I get the appeal of wired—less maintenance, more reliable—but running new wiring on an old property can be a headache. Drilling through brick or stone...
WHEN DOES A "WEEKEND PLUMBING JOB" EVER ACTUALLY TAKE A WEEKEND? I get where you’re coming from, but I think it’s possible to keep things on track—...
I hear you on the “science experiment growing behind their walls”—I’ve seen that firsthand in a 1920s bungalow after someone skipped the proper vapor ...
I hear you on feeling like it’s just more work. But honestly, in older homes especially, “letting things fester” is exactly how you end up with huge h...
Having renovated my historic home near the coast, I can confirm that budgeting for unexpected issues is critical. Coastal properties are notorious for...
Couldn't agree more with your recommendation about backups. When I moved into my historic home, the previous owner had installed a smart lock on our o...
Lighting does help, but in my experience with an older home, fixtures can clash with historic elements. Sometimes a quick coat of paint on railings or...
I've found dimmers tricky in older homes—my wiring didn't always cooperate, unfortunately. Lampshades are a solid idea though; I rotate a few vintage ...
Haha, hempcrete walls...brave move. I remember when I first mentioned restoring my historic home's original lime plaster walls instead of just slappin...
Challenging city setback rules can indeed be frustrating, especially with historic properties. I've found that cities rarely grant exceptions unless t...
Keeping a spare heat tape is definitely wise—I've had similar experiences with humidifiers. Thought I was prepared until mine quit during a particular...
I get the appeal you're describing, but honestly, after years of hosting gatherings at our historic place, we've found a permanent outdoor fridge setu...
Humidity-sensing fans are definitely practical, especially if you're dealing with older homes like mine. I installed one in our upstairs bath—huge imp...
Haha, I can relate. My house is pretty old, and when I switched to low-flow taps a few months ago, it took some serious getting used to. The flow felt...