One subject that is of great interest for the owners of masonry buildings is mortar. We all know that mortar is the cementitious material used with brick, stone, tile and terra cotta. Most have also heard that there are different types of mortar and that some are not appropriate for applications on historic architecture. Indeed, […]
This is the first from a series of blog posts that will give you a detailed look at historic windows and their construction. Before we look at windows and window sashes themselves, I thought it would be good to start with a quick look at some of the tools used to make windows by hand. […]
The more you look the more you see. With a casual glance you will identify general shapes and outlines, but when you look closely all sorts of detail will become apparent. When I look at historic windows I try to identify as many details as possible so I can understand better how old they are, […]
I have discussed the career of Andrew Jackson Downing previously and the long shadow he cast in American architecture and design during the 19th century. Downing was a romantic who stressed “truthfulness” in architecture where proper design should express the purpose of the building. That is, the purpose “is conveyed by the features of the […]
Vernacular architecture is a term that can mean different things to different people. It is generally defined as a building style based upon local or traditional designs, materials and building techniques. However, the nature and origins of designs and techniques varied. Immigrants brought traditional building designs and construction techniques with them to the United States […]
I realize I will be a voice in the wilderness, but I am not a fan of exposed brick. As a preservationist I do not advocate destroying a building’s historic fabric to suit current trends. Removing 150 year-old lime plaster to expose brick that was never intended to be seen is, perhaps, the most common […]
When we imagine a Victorian home most of us have an image of a Queen Anne Style in our mind’s eye. The Queen Anne certainly is the most common and flamboyant of the 19th century building styles although its origins aren’t commonly understood. Indeed, people from the United Kingdom find the term Queen Anne quite […]
Immigration to the United States has always been a difficult experience that led many newcomers to question their own identities as they tried to build a new life in their new home. Immigrant groups reacted differently as some quickly learned English and adopted American culture. Others clung to their language and customs as they feared […]
Our national cold snap has led to many questions about insulating historic homes, thermal efficiency, windows, doors and much more. I thought I would outline a few things that you should consider when trying to improve the thermal efficiency of your older home. Generally speaking, houses lose heat in two ways. One is radiation. Radiation […]
I just had the great pleasure of doing a presentation on the historic trades and preservation for the Northern Bedrock Preservation Corps. Northern Bedrock was established in 2011 to help young adults enter the preservation trades by providing training and hands-on experience repairing historic structures and architecture. The founders of Northern Bedrock are aware that there […]