Phil Male Williamsport, PA United States: Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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Old House Interior Decor…

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The Jewelry of the antiq…

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Tankless or other hot water heater experiences
24 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by James Olson Jun 21, 2012.

Looking for advice on sealing slate (or other stone in a shower)

Started Feb 4, 2012

hair dryer to dry spot painting?
1 Reply

Started this discussion. Last reply by Lair Tienter Dec 7, 2011.

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Latest Activity

Phil replied to Amanda Stroud's discussion Painting a picket fence when Tom Sawyer's gang is not available

"I think that a sprayer could not be used to do it without a lot of drip issues and difficulty with uniform thickness. Also, any low skilled person will do a job that you won't appreciate. I would probably do it myself. Or, if…"

May 6

Phil replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Basement Window Wells

"Just saw this post from over a month ago. I can see why you are putting in window wells. But I have to suspect that you posted this just to make me jealous about your fabulous foundation stones. Because those are fabulous…"

May 2

Phil replied to Reed Fincher's discussion 1880s Cottage with No Sheathing

"What about the window and other trim? wouldn't the depth be off on that?"

Apr 24

Phil left a comment for Katie

"I would stick with a single color two for both floors. Let the textural difference of the shingles be a subtle change. Also, I would paint the windows a different color, or if you want to you could paint the walls one color, the window…"

Apr 24

Phil replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Ever hear of a Free Classic style house

"Free Classic is a trimming style for late Queen Anne houses, according to the McAlester book, "A Field Guide to American Houses." I think that book is the best book for historical house identification, including details, and can…"

Apr 4

Phil replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Porch Decking Ideas

"Not sure, I have a painted porch. I would seal those tonges and grooves with something, though. Maybe some kind of deck stain that can be applied multiple times would be the way to go. I would experiment with one or two boards…"

Mar 23

Phil replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Porch Decking Ideas

"I have used Termin 8 Wood preservative with success. It has a built in stain. "

Mar 22

Phil replied to Bill Hendrickson's discussion Porch Decking Ideas

"If oak, it is probably white oak. I would avoid red oak for this application, which is much less stable than white. I have a friend who used white oak on his porch floor, and he used a stain. I believe that he did the…"

Mar 22

Profile Information

Tell us about yourself:: My family has lived in a c. 1895 Queen Anne Victorian since 1995. I am an economist.

Tell us about your old-house experiences and dreams:: Over the years I have slowly learned about how it was built and how to maintain it, as well as how not to maintain it. Whenever possible, I try to use original materials or ones that could have been used originally, or at the very least ones that look like those materials.

My house had many original elements, and I have maintained or restored most of those. Other things like lighting and doorknobs had been "upgraded" over time, so I spent the better part of 10 years haunting antique shops and ebay to find replacements that matched the style and level of my house. In the case of lighting, we have only one original gas fixture in our entry. I have tried to purchase a restrained level of gas lighting for the rest of the house, avoiding the temptation of lighting that would have been too fancy for my nice, but ultimately middle class Victorian. Lighting of that type is surprisingly cheap (much cheaper than repro), and I enjoyed collecting them.

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Phil's Blog

The window is stripped

I fully stripped the stained glass window shown in a previous post. I haven't stained it yet, though, because I didn't want to be distracted with painting or work, and I want to try to get a decent color match with my stairway. I ended up putting multiple coats of zip strip on it and scrubbing it down with 000stainless steel dipped in lacquer thinner. One day I will have to take the plunge and stain it, but I am afraid that there is paint in the pores that will end up making the wood blotchy.… Continue

Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:37am — 6 Comments

Much progress on the painting

Things are almost wrapped up. The second floor landings and hall are done and the furniture is back. Those floors are painted pine, so I felt that the paint had to cure for at least 2 weeks before the furniture was put back. We decided to put furniture felt on the bottoms of everything to reduce paint damage on the floor. If it works so well on clear coated floors, why not on paint? Also, we took this opportunity to put less stuff back on the landings than we used to have. We like the new less… Continue

Posted on August 31, 2010 at 8:31am

More Summer Painting

The entry foyer has an open stairway that goes up to the 3rd floor. Tomorrow I tackle the foyer and the landings on the 2nd and 3rd floor. 10 windows, 9 doors and some painted floors to boot. I have assembled lots of sandpaper, plastic sheeting, drop cloths, quick setting plaster (for rapid repairs on some water damaged drywall) for an all day prep fiesta. I have hired a student to help. Also, just in case that doesn't absorb all of the time, I have decided to strip a stained glass window down… Continue

Posted on July 24, 2010 at 10:08pm — 1 Comment

Summer painting jobs

So far, more than expected

Posted on July 8, 2010 at 8:02pm — 6 Comments

Comment Wall (27 comments)

At 9:13am on September 15, 2008, Eden said…: Hey Phil

I only have access to email on weekdays, so am just getting back to you. I bought my home in 1999 and after striping paint off a front porch column and woodwork in the kitchen, I found stamped in ink, NTY Wm. H, Shugars, Gordon VanTine, plus the backs of the basment steps had blue #s handwritten on them. Shugars was the original owner on my deed, 1912.

While searching for information, I asked folks on another forum if they knew of this company. Lucky for me, the GVT expert saw my quest that day and asked for a picture of my home. He ID'd it from GVT's Book of Plans, 1912-1915/1916, House Plan #122. This company was a competitor of Sears. He sent me a copy of that book of plans and a black and white photo to hang in my foyer, I think I paid him $10. A plan house differs from a kit house whereby it"s the same house you would buy as a kit but the carpenter would cut the lumber from the plan house blueprints< thus saving money There are many companies that sold these kit and plan homes darn computer will not let me type comma and periods so I will send this now

At 11:13pm on September 16, 2008, Demetra said…: I'm with you Phil. That roof should be slate, in a rich array of variegated colors...

At 8:21am on November 11, 2008, Susan said…: I should have done re-wiring a little at a time. I wasted $4,000 last summer on a guy that did not do the things I requested and did a bunch of things that I did not need. I still have wiring that needs to be completed even though I paid for things I was told I had. Live and learn. Thank you, Phil for the input.

At 8:57pm on November 21, 2008, Susan said…: The roof on the tower is copper. The seams stand up about 1/2 inch and are crimped together. I am not sure what you call the seam design. The roof is original to the house. As for dating the house I have found that the couple that built it bought the lot in 1896, and the sewer line was connected to the city sewer system in March, 1903. I have discovered a newspaper article in our local library that showed pictures of the forest that was leveled and cleared for my street. The same article stated that the houses were built, the walls plastered, and the plaster left to cure for twelve months with no windows in the houses. When the plaster had "seasoned' the windows and woodwork were installed and the houses were finished. I have uncovered signatures in pencil under the old siding on the sheathing boards.

At 4:57am on December 7, 2008, Morgan Campbell said…: Thank you for the comment Phil. I am very new to this sort of "online community" so am slow. My home reads Vancouver Edwardian/craftsman builder (very humble) and I am searching through my photos to find one to add online. Your home is beautiful! It is unusual in its combination of styles - the gambrel roof, tower, Eastlake elements - this old house passion is exciting!

See you online,
Morgan

At 3:45pm on December 20, 2008, Jane Powell said…: Thanks, Phil. Glad you liked the article. My favorite built-in in my own house is a bench in the upstairs hall which opens to reveal the laundry chute. And all my built-ins have fake pegged thru-tenons, which amuses me no end.

Since it's been cold here the last few days (in California that means 50 degrees- that's Spring in places with real weather!), I've been in the attic rolling out more insulation. It has to be that cold outside in order to go up there for any length of time, since there's absolutely no ventilation.

At 10:37am on February 2, 2009, Craig Phillips / B & C Emporium said…: Hi Phil, Welcome to the Jewlery of the Antique homes goup,
Craig Phillips
B & C Emporium

At 3:38pm on March 6, 2009, John (OldHouseTours.com) said…: I have video of the house with the tower that I will be putting online probably next week. Stay tuned. I will be launching a new site with it.

At 7:01pm on March 10, 2009, Swede said…: My building is in "downtown" Lindsborg. I've driven through Newton. Good looking town with nice hospital.

At 3:33pm on March 31, 2009, Sarah said…: Phil - your house is gorgeous! I love the exterior color scheme - and kudos for doing the slate roof. We have a slate roof in the building where I work, and it unloads snow like crazy - no ice dams! Thanks for your kind comments about our kitchen.