The Historic District

We have a very old stone and timber home and recently had an end log repaired. The repair is very visible and the color does not match the dark brown stain of the rest of the logs. I tried to use the original stain, but it stained the Woodepox repair a much lighter color. A search for stains turns u...

We spent the winter with 4 blocked up holes in our living room. I am desperate to find someone local to fix our frames and replace our windows. Lehigh Valley, PA area. Original window frames were severely damaged by previous owner to accommodate wrong size replacement sash. Contractor removed frames...

Well I think you will just have to live with that solution. Pretty standard stuff in old (and for some) really old pre pluming homes. If it makes you feel any better, at the time indoor privies came about it was fashionable to show your pipes. It was an indicator that you had money and were success...

Oh p.o. have the vertical waste pipe boxed in with sheet rock in l.r. corner. Upstairs, the toilet is approx. 4 feet from that.

Well essentially I guess you'll have to run your plumbing in the walls. You might have to fir out your studs significantly (2-3") so you can accomodate diagonal runs across walls but that's about it. The biggest challenge is probably the toilet drain, I think your only chance is using a rear-d...

I'm looking for ideas on how to handle a bathroom remodel. Because the underside of the second story floorboards is also the first floor ceiling, there is no space for plumbing. Currently, the bathroom steps up from the rest of the floor. I hate it. I once saw a remodel where the architect placed th...

Interior wall, single board thick. This door leads to cellar which is located beneath the 1800s addition. I am confident that this is original and that the door came before the addition.There is no cellar under the original house, just dirt.Unfortunately, this is the only bit of fancy woodwork in th...

Attached here are pics of moulding in old part and the addition. C. 1830.

Hi Greg. Thanks, This is fun. Lathe exposed on the wall in question is uniform. I am also posting pics of the plaster and lathe above the door in the "old" part of first floor. Most of the original plaster has been removed, but what remains reveals mud & straw beneath the plaster. The ...

My original thought was also that it may have been an added second floor, but all the evidence I see says it was all at the same time, but not much to go on yet. Question for Dory. How are you dating the plaster wall that you think went up in the 1900s? I know little of homes in your area so I am n...