The Historic District

We've finally found an electrician! I'm very excited about finally getting this wiring done. I'd ended up calling a couple of companies that do historic renovations here and asked them for recommendations. So I need to somehow thank the company that answered, too Anyway, my next question is that mos...

In rereading I just realized I forgot to look to see if there were two pieces. There are the two (sistered?) beams, but I don't recall a joint. I'll go out an look tomorrow!

Thank you for all of the replies and ideas! I'm looking up terms, and it is interesting trying to get a sense of the function and their purpose. This would be the far end (not yet pictured really) other end.JPG This would be the center and then looking at the broom end center.JPG length.JPG The gara...

If I'm understanding what you're describing, that's what we found in our place. We were removing the 70s paneling, and underneath we found that they'd originally had trim over the plaster. In the picture, that small section also had the plate rail removed (the lighter shellac on top and then the sha...

Hi All, I'm getting closer on cleaning up all the trim, and I'm starting to look at other projects. I'm unsure about the safety of our detached garage. It's a two stall, and it looks like it originally was much shorter, and then had a little addition off the back to make it deeper (the addition is t...

Phil - thanks for the recommendation! I'll look into the water damage businesses. There was some severe flooding here about 5 years ago, so I know I can ask around for recommendations for those businesses. Also, thanks for the considerations. I definitely get that we're not a nice, clean job. And we...

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Our house is a two story that had the kitchen and first floor bath remodeled sometime in the 60s. A lot of the first floor plugs were rewired at that time, but the wiring for light fixtures is all original. When we moved in, the vent stack had to be replaced, so we...

We've been hoping to get all of the wiring updated for the last year, but we've been having a hard time finding an electrician. From all of the people I've called, I've only had three willing to come out to give an estimate (even when the website states they do residential rewiring), and I've only r...

Thanks! I didn't think about getting into the grain. This whole project is going to take a while, so I'm thinking I'll start with the soygel since I have it around, and then I'll get something else if it doesn't work. Thanks for the tips on sanding, too. I'm so hesitant, I would have been sitting th...

Thank you! Do I need the chemical stripper since I was able to get rid of most of the shellac? And if I should still, would soygel work for the chemical stripper? We have some leftover from cleaning up a painted window. Also, is there grit for the sandpaper that would be best? I really have no idea ...