Renovating & Restyling Older Homes
Table of Contents

Introduction | Preview A Chapter | Back Cover

Chapter 1
Maximum Value Remodeling, 5
     Why Older Homes? 6
     Gaining Homeowner Trust, 8
     Offering Good Value to Your Customers, 10
     My Favorite Jobs, 12

Chapter 2
Inspecting the Exterior, 15
     Making a List and Checking It Twice, 15
     The Lot, 17
     The Roof, 18
     The Chimney, 23
     The Eaves, 24
     The Gutters And Downspouts, 24
     The Siding, 25
     Windows, 30
     Porches, 30
     Termites and Carpenter Ants, 31
     The Foundation, 32
     Garages, 32

Chapter 3
Inspecting the Interior, 35
     The Living Room, Dining Room, Entry and Hall, 35
     The Walls, 35
     The Ceiling, 39
     Floors, 40
     Electrical Features, 41
     The Kitchen, 42
     Downstairs Room Additions, 43
     The Upstairs Rooms, 45
     Upstairs Additions, 46 The Attic, 48
     The Basement, 50

Chapter 4
Inspecting the Plumbing, Electrical
and Heating Systems, 55
     The Plumbing System, 55
     The Electrical System, 57
     The Heating System, 61

Chapter 5
Urgent Repairs, 69
     Gas Leaks, 69
     Heating Emergencies, 71
     Water Leaks, 73
     Electrical Problems, 76
     Security, 76

Chapter 6
Roof and Siding Repair, 79
     Roofing an Older Home, 80
     Walls, 83
     Exterior Painting, 87

Chapter 7
Window and Door Repair, 95
     Windows, 95
     Exterior Doors, 109

Chapter 8
Porch Repair, 123
     Wooden Porches, 124
     Masonry Porches, 141

Chapter 9
Repairing Concrete Work, Foundations
and Drainage Problems, 149
     Concrete Mixes, 149
     Repairing Concrete Flatwork, 150
     Foundation Repairs, 152
     Directing Water Flow, 158

Chapter 10
Garage Repair, 163
     The Grandfather Clause, 163
     Repairs, 164

Chapter 11
Recycling What You Can't Use, 171
     Recycling Valuable Building Materials, 171
     Recyclers, Antique Dealers and Junk Collectors, 172

Chapter 12
Structural Repairs, From the Basement Up, 175
     The Basement, 175
     Strengthening the Floors, 180
     Second-Floor Structural Problems, 185
     Sagging Second-Floor Additions, 191
     Stairways, 193

Chapter 13
Plumbing Repair, 199
     Galvanized Steel Inlet Lines, 199
     Cast Iron Drain Lines, 202
     Bathroom Leaks, 205
     Kitchen Plumbing, 207

Chapter 14
Heating and Electrical Modifications, 209
     Installing a New Heating System, 209
     Solving Heating System Problems, 214
     Other Heating Problems, 220
     Electrical Modifications, 222

Chapter 15
Wall and Ceiling Repair, 229
     Repairing Wet Plaster, 229
     Repairing with Drywall, 232

Chapter 16
Floor Repair, 237
     Carpeting vs. Hardwood Floors, 237
     Hardwood Floors, 241
     Floor Repairs,
     Refinishing the Floor, 243
     Softwood Floors, 246
     Unsalvageable Floors, 247
     New Wood Flooring, 247

Chapter 17
Discovering Victorian Architecture, 249
     Architectural Styles, 249
     The Victorian Style, 250
     Renovations in Historic Neighborhoods, 259

Chapter 18
Restoring Victorian Exteriors, 261
     Improvements: Style vs. Livability, 262
     Victorian Decorations, 280
     Inventing the Style, 282

Chapter 19
Victorian Interiors, 285
     Victorian Lives, 285
     Adapting the Victorian Floor Plan, 286
     The Parlors, 290
     The Bedrooms, 294
     Maximizing Space, 299
     Skylights, 302
     The Victorian Cooling System, 305
     Victorian Heating Systems, 306

Chapter 20
The Bathroom, 313
     Bathrooms and Property Values, 313
     Building a Bathroom, 314
     Remodeling an Existing Bathroom, 318
     Working with Ceramic Tile, 324
     Decorating the Bathroom, 331

Chapter 21
Victorian Kitchens, 337
     The Expanded Kitchen, 337
     Basic Kitchen Design Considerations, 338
     "Old-Fashioned" Looks in Kitchen Design, 341
     Kitchen Flooring, 345
     Adding Kitchen Space, 348

Chapter 22
Adding Living Space, 351
     Converting Unused Space, 351
     The Attic, 352
     Porch Conversions, 352
     Blending the Exteriors of Converted Spaces, 356
     Victorian Basements, 357
     Major Additions, 357

Chapter 23
Victorian Outbuildings, 359
     Carriage Houses, 359
     The Garage, 359 Barns, 360
     Other Outbuildings, 365

Chapter 24
Landscaping Victorian Houses, 369
     Simple Landscaping Ideas, 369
     Decks, 371
     Victorian Gazebos, 372
     Arbors, 372
     Walkways, 374
     Ornamental Fencing, 375
     Exterior Lighting, 377

Chapter 25
Craftsman and Prairie Homes, 379
     The Craftsman Horne, 379
     Prairie-Style Homes, 380
     The Merging of the Styles, 381

Chapter 26
Craftsman Interiors, 383
     Oak Woodwork, 383
     The Craftsman Bathroom, 387
     The Craftsman Kitchen, 390
     Converting Space for Living, 391

Chapter 27
Craftsman Exteriors, 395
     Maintaining Design Elements, 395
     Exterior Detail and Style Elements, 397
     Garages, 401
     Conclusion, 402

Inspection Checklist, 403

Index, 410

Introduction | Preview A Chapter | Back Cover