Clients have been asking me lately why they should restore their old windows. So, I’m half writing this for you my readers and half so I can have a handy printout to give to clients who are looking at their window options. So, here is my list of reasons to keep your old windows. I’m [...] Read on →
As I head out for a much needed vacation I wanted to leave you with a special Christmas gift that I’ve been working on for a couple weeks now. It’s a special version of the most famous Christmas poem just for my friends who love old houses. I hope your Christmas is filled with joy [...] Read on →
This will be the last post in our series Tips For Historic Home Owners. I really hope you’ve enjoyed these helpful mini posts and that you’ve found some value in the info. We’ve been told that patience is a virtue all our lives. Well, it turns out that when it comes owning an old house [...] Read on →
The bumper sticker on my truck reads, “Please Recycle. Buy an Old House.” It’s not often a company can fit its mission statement on a bumper sticker. A beverage napkin maybe, but we boiled it down to bumper sticker length. Honestly, there is a bit more to our company’s mission, but the real reason I [...] Read on →
If you live in a part of the world, like I do, where insects are a daily nuisance you’ll want to pay close attention to this tip! With Mosquitos and other annoying pests just waiting for you to step outside you might be tempted to screen in your wonderful open air porch so you can [...] Read on →
As I write this post about oil-based paint I realize that the information is quickly disappearing from both common knowledge and usefulness today. If you live in California I don’t even think you’re allowed to buy oil-based paint anymore (at least not in any significant quantities). The landscape of house painting has been changing ever [...] Read on →
If it’s your first time in an old house it may seem troublesome looking out the windows at the blurry images surrounding you. Generally, the older the house the more flaws and ripples you’ll find in its old windows. And despite the perfectionist in us all this glass, though old and outdated, is a rare [...] Read on →
A Guest Post by Mike Zook – Mike has been writing about environmental issues and energy efficient home improvements for many years. When he’s not writing, Mike works as an engineer, reviewing frac tanks to protect the water supply. These days, everyone is looking for ways to save money. Many people are also looking for ways to save [...] Read on →
Every painter has his tips and tricks. So I know that this list will vary significantly from another painter’s. My grandfather had a long and very busy career as a painter, and before he passed on he shared his 7 secrets of a great paint job with me. Some of his tips are pretty easy [...] Read on →