The Good News About Deferred Maintenance

Old houses get a bad rap for needing tons of maintenance. Let’s set the record straight - ALL houses need maintenance. New houses may be especially problematic because 1) they use materials that are touted as “maintenance free” - e.g., vinyl siding and windows, 2) those materials can age in unattractive and sometimes calamitous ways, and 3) it is often impossible to repair modern materials and...

Through the Glass: A History of Windows and Their Significance

Is there one historic feature you consider “to die for” - literally? For you, maybe it’s a cupola or a wraparound porch. For me, it’s windows. I once campaigned to preserve the old wood windows in my New York City tenement apartment (needless to say, the landlord paid no heed). When I finally became the owner of my own ca-1890 house, its original windows were among the main attractions. The...