1. Know your maintenance cycles. A lot of structures need tuckpointing upkeep every 50 to 60 years.
2. Match the mortar. New mortar should match as closely as possible in color, consistency, and elevation. Utilizing excessive Portland cement in the mix produces tough mortars, which can damage old buildings.
3. Never grind out joints. Only shabby mortar should be gotten rid of. If somebody tells you otherwise, run.
4. Never ever utilize sealers. Sealants trap wetness, compounding issues throughout freeze/thaw cycles.
5. Change in kind. Harmed masonry units ought to be changed whole or by means of Dutchmen of the very same material. Voids filled with putty do not last.
-- Jacob Arndt, Conservation Specialist, Architectural Stone Carver
Radiators
6. Do not throttle a one-pipe steam radiator The steam and condensate need to share that confined area. Keep the valve either fully open or completely closed to prevent water hammering and squirting air vents.
7. Create a perfect pitch. One-pipe steam radiators need to pitch toward the supply valve. Usage 2 checkers under radiator feet-- they're the perfect sizes and shape.
8. Gain control. Thermostatic radiator valves are an excellent 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.
( Image: Sylvia Gashi-Silver).
9. Get a great finish. Pros agree that sandblasting followed by powder covering offers the best, lasting, non-sticky surface-- however don't try this in your home.
10. Don't stress over fires. Even with steam heat, a radiator gets only about half as hot as the temperature needed to kindle paper, so you can http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection®ion=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/Montclair Victorian Restoration rest easy.
-- Dan Holohan, Author, The Lost Art of Steam Heating.
Woodworking.
11. Usage heartwood. Heartwood is constantly the most disease-resistant. Sapwood of many types should never be used.
12. Rift or quarter-grain cuts are best. These cuts are the most stable. Flat grain often 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 stay flat, and just the center will hump a little.
14. Learn to utilize hand tools. A lot of historical woodwork was produced by hand tools, and many machine-made millwork (late 19th century and after) was installed with them. Historical woodwork surfaces produced with hand aircrafts can't be replicated by modern makers like sanders.
15. Use conventional joinery. Element repairs should be made using traditional joinery instead of non-historic methods like a wholesale epoxy casting of a missing part.
-- Robert Adam, Creator and Senior Advisor, Preservation Woodworking Department, North Bennet Street School.
Slate Roofing, renovating old homes.
Slate roof on a turret, renovating old homes.
Slate roofing system on a turret. (Picture: Nathan Winter).
16. Recognize your slate.To correctly care for your slate roofing system, find out what kind of slate it is. Just as you can't repair a Chevy with Ford parts, you must never ever use New york city red slate on a Pennsylvania gray slate roof.
17. Understand your roofing's longevity. If your roof just has 100 years of durability and Montclair Home Restoration Companies is 95 years of ages, it's not worth sinking cash into. But a roofing with 200 years of longevity that's 75 years old is a young roofing that ought to be extremely valued and effectively kept.
18. Examine your roofing system routinely. A minimum of once a year, walk around your home (use field glasses if necessary) and take a look at your roofing system. If you see missing out on, broken, or moving slates, or flashing that looks suspect, call your slater.
19. Shop around for quality. Good slaters are out there, but you need to try to find them. It deserves the effort to have someone who truly understands what he's doing.