A Distinctive Home in the Storied “Playground on the Potomac” – Lester Cottage – CIRCA Old Houses
Newsflash! Regardless of what the vinyl window and siding sales force would have us believe, there’s no such thing as maintenance-free. ALL homes require steady, ongoing care. The beauty of OLD homes (I mean, beyond the obvious…) is how gracefully they accept attention and love. But we have to keep at it. Skip one season of paint touch-ups or gutter cleaning, and we’ve tripped up in the perennial dance with nature.
As we head into cold weather, here’s some advice to help keep you on your toes:
1.Clean exterior dirt/debris/mildew, and touch up paint. Paint can be pretty, but its primary job is to protect the exterior. While still lovely and definitely worth preserving, this ca-1890 cottage in Virginia has missed more than a few seasons of cleaning and paint, which can lead to bigger problems including rot from moisture seeping into the wood.
1. Check exterior masonry for missing mortar. The ca-1917 Corrigan House in Missouri is a stunning example of Neo-Colonial style…and also a reminder that even sturdy brick houses need seasonal love.
2. Clean out gutters. Leaves and other debris need to be removed from these beautiful copper gutters. Standing water that can’t drain properly will corrode the metal or freeze and cause ice dams.
3. Install storm windows. These original wood windows are winter-ready with exterior storms.
5. Check weatherstripping around doors and windows. Original windows and doors get a bad rap for “rattling” – that just means they need to be properly weatherstripped!
6. Clean chimneys. Wouldn’t you just love to cozy up to a fire in this luxurious ca-1897 “Dutch Neo-Classical” home in Michigan? Soot build-up (and bird nests) in the flue can be dangerous, though, so make sure to have chimneys professionally cleaned every year (that goes for boiler/furnace chimneys, too).
7. Make sure dampers are closed when fireplaces are not in use. An open damper is like an open window, so once you’re done with your cheery fire, make sure to seal the chimney back up to keep the warm air from your heating system from escaping.
8. Service HVAC equipment. For maximum efficiency, heating systems need to be kept clean, too.
Congratulations! You’re well on your way to getting your home ready for winter. Look for more tips in my next post. For more advice and mentorship on historic preservation strategy, sign up for the Worth Preserving newsletter!
AUTHOR KATE WOOD grew up criss-crossing the country in the family’s Volkswagen Bus, visiting house museums, battlefields, Main Streets, and national parks. Today, she is an award-winning preservationist, real estate broker and principal of the full-service historic rehabilitation consulting firm, Worth Preserving. Kate believes in the essential value of old-building stewardship to sustain community character. For her, each property is a cause and each client a fellow advocate. She specializes in matching people with properties, skilled contractors, historic tax credits and other benefits to support top-tier rehabilitation projects.
