Planning for longevity is worth the effort.
To further separate our 1920s cottage from the traffic on a somewhat busy street, we knew we’d be replacing the poor quality fence around our entire yard. That would enhance our privacy, and also keep our dog, Lily, and a flock of chickens safe.
Determined that this would be the first and last fence we ever build, we used grade “A and better” Western red cedar for the pickets and good-quality cedar for rails and posts. We also scrupulously primed and painted every conceivable surface that might encounter water. The fence cost twice as much as one with similar-looking components, but the results are worth the price and months of effort we put in.
The finished fence has a graceful scalloped line to frame flowering plants, much like a basket.
PICKETS
Denne historien er fra July/August 2017-utgaven av Old House Journal.
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Denne historien er fra July/August 2017-utgaven av Old House Journal.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
a farmhouse renewed
Sensitive renovations and restoration work preserved a house that dates to 1799.
AN OVERVIEW OF METAL ROOFING
METAL ROOFS ARE RESURGENT, FOR GOOD REASONS.
ENDURING BEAUTY IN WALLS of STONE
Now back in the family who had been here since 1830, the old farmhouse is again ready for generations to come. Additions dating to 1840 and the 1950s were preserved.
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS COME TO LIFE
Owners and their designer celebrate the unique features of a 1912 Arts & Crafts Tudor.
For a Wet Basement Wall
If there's problem common to old houses, it's a wet basement. I'm not talking about occasional flooding, but rather a basement that apparently seeps or leaks after even a rain shower or during snowmelt. Several approaches are available; sustainable solutions will get to the root of the problem.
Patching a Plaster Wall
Fix a hole in the wall with a few common tools and some drywall supplies. Practice your technique!
Navigating the Lumberyard
Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard.
Roofing & Siding
Make note of these historical and unusual materials for the building envelope.
The Riddle of the water
When water incursion happens, the roof isn't necessarily the culprit. Maybe snaking a drain line, or clearing debris from a clogged gutter, temporarily will stem a leak. But a recurring problem usually means other forces are at work. It takes persistence-and a team with the right skills and patience—to identify the source and apply a solution.
Light-filled Craftsman Redo
For a dark kitchen in a 1914 Illinois house, the trick was anchoring white expanses with woodsy warmth.
