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John Leeke's Discussions

Mystery box above the porch: would a Shingle Style house have had two widow's walks?

Replied Aug 21

Creative use for old wooden lath

Replied Aug 11

Filling Window Sill Weather Checks

Started Jul 25

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John Leeke's Events

Save Your Wood Windows

September 10, 2010 at 8am – Historic HomeWorks

John Leeke's Page

Profile Information

Tell us about yourself:

I've been working on old houses for 49 years and writing about it for Old-House Journal for 26 years.

Website:

http://www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

John Leeke's Blog

We broadcasted our barn paint and woodwork project the summer of 2009. The work included:

==> 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… Continue

Posted on August 12, 2010 at 2:14pm — 9 Comments

Campbell Center Maintenance Workshop

In June Bob Yapp and I taught a course on maintenance methods and materials for historic buildings. Many National Parks Service workers attended as well as others involved in caring for historic buildings. These videos show window sill decay stabilization, filling sill weather checks and a wood-epoxy repair method.

More about the Methods and Materials for Maintenance of Historic Buildings course:… Continue

Posted on July 25, 2010 at 9:52pm —

Window Sash Painting

Excerpt from the book Save America's Windows:

Step 9d. Paint.
Apply primer to putty bevels and interior seals. Lap primer 1/16" onto the glass, painting "to the line," allow to dry. Apply two top coats of paint to entire sash except side edges and face margins and top and bottom edges if they are not being painted. (Use best quality exterior house paint. Waterborne 100% acryli… Continue

Posted on March 30, 2010 at 11:31am —

Window Sash Deglazing

Check out my Q&A on removing putty and glass in the current print issue of OHJ (Dec.2009, p.18) , here's the video that goes with it:

John
www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

Posted on October 24, 2009 at 12:07pm —

Leeke Interviewed at PCLS

Hey, Ken Follett interviewed me over at the PCLS blog:

http://pcls-updates.blogspot.com/2009/04/pcls-interview-john-leeke.html

Posted on April 10, 2009 at 5:31pm —

John Leeke's Videos

Campbell Center Maintenance Workshop

Added by John Leeke
Window Sash Repair, Stile End Checks

Added by John Leeke
Window Sash Painting

Added by John Leeke

Latest Activity

John Leeke replied to Cassie Marshall's discussion 'Type of Wood?'

To get past the "looks like" method and positively identify the species of wood you need to look at the end-grain of a piece with a magnifying glass to see features of the wood's cell structure. A good book to learn how to do this yourself is Identi…

September 4

John Leeke replied to BenningtonColonial's discussion 'Appraisals for Old Homes'

>>Am I crazy to want an appraiser that has some knowledge/understanding of the unique qualities of old homes?

September 1

John Leeke replied to Phil's discussion 'Here is a depressing article'

Yeah, I saw that, two dishwashers, one for putting the dishes into, and one for taking the dishes out of at the same time, because they cannot cooprorate on using one dishwasher. What happens when both dishwashers are full of dirty dishes? Buy a thi…

August 30

James S. Manista left a comment for John Leeke

August 25

John Leeke commented on James S. Manista's photo 'P8170549'

Bowed meeting rails can sometimes be repaired if the muntin bar joint can be made good. Step-by-step instructions on bowed meeting rails and rail replacement in Save America's Windows: http://www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/reports/reports.htm#Windows…

August 22

John Leeke replied to Cat Wood's discussion 'Mystery box above the porch: would a Shingle Style house have had two widow's walks?'

Yep, that's a balcony. It the early photo it looks original. It's there so you can climb out the window to stand and see what's going on up and down the street, or enjoy the early morning air. Toss some pillows and quilts out there and bed down to w…

August 20

John Leeke replied to Kathy O'Brien's discussion 'Paint removers'

It can work on any heavy buildup of paint on wood. For interior work you have to carefully consider the residual steam and what effect that will have on the building. For example, it might (probably will) condense on other surfaces, or lead to moist…

August 13

John Leeke replied to Kathy O'Brien's discussion 'Paint removers'

Forgot to mention: Always test out two to three paint removal methods, then use the one that works best. John www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

August 13

Comment Wall (20 comments)

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At 9:52pm on August 25, 2010, James S. Manista said…: Dear Mr. Leeke: Thanks for your comment and attached help. I've been inspired by your website and have taken encouragement for this task from your example.

At 12:40am on February 12, 2010, Don Farrall said…: The house was "engineered" and had to follow current framing practices to meet building codes. The tall walls and slate roof made the house "very heavy" requiring 6x6 posts in the exterior walls at a number of locations. This is no to say that "Old houses" are not well built. I do understand the question. We did have prefabricated roof trusses assembled off site. This made the attic un-useable, but it is very sturdy. There is only one pipe penetrating the roof for plumbing air relief, and it is hidden behind one of the chimneys, and wrapped in lead. This was a difficult thing to accomplish, but I just hate loads of pipes poking out of roof tops.

At 3:26pm on November 21, 2009, Susan said…: John, if you go to the main page of HUD.GOV and type in restoration loans in the box in upper right hand corner, it will take you to a page of all the different types of HUD backed loans. Halfway down the page is a title "Rehad A Home w/HUD's 203(K)." If I knew how to cut and paste I would do that part for you. This loan has been around for several decades and was tweeked in 1978, according to their website. The 203(K) loan can be used to acquire & rehabilitate a home or can be used to just rehab. The rehab information reads, "To provide funds for the rehabilitation the mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property with the work completed taking into account the cost of the work." The webpage further instructs the homeowner to contact an FHA-approved lender in your area or the Homeownership Center in your area. Since we already owned our home we were interested in the rehab only. It is a high interest loan, but it enabled us to obtain the funding for our roof, gutters, and downspouts. One year later we re-financed to a low interest FHA loan. The paperwork involved for obtaining a 203(K) loan is tedious and long. Not many mortgage companies in my area were willing to pursue this type of loan. My own mortgage company refused my request for slate vs. asphalt shingles and backed out altogether. I found a new mortgage company willing to do the paperwork and willing to go the extra mile for restoration vs. rehabilitation. Our house is in a really depressed area of Ohio and very few homeowners here had utilized this type of restoration loan before. I did have numerous conversations with the HUD Philadelphia Regional Office and they were very kind and sent me all the information they had on this particular loan program. From start to finish, the whole loan process took over two years to complete. If you would like more in-depth details you can reach me via email at victoriangemeiner1903@yahoo.com.

At 6:18pm on February 17, 2009, John Rodgers said…: John~

I just tried to give you a call at the number you left me and the guy said it was a wrong number. Please shoot me an email at jrodger1@bellsouth.net or respond with another number here when you get a chance. My board is interested in getting you down here, and the event is growing bigger and bigger as we go--it's looking like we could draw quite a crowd from both New Orleans and Baton Rouge (since we're located directly in the middle of them), in addition to interest from the other Main Street communities in the state.

At 11:04pm on February 10, 2009, John Rodgers said…: sounds great John...I'll get in touch with you this week or next to discuss estimated costs. Hell, I'd be happy to let you use all the windows in my home as practice subjects for whoever attends. : )

I'll run it by my board and see what they're thoughts are once I get estimated costs from you. I've got a location we can work out of, there are more than enough windows to go around, and quite a few willing participants I would imagine. I've got a few organizations in the area that may be able to throw some sponsorship money at the event as well, but it would be great for the workshop and for the community as a whole to have OHJ as a sponsor as well. Love the idea of broadcasting it along the web to assist others...and I've got a few small cable tv contacts in the area that may be willing to air it as well.

At 5:42pm on February 10, 2009, John Rodgers said…: John~

By chance do you all pack up and do window restoration workshops throughout the country? I'd love to get you all here in town to inform the community on your techniques and expertise. We're the 2nd largest historic district in the state behind the French Quarter, yet still seem to have a steady flow of vinyl windows suddenly replacing those 'ugly old wood windows' over the weekends when code enforcement and the HDC are not around.

At 11:11am on January 3, 2009, Dave Klear said…: Guess the pic didn't work the first time

At 11:10am on January 3, 2009, Dave Klear said…: Thanks John
ITs been an interesting end of the year and looking at new beginnings. Spent thanksgiving with daugeters family building a shave horse from log to finish with hand tools.

At 3:27pm on December 15, 2008, Bruce Rosenbaum said…: John -- I'm in total agreement! It's what we should have learned in kindergarten about being kind and helping others.

By the way -- my new decorating mode is Steampunk -- it's the essence of ModVic. I'll check out your workshop. Thanks, Bruce

At 12:44pm on December 15, 2008, Bruce Rosenbaum said…: John -- my main business is a life-event direct marketing company, N2N Direct (www.n2ndirect.com). Our niche direct mail company targets new home homebuyers just before or after they move into their new home and sends them real gift certificates from local, regional and national businesses (i.e.Comcast, Allied Waste, Jordan's Furniture, etc).

I'm now trying to apply my niche marketing skills to my Victorian Home Restoration business, ModVic (www.modvic.com) It took me a little while to figure out -- but 3 is the magical number in marketing and selling of a unique home in a down real estate market.

Usually 3 is associated with negative outcomes. 1) Two's company -- three's a crowd; 2) Third Place: Win, Place and 'Show' and 3) Don't light 3 matches (in the war trenches -- the third soldier would usually be in the line of fire because the enemy would see the first light, get ready to shoot on the second light and fire on the third).

In marketing (especially direct marketing) -- it usually takes 3 communications or "touches" to get through someone's attention (wall) barrier. When you are direct marketing -- the first two mailings will soften up your prospect -- the third mailing is more likely the one to effect a response. If you want to really make an impact, you need to think "campaign" in your mailings vs a solo shot.

I've now taken this concept and applied it to creatively marketing and selling our unique Victorian Italianate home in North Attleboro. However, all 3 marketing efforts have to be interconnected and should have some combination of being "online and offline". Here's the 3 plan:

1) BACK HOME TO THE FUTURE -- ModVic's Time Machine Adventure

Pictures speak a 1000 words. Moving pictures speak a 1000 words x 10. Home tour videos can be one of your best marketing and selling tools when you're trying to find the right person for your home that can live anywhere in the country or for that fact, the world. Virtual tours have their place (I've done that too), but they do not provide the human element or the lasting expression of a human story or history connected to your special property.

A home tour video with a realtor or owner walking through the property is the next best step up than a virtual tour -- but we wanted to go one better -- to come up with a creative storyline to entertain along with presenting our unique Victorian Italianate home in its best light. The story of 'Back Home to the Future' www.youtube.com/modvic111 was born and came to life with the help of some friends and family.

Here is the storyline:

An original 1877 Victorian Homeowner travels forward in time to see his restored home modernized in 2008. In the home’s restoration, Bruce and Melanie Rosenbaum, owners of ModVic (Modern Victorian Home Restoration) find the plans to build a time machine in one of the home’s walls – put there by the original owner, Benjamin Stanley Freeman – a wealthy jewelry manufacturer who did his own Italianate transformation in 1877. Mr Freeman wanted to see what his home would look like 100+ years after his “remodeling” – so Bruce and Melanie build the time machine and bring Mr. Freeman forward in time to view his own home at 390 Mount Hope Street in North Attleboro MA – 131 years into his future.

The unique home tour video helps to give people a real sense of what the home is like and the history of its owners -- but how do you get people to watch it? In the digital age, the best bet now is YouTube.com. It's free and you can start off with telling your family and friends to watch your video and build up your "views" to induce a viral marketing campaign. We already have over 450 views and we're hoping at some point the right viewer will end up being the right buyer.

2) Win a Time Machine and Get a FREE Victorian Home Italianate Home!

I don't expect someone to come to Ebay looking to purchase a Time Machine, spend $1.3MM to win the item and move into their new Victorian home shortly afterwoods. The idea is to get attention and get people talking about the creative approach in selling a unique home. Again, trying to get viral in your marketing efforts. We've also listed our website and the YouTube link to our home tour video so the marketing "touches" are connected and helping to feed off one another.

3) First Time Ever --4 Historic 'Homes for Sale" OPEN HOUSE Tour on the South Shore of Massachusetts

It helps if you can make the sale of your home an "event" that gets people excited to attend and enjoy. Some realtors have had themed Open Houses that combine specific homes in a development, neighborhood or area that prospective buyers can save time by viewing the homes right after one another.

As far as I know -- no one has offered a Historic 'Homes for Sale' OPEN HOUSE Tour and used an "antique treasure hunt" theme to get people from one historic house to the next. All the antique homes on our tour are at least 100 years old and have been fully restored and modernized. Our Historic OPEN HOUSE Tour started in Sharon MA at a Victorian Craftsman home (our primary home), then to Foxboro, Mansfield and ending up at our Victorian Italianate home in North Attleboro.

In the marketing of the Historic OPEN HOUSE tours (newspapers, brochures, website) we also mentioned our home tour video on YouTube.com. We also got a 2 minute story on the Channel 5 news segment, "Your Money". You can view it at www.modvic.com/wcvb.

There it is -- the magical power of 3 in finding the right person to buy our unique Victorian Italianate home. Please spread the good word 'virus' and hopefully the marketing magic will be performing at a theatre close to you.

I've also listened to The Long Tail on a book tape and loved the concept -- I'm not sure how I would apply it to the sale of one Victorian home (extreme outlier). I will get the Storm Cunningham's book, "The Restoration Economy" to see if it sparks any additional ideas for marketing.

In the end, the "market" has trumped any "marketing" so far -- I just think it's going to take a little more time for the economy to rebound and put more needles in the haystack for us to find. Let me know if you have any additional thoughts on creatively marketing a historic home in an historically bad real estate market.