1. Know your maintenance cycles. The majority of structures require tuckpointing maintenance every 50 to 60 years.
2. Match the mortar. New mortar must match as carefully as possible in color, consistency, and elevation. Using excessive Portland cement in the mix develops hard mortars, which can harm old structures.
3. Never grind out joints. Only scrubby mortar must be gotten rid of. If somebody informs you otherwise, run.
4. Never utilize sealants. Sealers trap moisture, intensifying problems during freeze/thaw cycles.
5. Replace in kind. Damaged masonry systems need to be replaced whole or by means of Dutchmen of the exact same material. Spaces filled with putty don't last.
-- Jacob Arndt, Preservation Expert, Architectural Stone Carver
Radiators
6. Do not throttle a one-pipe steam radiator The steam and condensate have to share that confined area. Keep the valve either completely open or totally closed to prevent water hammering and spraying air vents.
7. Develop a perfect pitch. One-pipe steam radiators need to pitch toward the supply valve. Use two checkers under radiator feet-- they're the best sizes and shape.
8. Gain control. Thermostatic radiator valves are a great way to zone any radiator and save fuel. Hot-water and two-pipe steam radiators get them on the supply side; one-pipe steam radiators get them between the radiator and the air vent.
Old radiator.
( Photo: Sylvia Gashi-Silver).
9. Get a terrific finish. Pros agree that sandblasting followed by powder coating provides the best, lasting, non-sticky finish-- however do not attempt this at home.
10. Do not stress over fires. Even with steam heat, a radiator gets just about half as hot as the temperature needed to kindle paper, so you can rest easy.
-- Dan Holohan, Author, The Lost Art of Steam Heating.
Woodworking.
11. Use heartwood. Heartwood is constantly the most disease-resistant. Sapwood of most species ought to never ever be used.
12. Rift or quarter-grain cuts are best. These cuts are the most stable. Flat grain frequently broadens and contracts seasonally at two times the rate of quartered stock.
13. Set up plain sawn lumber with the heart side up. Flat lumber will wear much better with the heart facing up. If there's cupping, the edges will remain flat, and just the center will hump a little.
14. Discover to use hand tools. Most historical woodwork was produced by hand tools, and the majority of machine-made millwork (late 19th century and after) was installed with them. Historical woodwork finishes produced with hand airplanes can't be reproduced by modern-day machines like sanders.
15. Use traditional joinery. Component repairs must be made using conventional joinery rather of non-historic techniques like a wholesale epoxy casting of a missing part.
-- Robert Adam, Founder and Senior Advisor, Conservation Carpentry Department, North Bennet Street School.
Slate Roof, refurbishing old houses.
Slate roofing on a turret, remodeling old houses.
Slate roofing system on a turret. (Image: Nathan Winter Season).
16. Recognize your slate.To properly take care of your slate roof, learn what kind of slate it is. Simply as you can't fix a Chevy with Ford parts, you must never ever utilize New York red slate on a Pennsylvania gray slate roofing system.
17. Comprehend your roof's longevity. If your roofing only has 100 years of durability and is 95 years of ages, it's not worth sinking money into. However a roofing with 200 years of durability that's 75 years of ages is a young roofing system that ought to be highly valued and effectively maintained.
18. Inspect your roofing system frequently. At least once a year, walk your house (use binoculars if necessary) and take a look at your roofing system. If you see missing out on, http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection®ion=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/Montclair Victorian Restoration broken, or sliding slates, or flashing that looks suspect, call your slater.
19. Look around how to restore victorian woodwork Montclair for quality. Great slaters are out there, but you have to search for them. It deserves the effort to have somebody who genuinely understands what he's doing.