Posted on Dec 9, 2019
If someone were to acquire a beautiful nostalgic, vintage house what changes should be made on the structure?
1.34K
9
4
5
5
0
I have witnessed individuals acquiring beautiful homes immediately gut the houses. I mean quality woods such as Douglas Fir, Knotted Pine, Maple, Oak, etc. are ripped out of the houses. In the late 1800s until the early 1970s houses were built with "the old masters" of carpentry, masonry, design, and land preparation skills. So plaster walls, ventalation built as part of the house, the solid structures of the house, etc. created a sound, weather friendly house. These individuals then replaced all of the good materials, beauty, and character of the house with expensive modern, techno materials that start warping after ten years. I bought a bricked ranch built in 1957. It has a full storm basement that serves as a second house, the main floor, an attic, a double carport. The only things needed in this house was more insulation in the attic, licensed plumbers cleaning the sewer and drain system, and bringing the wiring up to code with a licensed electrician. The house is so solid that I welcome the electrical bill, the heating bill, and the cooling bill.
Posted in these groups: 
Remodeling
Remodeling
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 1
1
1
0
I appreciate your point of view, but can also appreciate that of the owner. Yes, older homes were built of better materials and with greater art than modern ones (except for modern conveniences and technology). It would make sense to be judicious in remodeling such a home, taking care to preserve the best parts as much as practical. However, there are some other considerations that make remodeling reasonable. For example, older homes were built with little storage and little closets. People didn't have so much "stuff" in earlier times. Thus, it is reasonable to rededicate some spaces. Ultimately, the choice lies solely with the owner and we must simply accept their right to do with their property as best serves their needs, wants and desires, just as we expect them to respect ours.
(1)
(0)
PO3 Phyllis Maynard
CPT Jack Durish I am on board with you. I forgot about the closets. I have an antique wardrobe, an antique cedar chest, and a portable steel hanger/storage. Fortunately, I'm not married. I have 2 bedroom closets, the hanger, and the wardrobe. My son has 1.5 closets and the cedar chest :0). When I had my Whirlpool tub put in the basement, I did not destroy structure. I added the pump closet by simply having an area enclosed and I use privacy panels for the tub. I get it. A person can do whatever they choose with their property. But when they cry in their beer after they kill the house's character says a lot. :0)
(1)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
PO3 Phyllis Maynard on another note, my parents were born and raised in a coal mining town, in a shanty their family rented from the mine owner. They had no closets or cupboards or wardrobes. They didn't have enough possessions to warrant such things. A nail in the wall suffixed to hang their clothes
(1)
(0)
PO3 Phyllis Maynard
CPT Jack Durish I can put myself in that shanty. I grew up in poverty and lived in a sharecropper's shack with no running water until I joined the Navy. Come to think of it, we didn't have closets we had wooden trunks and a blanket nailed on one wall in the bedroom where all us children slept to keep the snow out in the winter and the bugs out in the warm weather. It is pretty eye opening knowing both sides of the tracks. Just think; while I lived in a sharecropper's shack the upper country club middle class family owned the house I now live in. Life is strange.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google