during a snowy winter.
 |
5.
The house with the front door open.
 |
6.
Here's Carolynne taking the photo of me I posted on the original Ensculptic photo-tour! Look at the way the door is hinged - very unique!
 |
7.
Uh-oh... the woodpeckers have been at the house...
 |
8.
It seems that they really like that soft foamy overlay. Goodness knows what's lurking inside of that foam.
 |
9.
Walking around to the side of the house.
 |
10.
Here are the living room windows.
 |
11.
Look at the damage on the point from the woodpeckers!
 |
12.
They pecked all around this area.
 |
13.
Walking around to the dining room side of the house now.
 |
14.
There are those wonderful dining room windows, and the patio door off of the kitchen.
 |
15.
Looking up at the house from the lower level - the master bedroom balcony is to the left, and the lower level windows and door are beneath it. Notice the damage to some of the dining room windows.
 |
16.
Let's take a closer look at that. It looks like two of the windows were broken out, and someone stuffed paper, plastic, foam, etc into the holes. I'm guessing that there was also plastic on the outside of the house; you can see the remnants of the adhesive tape used to stick it on.
 |
17.
Another view of the side, looking at the master bedroom balcony and the lower level. The master balcony's wood framing is rotten and the structure is sagging and not very safe.
 |
18.
Walking down the side of the house toward the garage.
 |
19.
The garage, and the back door to the right of the garbage can. We were not able to see inside of the garage as the roof had shifted under the snow and blocked the garage door from moving. The door inside the house was also barred from entry.
 |
20.
Here you can see that it looks like the foam overlay has peeled away to reveal the hard surface underneath.
 |
As you can see, Ensculptic had survived a great deal of neglect and strange abuses. The new owners definitely have their work cut out for them, but when they are done they are going to have a wonderful home. I am so glad that the house is going to remain standing and will finally get the attention and love that it needs!
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