Featured Blog Posts – August 2010 Archive (7)

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

Our old house, which we have owned for 10 days now, is an 1882 vernacular on a tiny lot in a wonderful historic district on a hill overlooking the ancient church steeples of the up and coming-back little downtown in our mid-sized Virginia burg. The local historic foundation calls our house an Italianate because of the roof brackets and arched window head trims, but that's a little bit of a generous stretch. When people see the house, I am too quick to point out that we bought it solely for the… Continue

We are making progress! We have decided to keep the house on the hill on a 1.5 acre lot. The house is in the process of being approved for an historic restriction which has just been drafted. Preservation Worcester has agreed to hold the restriction and the house has moved to market! Wish us luck as we are looking for someone to fill the home with a family and to restore the old lady! Another photo by Andrew Barr, Photographer, for your pleasure!…

Continue

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

==> Painting: pre-treatments, oil-base primer, acrylic… Continue

If you read Jefferson Kolle's article on lightning rods in the July 2010 issue, this might be of interest Or, if you didn't, it is still fun 'cuz Mark Twain ALWAYS "cut to the chase" on an issue. . .Enjoy!

===================



Political Economy



Written in 1870 by Mark Twain (1835-1910)



POLITICAL Economy is the basis of all good government. The wisest men of all ages have brought to bear upon this subject the --



[Here I was interrupted and informed… Continue

Many developments in these last weeks. Sanding, cleaning, priming, plating, excavating, concrete, water diversion. I can't believe how much

we've accomplished in so little time.

We finally finished the sanding, hallelujah! We were all tired, happy, and incredibly sore. So the next weekend, we rounded up wash buckets and rags and after vacuuming the entire upstairs - every blasted surface - walls, ceilings, woodwork, floors, radiators (amazing how much dirt those buggers can…

Continue

My wife and I just closed on a 110 year old country house built by a doctor. We are trying to stay in the time period and would like to know if anyone would know colors for this or where we can obtain color schemes. The outside is pretty much a white house, can anyone help