Search found 907 matches
- Fri Apr 16, 2021 2:25 am
- Forum: Neighborhood Introductions
- Topic: Our "new" old house
- Replies: 12
- Views: 3536
Re: Our "new" old house
Welcome! Your house is interesting. I'd definitely call it a vernacular - almost a cross between a traditional farmhouse and a "shotgun" style house. It almost reminds me of houses that were built by coal and lumber camps for their employees. Dating a house like this can be a challenge. City and cou...
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:55 pm
- Forum: Craftsman's Guild
- Topic: When the Newely Repaired Roof (or Chimney) Leaks Part 2
- Replies: 38
- Views: 4953
Re: When the Newely Repaired Roof (or Chimney) Leaks Part 2
I'd consider bringing in a chimney specialist to take a look and give their assessment. I would steer clear of general brickmasons or stonemasons for this job. Not knocking those trades at all, but I've observed that chimneys seem to be their own specialty.
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:51 pm
- Forum: Craftsman's Guild
- Topic: Replacing a switch with a dimmer
- Replies: 6
- Views: 690
Re: Replacing a switch with a dimmer
They make extensions for switch boxes to bring them flush with the surface of the wall. Or, you could get longer screws for the faceplate.
- Tue Apr 13, 2021 7:48 pm
- Forum: Craftsman's Guild
- Topic: Will I burn my house down with a heat gun?
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3226
Re: Will I burn my house down with a heat gun?
As with anything, common sense applies. Heat guns are excellent for stripping paint, but don't hold it in one place for very long. Just like you'll burn your scalp if you hold a hair dryer in one place, you'll scorch wood if you hold the heat gun still. I've never heard of anyone actually burning do...
- Fri Apr 09, 2021 12:07 am
- Forum: District Common
- Topic: Lumber "shortage"
- Replies: 30
- Views: 8025
Lumber "shortage"
Looks like I'll be putting off my porch project I was hoping to do this spring for a while. I went to a couple of lumber yards this week and prices have gone from insane to just plain ludicrous. All because of a supposed shortage related to Covid and an increase in home projects. To give some idea, ...
- Thu Apr 01, 2021 11:33 am
- Forum: Construction Zone
- Topic: Introducing "Pumpkin's Castle"
- Replies: 36
- Views: 13010
Re: Introducing "Pumpkin's Castle"
Interesting that Vancouver is forcing people to go all electric with water heaters. It's been my experience that gas water heaters normally last twice as long as electric ones, though I did once see an electric water heater from the late '50s still in service around 2005, so there are exceptions. Wh...
- Tue Mar 30, 2021 8:55 pm
- Forum: Construction Zone
- Topic: Introducing "Pumpkin's Castle"
- Replies: 36
- Views: 13010
Re: Introducing "Pumpkin's Castle"
Wow, Phil. Your inspector must have been worse than Deputy Barney Fife. I've had an inspector here twice - once after I upgraded my service to 200A. He was in and out in 5 minutes. Didn't even look to hard, just asked what was done and did I run a ground to the cold water pipe, plus to a plate in th...
- Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:37 pm
- Forum: Construction Zone
- Topic: Introducing "Pumpkin's Castle"
- Replies: 36
- Views: 13010
Re: Introducing "Pumpkin's Castle"
I'd think restoring the existing fixtures should be a lot cheaper than buying restored ones - unless you hate the old ones and want to replace them anyway. This times a thousand. Antique fixtures can be restored for only a few dollars in materials each. All you really need is some wire, wire nuts, ...
- Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:51 am
- Forum: Neighborhood Introductions
- Topic: New Here and in the "People Who Love" older homes
- Replies: 5
- Views: 1924
Re: New Here and in the "People Who Love" older homes
Welcome! Believe it or not, I can still see a 1920s cottage underneath of all those additions and changes. Will be interesting to see what you're able to do with it. As an old house veteran, the only thing I can say is don't expect it to come together overnight unless the budget is unlimited. Work o...
- Thu Mar 18, 2021 11:45 am
- Forum: Neighborhood Introductions
- Topic: New to the district
- Replies: 10
- Views: 3473
Re: New to the district
Welcome! It's quite possible that your house started out as a small cottage in the 1780s and was then drastically expanded and remodeled in the 1830s or 1840s to what it is today. A look underneath in the cellar (if it has one) or crawlspace would tell the story. Anything built before about the 1790...