Ok
A few years ago I retired from working due to the destruction of the joints in my legs. The knees can eventually be replaced but they don't make ankle replacements that are not experimental and covered by insurance.
So....while I'm still independently mobile. I have a TON of experience and knowledge about construction. We bought a 1890's Queen Ann Victorian home. It's been added onto over the years and it's had several periods of neglect over the 130 years of its life. It originally was built without indoor plumbing or electricity.
However mill work was hot and new...also lots of creativity with design, trim, and layout of Southern Victorian homes.
The size of the beams (where exposed for viewing) are immense. A lot of the mill work was done on site as they were building the house. 2x4's were really 2" by 4" and rough sawn. All is made from old growth heart pine. Meaning it cannot be replaced by modern materials today. Today's lumber is made from farm raised trees as fast as they can. The wide rings in the boards from the tree growth rings tells you it's nothing like what once was used.
So....I got lath and plaster walls and ceilings. Heart pine tongue and groove walls, ceilings and floors too. Pine boards that were milled lose to on-site for lap siding. Every board was cut by hand tools. Each nail pounded by hammers.
So....post and beam construction is what suspends the flooring.
I'm starting at the top and working my way down. I've got to replace a bunch of shingles that have given up the ghost. Mostly just cap shingles. The turret is a big concern as well as the roof peaks...
A few years ago I retired from working due to the destruction of the joints in my legs. The knees can eventually be replaced but they don't make ankle replacements that are not experimental and covered by insurance.
So....while I'm still independently mobile. I have a TON of experience and knowledge about construction. We bought a 1890's Queen Ann Victorian home. It's been added onto over the years and it's had several periods of neglect over the 130 years of its life. It originally was built without indoor plumbing or electricity.
However mill work was hot and new...also lots of creativity with design, trim, and layout of Southern Victorian homes.
The size of the beams (where exposed for viewing) are immense. A lot of the mill work was done on site as they were building the house. 2x4's were really 2" by 4" and rough sawn. All is made from old growth heart pine. Meaning it cannot be replaced by modern materials today. Today's lumber is made from farm raised trees as fast as they can. The wide rings in the boards from the tree growth rings tells you it's nothing like what once was used.
So....I got lath and plaster walls and ceilings. Heart pine tongue and groove walls, ceilings and floors too. Pine boards that were milled lose to on-site for lap siding. Every board was cut by hand tools. Each nail pounded by hammers.
So....post and beam construction is what suspends the flooring.
I'm starting at the top and working my way down. I've got to replace a bunch of shingles that have given up the ghost. Mostly just cap shingles. The turret is a big concern as well as the roof peaks...
