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Old window frames 1 Reply

The previous owners of my 1920 cottage replaced the original windows and saved the original sashes but not the frames. I have gutted the interior and easily can take out the smaller replacement win...

Started by doctorjoey3 in Old House How-To. Last reply by John Leeke 2 hours ago.

Need info on old mortar 5 Replies

Well, since I asked about shellac, I figure that I should ask about old mortar. I am getting to the point where I will need to repoint the old bricks before I put the kitchen together. So from what...

Started by Martin in Old House How-To. Last reply by Randall Marder 21 hours ago.

The best paintbrush

I winced when I saw the closeup of the paintbrush on page 16 of the current issue--the painter had gotten paint into and over the ferrule. A clean ferrule junction supplies the spring in your brush...

Tagged: technique, painting, brushes, paint

Started by Pat Scheible in Old House How-To 1 day ago.

Looking for advice about retro-fitting attic insulation 4 Replies

I'm up in the attic of my 1865 double-brick wall Italianate house, desiring to remove its 2-inches of loose-fill insulation (possibly rock wool?) and replace it with higher R-value insulation. Floo...

Tagged: XPS, attic, insulation, polystyrene

Started by Italianate in Ionia in Old Houses: Pre-1900. Last reply by Phil 1 day ago.

Remove Tar Paper from Wood Floor 4 Replies

I own a two-story building in a small Kansas town, with a tenant (art gallery) in the first floor commercial space. Upstairs in the unoccupied residential space, asbestos-laden floor tiles were suc...

Tagged: removal, paper, tar, Floor

Started by Swede in Old House How-To. Last reply by Daniel C. Hiebert 1 day ago.

Videos

Enter MyOHJ's Perfect Porch Contest!

Is your restored porch the best of the best? Put it to the test by entering our Perfect Porch Contest. The winner will see their porch pictured in the next issue of OHJ—and win a lifetime supply of bragging rights. Find out how to enter right here.

Latest Activity

Dan Miller commented on Dan Miller's photo '2006 0906 048'42 minutes ago

Treated is very inexpensive. Now that they have coem out with 1 5/32 decking, it is ideal as it is the 5/4 (1 1/8) that the old timers used for treads. I clean it with mineral spirits and use oil based deck paint and have not had a problem with it...

Phil commented on Dan Miller's photo '2006 0906 048'1 hour ago

Thanks for the details. If using cedar, redwood or cypress for the other parts of the porch, why use the treated for the treads? Doesn't that have problems holding paint? Also, do you have an opinion on white oak as an option? My father in law tel...

Dan Miller left a comment for Lair Tienter1 hour ago

Dan Miller commented on Dan Miller's photo '2006 0906 048'1 hour ago

Thanks! The entire porch is new. In the 20's they stuccoed the house and put on Prairie porhes. I removed them and replaced with appropriate porches. Much of the design came from evidence on the house. The entire porch was remilled form salvaged r...

John Leeke replied to doctorjoey3's discussion 'Old window frames'2 hours ago

Are you sure the original window frames are gone? Usually the replacement window pirates do as little work as possible, leaving the original frames in place. >>Can anyone reccommend a book or site where I can acquire the knowledge to build replac...

Lair Tienter left a comment for Dan Miller3 hours ago

Phil commented on Dan Miller's photo '2006 0906 048'5 hours ago

Beautiful photos of your work! Are these stairs and railings new construction? If so, may I ask what wood you used for the treads, the railings/spindles and the newel posts? Also, is the oval ball finial solid wood? I ask because I am getting read...

Dan Miller added 14 photos11 hours ago

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Dan Miller and Pat Scheible joined My Old House Journal12 hours ago

Randall Marder replied to Martin's discussion 'Need info on old mortar'21 hours ago

The lime is type S. I was surprise that Home Depot had it. Any brick supplier will also have it. if you have the time check out my work. www.rmdesignconst.com

Martin replied to Martin's discussion 'Need info on old mortar'22 hours ago

I will have to check that out then. Some of the exterior needs repointed, like yesterday.. so I will have to do something about it this summer. thanks for the info! Where did you find the hydrated lime at?

Randall Marder replied to Martin's discussion 'Need info on old mortar'22 hours ago

Here in Colorado the test usually ranges around $250.00. Considering the damage done without the test, worth the investment. You can mail a test sample to (not sure of the spelling) Dick Lipoth. You should be able to find him via the State Fund. I...

Blog Posts

Decorating with Copper

I just finished helping a guy restore a kitchen that required a lot of custom copper work. It was frustrating and expensive finding a good vendor to help with the project. After basically firing two other suppliers, we finally found one we liked, Circle City Copperworks, of Indianapolis. We ordered a beautiful… Continue

Posted by LincolnB on June 30, 2009 at 11:46am

Old House Poem

At 9:42am on June 29, 2009, Ray Henry said… I am looking for the name of the author of a short poem which starts with:
"They who love an old house
Will never love in vain
For how can any old house
Used to sun and rain. . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .

Posted by Ray Henry on June 29, 2009 at 11:18am — 4 Comments

Barn: Steam Paint Removal

We are live-broadcasting our barn paint and woodwork project this summer. The work includes:
==> Steam Paint Removal: equipment, tools, methods and techniques
==> Lead Safe Operations: personal gear, ground containment, lead residue collection and disposal
==> Woodwork Repairs: clapboard splits, clapboard replacement, filling nail holes
==> Painting:… Continue

Posted by John Leeke on June 27, 2009 at 12:00pm — 9 Comments

MyOHJ's Perfect Porch Contest: Is your porch a winner?

Confession time: When I was proofing our July/August issue and read Jim McMaster's story about how he completely rebuilt the intricate balustrade on his Victorian lake house, I was in awe. Using nothing more than the tools he had on hand and a healthy dose of ingenuity, he was able to craft a spot-on replica of the original railing that will stay with his house for another century or more.… Continue

Posted by Clare Martin on June 26, 2009 at 5:00pm

Eight month parlor project

Nearly complete, were waiting about the floors till all the roome are done. The ceilings were a mess with a cheaply done texture job that took a couple of weeka to scrape off then float out.Also installed a gold and pale green willow paper on them . The plaster walls had… Continue

Posted by Donald Mitchell on June 15, 2009 at 8:23pm — 7 Comments