"Phil,
I just purchased the house next door to us (circa 1870) and all of its original windows utilize the spring loaded pin system you describe. Whether it was installed when they were new, I don't know, but I think they would be easy to…"
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Andy Streenz
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- Bloomington, IL
- United States
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Andy Streenz's Discussions
Asbestos shingles
2 Replies
The house next door to us has asbestos shingles over its original clapboards. It is not a fancy or beautiful house...just an 1870s vernacular workman's cottage. The fact that they are asbestos…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Andy Streenz May 2.
Are there any Facebook Old-House discussion groups?
3 Replies
Not that I don't love this forum, but I've been noticing the traffic has been dwindling on here and was wondering if it was because people were using some other form of online forum/discussion group…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Toni Jan 26.
Buried Treasure
5 Replies
Hello all,I know this post will generate some interest, since I was practically salivating upon this discovery. Check out the two pictures below. We are putting in a brick patio in the back yard…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Andy Streenz Mar 28, 2012.
Attic/roof insulation in 1885 Queen Anne
28 Replies
I understand this topic is nothing new to this forum, but I've looked back on most of the past discussions and not found an exact case such as mine.I live in an 1885 Queen Anne in Illinois, so our…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bill Hendrickson Sep 18, 2012.
Andy Streenz's Page
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Andy Streenz replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Basement Window Wells"Lair, I think it's more like, "Conscientious homeowners always have something to do." Most of the contributors of this forum care deeply about their abodes. The fact that this is an "Old House" forum means just…"
Andy Streenz replied to Andy Streenz's discussion Asbestos shingles"Thanks Lair. I will definitely consider your technique. One thing that is in my favor is my neighborhood is not full of a bunch of whistle-blowers, so I'm less likely to encounter any trouble from busy-bodies."
Lair Tienter replied to Andy Streenz's discussion Asbestos shingles"My second floor was covered with them when I bought the house. I had thought I was going to just go over them with new shingles, wrong. They are very hard and it is almost impossible to drive a nail into them. If you do, they break…"
Andy Streenz posted a discussionAsbestos shingles
The house next door to us has asbestos shingles over its original clapboards. It is not a fancy or beautiful house...just an 1870s vernacular workman's cottage. The fact that they are asbestos doesn't bother us from a health standpoint. Asbestos shingles are some of the "safest" asbestos there is. We know we could just paint the house and be done, but we don't particularly like the "look" of them.What I am wondering is, does anyone have experience covering over asbestos shingles with vinyl…See More
Andy Streenz replied to Sandy's discussion Dating a doorknob in the group The Jewelry of the antique homes"Hard to say from the pic. It appears to have been painted. Also hard to tell from the pic is what construction/composition the knob and escutcheon are. My guess is cast iron. Without seeing any other clues, I would put this…"
Andy Streenz replied to Lori Lunsford's discussion Coal Burning Fireplace - installing gas insert"Lori,
I would do a little research at your local library or historical museum. Unless you are in a very rural area, most things like this were produced fairly locally because they were heavy and didn't want to have to transport them long…"
Andy Streenz replied to Lori Lunsford's discussion Coal Burning Fireplace - installing gas insert"Your tiles are almost certainly original. Most victorian fireplace surrounds used funky colors like this, which became popular again in the 1960s and '70s and now many people hate. When I first started to become "aware" of…"
Andy Streenz replied to m.hill's discussion Need help identifying house style"You said the house was moved in the 1960s. Understanding that the new foundation they set the house on is probably not as tall as its original one, the house still doesn't have the "correct" proportions. I don't know…"
Andy Streenz replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Basement Ceiling- What to do?"I vote for fiberglass batting (for its insulation and sound deadening properties) and beadboard. Then, if you need to work on any of your mechanicals, you can access it easier than with drywall."
Andy Streenz replied to Annette K Doxsey's discussion What is this?"Look up when you are in your basement or attic and you will see these sticking through just about every joist. Even if someone has removed all the old wiring, many times they leave the tubes, since they are sometimes stuck tight in the hole."
Andy Streenz replied to Lori Lunsford's discussion Coal Burning Fireplace - installing gas insert"Donald, I agree. Modifying the cast iron enclosure or tilework would be foolish. Best to find a "log insert" that is either gas or electric.
Or, like we do. We buy those Duraflame (or knock-off brands) firestarter logs.…"
Andy Streenz replied to ken niemeyer's discussion Tower for victorian house"Ken, in the case of your house, it seems a tower would "look" the best along the lefthand side, where the two slopes of your roof meet in the corner. It appears that your house is only 1 1/2 stories tall, so a full 2 story tower…"
Andy Streenz replied to ken niemeyer's discussion Tower for victorian house"Phil, interesting that you mention that. I never noticed that towers rarely interrupt the front gable. They are usually beside or behind it (like on my house). I wouldn't doubt that this one pictured above was a more recent…"
Andy Streenz replied to Lori Lunsford's discussion Coal Burning Fireplace - installing gas insert"Phil,
I would think you could get an HVAC guy to come in and make you a deflector out of sheetmetal which you could insulate the back side with fiberglass batting.
As far as removing your chimney down below the roofline, I did this in my previous…"
Profile Information
- Tell us about yourself:
- Locksmith by trade, owner of an 1885 Queen Anne. Antique lock repair is my specialty.
- Tell us about your old-house experiences and dreams:
- 1st house was a vernacular 1916 railroad worker's house. Restored it to near-period detailing, sold it in 2009 when our dream house came on the market, an 1885 three story Queen Anne, already fully restored. Now living here hoping to raise a family and continuing to care for and restore this beautiful mansion.
- Website:
- http://www.billskeyandlockshop.com
Andy Streenz's Photos
Comment Wall (3 comments)
- At 6:32pm on April 11, 2011,
Phil said… - This is a very impressive property.
- At 7:11am on May 20, 2011,
Karan Andrea said… - Gorgeous, gorgeous home!
- At 2:46am on August 21, 2011,
Jodi Click said… Andy,
I saw on a post that you are a locksmith (and see it again now on your page)... Do you make/copy old skeleton keys or know where I can have that done? I see that the store you have a link to has antique lock hardware, but I've not had luck with anywhere else that carries antique locks & keys. The key to the exterior door of my house is a skeleton key and different from all the others in the house (and, according to every locksmith I've tried, my entire area of the state). I haven't found anyone who had a blank to make another and I really should have more than one key to my house! I don't want to remove the original lock as it would ruin the door... Just curious if you have any suggestions. Here is a link to my album with pictures of the key (in case you can tell just by looking at it why it's different than normal, making it so hard to get another): http://www.myoldhouseonline.com/photo/albums/keys
Thanks for any ideas you may have or tips for finding someone to make a key for me!!
Jodi Click :)
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