I'm looking at those photos and wondering if it's really worth the time and money to renovate something so close to collapse. You know 90% if the wood remaining has to be rotted, termite riddled and weak.
Termites do not do well where there is freezing weather in the winter. Even in the South, heart pine, which is what old timbers were hewn from, is not susceptible to termites. Termites live in the ground. they are tempted to come out in search of water. So, houses with leaking water lines attract them. The problem with old barns is that the wood is very susceptible to fire. However, sheetrock is a great fire-retardant.
People in Vermont really love their barns. There is even a Facebook group just for posting photos of old barns and other interesting Vermont buildings. They hold so much history and represent generations of family farms.
Ah, the thing is, some of us never liked the old normal. I hope we adopt a new normal going forward. How about more working from home as a regular thing, and more privacy in general? How about getting together with loved ones and not feeling obligated to join or champion causes that take more energy than we can well give?
I bought a house from the mid 1800's that at one point had had a termite attack, about 1900, and the repairs were made with packing boxes from the shipping crates of the students at the Wright brothers flight school in College Park, Maryland. Ya never know, eh?
The reason I know that is the shipping info painted on the boxes was visible in the subfloor replacement in the basement. But the house itself was fascinating on its own--one of several overseers' houses from a major plantation. I personally would have hated to have missed the joy and interest and history of the house had it been torn down. It was basically saved in the late 70s because the builder was too cheap to tear it down and rebuild another of his fake brick ramblers. So he just put aluminum siding over the original chestnut, and let it go.
Even more fascinating than the story of my house. Built in 1887, not that long after the Chicago Fire, when people who had been burned out decided that rather than rebuilding in place they would take that new-fangled commuter train out to Oak Park.
After much research, I have finally decided which camera to buy. It's been quite a learning curve and I want this to be the last camera I ever have to purchase. I've been using little pocket sized cameras for decades. But my favourite camera was my Canon AE-1, all-manual camera, which I had when our oldest children were very little. Some of my best photographs ever, especially of the children, were taken with that camera. So I decided to go back to the SLR style camera, but not a film camera this time, but digital. I've been saving up, but needed more $ to make it possible. This is where part of my Relief check will go. I am getting a Sony RX10 IV camera. I expect to learn a lot from it, and as I love photography, this will be a joy. I need some joy in my life. I especially love that I will be able to make precious memories with it.
I'm looking at those photos and wondering if it's really worth the time and money to renovate something so close to collapse. You know 90% if the wood remaining has to be rotted, termite riddled and weak.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the framing and foundations are OK.
DeleteTermites do not do well where there is freezing weather in the winter. Even in the South, heart pine, which is what old timbers were hewn from, is not susceptible to termites. Termites live in the ground. they are tempted to come out in search of water. So, houses with leaking water lines attract them.
DeleteThe problem with old barns is that the wood is very susceptible to fire. However, sheetrock is a great fire-retardant.
People in Vermont really love their barns. There is even a Facebook group just for posting photos of old barns and other interesting Vermont buildings. They hold so much history and represent generations of family farms.
DeleteLate-Stage Pandemic Is Messing With Your Brain [Click] “We have been doing this so long, we’re forgetting how to be normal.” So it’s not just me?
ReplyDeleteAh, the thing is, some of us never liked the old normal. I hope we adopt a new normal going forward. How about more working from home as a regular thing, and more privacy in general? How about getting together with loved ones and not feeling obligated to join or champion causes that take more energy than we can well give?
DeleteThink the point is that it isn't. It may not be as st strong as new wood, but the rotted, termite riddled and weak is what has been replaced, eh?
ReplyDeleteI bought a house from the mid 1800's that at one point had had a termite attack, about 1900, and the repairs were made with packing boxes from the shipping crates of the students at the Wright brothers flight school in College Park, Maryland. Ya never know, eh?
ReplyDeleteThe reason I know that is the shipping info painted on the boxes was visible in the subfloor replacement in the basement. But the house itself was fascinating on its own--one of several overseers' houses from a major plantation. I personally would have hated to have missed the joy and interest and history of the house had it been torn down. It was basically saved in the late 70s because the builder was too cheap to tear it down and rebuild another of his fake brick ramblers. So he just put aluminum siding over the original chestnut, and let it go.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a story, puddle. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteEven more fascinating than the story of my house. Built in 1887, not that long after the Chicago Fire, when people who had been burned out decided that rather than rebuilding in place they would take that new-fangled commuter train out to Oak Park.
DeleteSign the petition: Tell Dog Rescue Charity to Return Money it Funneled to Mar-a-lago - Click
ReplyDeleteTell a Trump to forego the income from a fraud? That would be like telling a fish to do without water, I think.
DeleteOHIO; COVID cases 988,298 and same # of deaths as yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...
DeleteAmazon Pulls [All] Books Framing LGBTQ+ Identities As Mental Illness After GOP Complaint [About Pulling One] [Click] “Probably not the outcome the Republican senators wanted.”
ReplyDeleteHouse Oversight Committee demands release of $6B USPS vehicle contract [Click] Sounds like Mr. DeJoy just might have done another very poor job. And clearly there was some serious insider trading.
ReplyDeletePolice clash with mourners at Sarah Everard vigil in London [Click] Are today’s bobbies born so stupid, or do they have to take pills?
ReplyDeleteOh, that is all kinds of messed up.
DeleteWhat on Earth where they thinking!?!!
VTcases: 16,698-16,623 = 75
ReplyDelete2450 active cases
214 deaths(+2)
Recovered 14,034 (84%)
Hospital:29(+6) ICU:4(0)
Tests 340,829 (+619)
After much research, I have finally decided which camera to buy. It's been quite a learning curve and I want this to be the last camera I ever have to purchase. I've been using little pocket sized cameras for decades. But my favourite camera was my Canon AE-1, all-manual camera, which I had when our oldest children were very little. Some of my best photographs ever, especially of the children, were taken with that camera.
ReplyDeleteSo I decided to go back to the SLR style camera, but not a film camera this time, but digital. I've been saving up, but needed more $ to make it possible. This is where part of my Relief check will go. I am getting a Sony RX10 IV camera. I expect to learn a lot from it, and as I love photography, this will be a joy. I need some joy in my life. I especially love that I will be able to make precious memories with it.