Old houses get a bad wrap. There are dozens of myths about old houses and I think it’s time we set the record straight. In a technology driven world, our culture is in love with the newest gadget. This makes sense because a 10-year old computer is largely useless by todays standards and something 20 […]
What is brown and white and gray all over? Or I could ask what is red and green and pink all over? The answer would be the same. It’s a terrazzo floor! In fact, the blends of terrazzo floors could be any color combination your creative mind can think of. If you don’t know what […]
Wood siding has been ubiquitous with home construction for thousands of years. From home as rustic as the log cabins built by earlier settlers to the grand Georgian Style mansions wood siding has played a pivotal role in its many shapes and forms. In this post I’ll teach you a bit about the history and […]
Lath and plaster walls are a part of life in an old house. Depending on your situation they can be both beautiful and annoying. Plaster was used for centuries as a wall covering and it wasn’t until the mid-1940s that it began to be replaced in favor of newer and faster option, drywall. Whether it […]
Are we all having fun yet with the Coronavirus quarantine and social distancing? Not so much for me, but like anyone I’m trying to make the best of it and look for the silver lining in this dark cloud. I was feeling terribly uninspired to write a post this week, then enter my wife to […]
Fixing drafty windows is easier than you may think. We all know that old windows can be drafty, but those drafts can largely be stopped with proper hardware. You have to have the right hardware, it has to be installed properly, and it has to be free of paint.
If you want to keep your original windows, gain some comfort this winter and save some money on your energy bills, then building your own DIY interior storm windows is the project for you. It’s a simple and inexpensive project that requires minimal tools and time to complete. Check it out and start saving today!
Wood floor refinishing is a cost effective option for any old house. Whether you do a standard sand and finish or a unique passive refinishing process that I’ll tell you all about you can make those old floors really shine again.
How much does it cost to restore an old window, patch a plaster wall, refinish historic wood floors? It’s not the same as a new house and this guide will help you get started figuring out your old house repair costs so you can plan and make a budget based in reality.
Storm windows are a big part of having an energy efficient old house. Do you know all the options out there for you? This post will walk you through all the options you have when it comes to storm windows and help you outfit your house with confidence.
No matter the season or region attic insulation is a major part of any house. And when retrofitting an old or existing house you need to be very purposeful when it comes to how, where , and with what you insulate. Installing insulation willy-nilly can create serious moisture problems leading to a bunch of problems […]
Back when I first started this blog in 2011 one of the very first series I wrote was called The 5 Worst Mistakes of Historic Homeowners. I went back and read those posts recently and realized that my conclusions close to a decade ago deserved a revisiting. Are those five items still the biggest mistakes, […]
