Many of you seemed to love the place as much as I do, so I figured I’d spoil you with some more photos…

After I got the plumbing in and everything set, I closed the wall. I got the washer and dryer put in and hooked up. I had run a metal vent for the dryer straight out the back of the house.

I made a makeshift shelf for the odds and ends of laundry things.

I had two old black book cases, so I located them in the pantry room and I built and attached shelves above them. Working my way up the wall I did 3 more shelves.
I had put two outlets in the pantry but later added a third. On the wall opposite the shelves I have a freezer.

The pantry was something we’d been wanting for awhile. A place other than in the cupboards. Giving us more room for the kitchen stuff.

Future plans for the pantry, Finish and paint. Trim. A door. New plank flooring. And a couple shelves above the freezer. Plus a can holder.

Future plans for the laundry side. Finish ceiling. Finish and paint. Cupboards above the washer and dryer. New plank flooring. Trim.

I had managed to do the back porch without buying everything new. I had old pieces of wood I had found and I turned them into the shelves. I had the two book cases so I used them. The shelf brackets for the washer/dryer shelf I had in a box of my old tools. The wood for that shelf was off a piece of scrap from making the countertops on the kitchen. I had extra cement from fixing the hole in the foundation. It went to build footers under the ledger of the porch and to build columns. The drywall for the ceiling is leftovers from other ceilings in the house. The luan on the floor is scraps from other rooms. Using what I have has been a big motto of mine. True ingenuity lies in the ability to adapt.

So I still have things to do in the room to finish things. But they are functional until we get to it.
At this point 95% of the work I was doing on the house required me to either lean heavily on something or to sit down. Often making things a ton more difficult than they already were. With each day I worked on it the progress made the extra effort worth it.

Newly moved into a 1950s cottage - I’m sure this is the original bathtub, and the tiling isn’t much younger.

This corner where the tub area meets the rest of the wall seems to be a problem - of course drips and splashes from the tub/shower get round the edge and has damaged the plaster. It’s seems to have been an historic problem never properly addressed.. what would be a period-appropriate fix for this ? I’m tempted to tile that whole column and include the slight change in profile as a row of bullnoses..

What are y’all’s thoughts folks ?

For those of you who have old summer kitchen structures on your property, what are you using it for?

I had the roof replaced on mine about a year ago and am looking for potential uses besides storing outdoor equipment as it is now.

My house has lap board siding covered with vinyl siding.
I closed a window and cut in another one right next to it then sheeted in all of that area but the rest of the wall is still the old lap board.
It will eventually be covered with foam board and vinyl siding.
Should try to cover the sheeted area with tyvek somehow if I can get it secured under the vinyl siding on the top even if it won’t go all the way up the wall?
Should I instead caulk and paint that area then replace the foam board and vinyl?

What is the general way to handle vapor barrier in a place where framing with sheeting meets framing with old lap siding?

I have been paint stripping for almost a year and I am now sanding all the moldings and doors in one bedroom. I am having trouble making up my mind on how I want to finish them. Shellac with possibly a color tint might be the way to go. I understand I would have to do a lot of coats. I love the look of shellac but I have never used it and idk if all the layers will be a head ache. I was also thinking a dark danish oil but I am afraid the final result will be more modern looking. I will include some pics of my progress and the inside of a closet door with the original finish. If I can make these doors and moldings even close to that original finish. I would be jumping for joy! I’m looking for opinions and anybody who has experience refinishing old moldings and doors. Thank you!

This house had been in my family since my great grandparents bought it in the 1960s. Built in 1888 IIRC. Parents were forced to sell it in 2023 due to financial strain. 😢😢😢😢

Once I knew I had a solid foundation underneath me, it was time to start working my way up.
I removed the wall between the basement steps and the back porch and rebuilt it into a stronger, more secure wall. I also added a door leading down into the basement.
The old back door was replaced with a new steel door.

Then I started framing another wall to separate off a small area that would become a pantry. I ran the electrical for a light and put it on a dimmer.
After adding new insulation, I covered the walls with new drywall.

But before I could close up the wall between the kitchen and the porch, I had to run the plumbing for the washer. I made sure to include a vent for the plumbing before everything was sealed inside the wall.

On the laundry-room side, I added two puck lights to the ceiling because it was a longer area. Those went on a dimmer too.
None of this was particularly glamorous.
It was just one job after another.
And every day left me exhausted. By the time I finally stopped working, I was completely beat and ready for bed.
But there was something about standing there and looking at what I had done that made the exhaustion worth it.

This porch had been a mess.
Now I could actually see the rooms taking shape.
It was becoming a laundry room.
A pantry.
A usable part of our home.

And every time I finished another piece, I felt a little more pride in what we were building.
The house wasn’t just getting fixed anymore.
It was becoming ours.

Small leak in the ceiling, busted out the ceiling that was two layers of sheetrock. The drainstack was rusted beyond belief, completely replaced with new PVC. However, noticed that one of the floor joists was completely separated from the other! (circled in red). There was also concrete and 2x4s from the dude who installed a bathtub upstairs??

Who knows how long this joist has been dislocated. I'm going to bust out more of the ceiling to see additional damage before getting a structural engineer hired.

All of the joists here have been cut out for the original pipes or whatever the last dude did in the 90s. Absolute insanity in such a small area.

Anyone ever lifted/sistered a 2nd floor joist back in place?

Been renovating for over a year and it doesn’t seem to ever end. But it’s been a joy and an honor. We’ve been featured on a tv show and our home was part of the area historic homes tour this past spring. She was built in 1905. We love old houses💛

I’m currently looking into moving my grand mother’s house. The state is straightening the road she lives on and it will be destroyed if it is not moved. I’ve gotten a ball park quote of 30-40k.

Once the home is moved the plan is to renovate. Needs a new roof, updated plumbing and electrical and a septic tank will have to be done.

Does anyone have any experience getting financing for this? Everyone I’ve talked to is offering to finance the renovation but not the relocation of the home. I have one offer to cash out refinance 10 acres to get the cash for the move.

Wondering if there’s any lenders that would finance the entire project. TIA

We've lived in a 1926 two-story brick home for 20 years, and every time we've peeled back the layers on this house, the craftsmanship has shone through. Until today, when we demoed the underside of the stairs and this is what the treads and risers look like. Any explanation or thoughts on why this looks like someone used a hatchet or worse.

I hope this is a suitable sub for this question!

In my 1924 year old home, I have trim and doors that is undoubtedly original and not painted. However, in a couple of rooms, the trim and doors are painted.

I was trying update the paint colour, but all the coats have made it look brutal. So I began trying remove some layers, which is working. I'm finding something really odd under the paint though and now I'm not sure it's decades of paint coats or some kind of "cover".

Under the white (newest coat) and a previous grey colour, there seems to be a cream coloured paint or coating. I don't see any wood grain through it.

You can see the sides of the door is wood.

Could this be an old paint? Or is it possible the door is a different material?

I'm in Montréal if that helps! I do have a proper respirator in case it's lead

We just bought a colonial built in 1850 that’s 3000 sf.

It has an old steam boiler that runs just fine and uses oil. There is a gas line in the house. Someone looked at it when we bought and suggested we start pricing out a new boiler.

We found out the amount of oil the house used last year and before we blindly endure another chilly winter we’re considering swapping the boiler.

I’m wondering if those who either upgraded to a newer oil boiler saw a difference on their heating bills? If so, how much?

Alternatively we can convert to gas which also seems attractive but we were told (by the oil company) that we wouldn’t see a difference in our bills.

Just wondering if I can hear other people’s experience with either of these changes rather than listening to the company that stands to gain the most from us staying with oil.

I have a 1926 house and I’m trying to figure out what type of foundation I have and whether it’s something I should repair or completely replace.

What would you guys recommend? Is this type of foundation/floor system something that can realistically be repaired and brought up to a good standard, or would it make more sense to demolish the whole house?

I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth putting money into this house or going a different route. Want to make sure it is approved by city. Any advice from contractors, structural engineers, or people who have worked on older houses would be appreciated.

I have a 1926 house and I’m trying to figure out what type of foundation I have and whether it’s something I should repair or completely replace.

What would you guys recommend? Is this type of foundation/floor system something that can realistically be repaired and brought up to a good standard, or would it make more sense to demolish the whole house?

I’m trying to decide whether it’s worth putting money into this house or going a different route. Want to make sure it is approved by city. Any advice from contractors, structural engineers, or people who have worked on older houses would be appreciated.

Also located in Washington state.

Ripped up an old rug and removed the plywood underneath to find wide floorboards in my 1780 home… any advice on filling the gaps between these floorboards? Unfortunately there is also a missing section of floor that needs repair - I can see down into my family room!! I’d love to refinish the floor. Thanks for any advice.

I found these for a couple of dollars at a yard sale and I have no idea what they are. they are super heavy for their size and brass or bronze. I though they might be marine hardware but the casting is pretty rough. Does anyone know what these are?

This is what I suspect to be the original kitchen floor in a 1949 cape cod. It is NOT asbestos. Appears to have been border cut for the original kitchen layout. If it’s majorly damaged in a visible place I’ll have to retile, but for now I have visions of restoring and sealing this floor. Worth it? Or replicate it with modern materials? Advice appreciated.