The Historic HomeWorks website first went online back in 1994, so after 22 years I thought it might be a good idea to:
- Preserve all the best content you have found so useful.
- Restore a few lost features.
- Renovate the place so it is easier to use.
- Repair a few little items that were broken.
- Renew my long-time commitment to helping you take care of your older and historic buildings.
As always, take care, work safe and keep in touch.
Your pal in preservation,
John
Hello John,
I am so glad to find you & your website ! I have started to wonder if anyone “appreciates” our history anymore! I am the owner of a home built in 1763 by Peter Matteson in southwestern Vermont (Shaftsbury). It is in “north shaftsbury” and is also known as “little Rhode Island” by the older “true Vermonters” in town. Owned by the Matteson’s until the early 20’s….then taken over by “Count and Lady Gosford” until they “passed” in the late 60’s. Lady Gosford had a “trust fund ” and it was to go to the town of Shaftsbury Historical Society but ended up with the Bennington Museum which ran it as a “Tavern Museum”. We have owned it since Aug. 2003. I am looking forward to “picking ” your “brai…!” for some good ideas !
Don S.
Hi, John,
I’ve owned and used your Practical Restoration Report on wood gutters for about 20 years; it’s been a vital help in restoration and maintenance of my wood gutters for a long time now, so thanks again! I do have a topic where I’d like your advice. Briefly, I’ve let maintenance slip for a couple of years and now resolve to make up for lost time, in particular to renew all the gutter joints and to treat all the wood with a preservative (TBD, still examining research). On the joints, these are miters that are all joined with nails outside + lead flashing inside, placed over beveled channels. My question is this: is the lead flashing + sealant approach still the best for inside the gutter? I ask because I’m seeing inputs in various discussion threads that indicate some installers are skipping the lead entirely and just using some types of sealants to cover the inside surfaces. What do you think?