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 […]
Dear friend, No, I don’t want a new house. It’s not that I can’t afford new construction, it’s because I don’t like new houses. Those cold and lifeless stucco boxes, or vinyl wrapped tombs make me claustrophobic. Before we get into a shouting match, I’m not angry that you want a new house. I don’t […]
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, […]
In the 1950s a new style home came on the scene as the house of choice in America. Born in California the one-story Ranch Style house was a dramatic departure from previous styles and was unabashedly modern in its design and feel. With an open floor plan, geometric designs, modern materials and conveniences the Ranch […]
Do you remember when we used to make enduring things in this country? Solid, well-built things that would last for generations. I was too young to grow up in a time before plastics, solidly in the midst of the Replacement Generation. I grew up in suburbia surrounded by things of little value in houses that […]
Today is Earth Day where we celebrate taking care of our planet and leaving a greener and healthier world for the next generation. You may be thinking “why on earth is Scott writing about Earth Day on a historic preservation and DIY blog? I want to learn how to glaze a window or up my […]
Here we are on Christmas Eve! Can you believe how fast this year has gone? I hope your shopping is all done and you’re ready to cuddle up beside the fireplace to stay warm tonight perhaps with some eggnog, or perhaps you need something a bit stronger. I wanted to leave you a little Christmas […]
Trying to choose what sheen paint you should use on your project may not have been something you’ve given much thought to, but it can make a huge difference in how the final product looks. Not only are there a bunch of different sheens to choose from, but every paint company has a different name […]
So, you’re thinking about buying an old house. I don’t mean a 20 or 30-year old suburban tract house, I’m talking a real piece of American history. 100, 150, even 200 years old! Creaky wood floors, wavy glass windows, plaster walls, the works! All the historical goodies that excite some people and scare the pants […]
Does your husband or dad really need another tire gauge or techie gadget this year? Maybe this year he’d be better suited with a tool to help him get his hands dirty or a good book to learn something new. Father’s day is June 17th this year, and the handy dad in your life is […]
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you get ready to start renovating an old house. The questions will swirl around your head like tweety birds after a cartoon concussion about where to start and how much it will cost. You need to learn to triage an old house or the patient may die. I don’t […]
While I may live and work in Florida, I’m not unaccustomed to living in the great white north. For years I lived in New York and Boston and suffered through my fair share of winters before heading south. Insulating an old house is very dependent on the climate. You can’t necessarily use the same materials […]
