Texas Stone Vernacular: Convincing the current owners to sell you their home is not usually part of the home buying process, but that was the case for James Stockbauer when he came across an abandoned home. He tracked down the owner, who turned out to be a relative of the stone mason who had built the home. At first she was unwilling to sell, but Stockbauer persisted and employed architect Craig Nasso to come up with plans showing how the stone vernacular would be restored. Once the previous owner saw Stockbauer's plans to restore the home to its original condition, she agreed to sell him the house. Though he's not finished the restoration yet, the work that has been completed has won praise from state preservation groups.
Westview: Buying a home that is practically in ruins would be a nightmare for most homebuyers, but it was a dream come true for archeologists Kathy Liston and her fiance Earl Strain. The couple was eager both to restore the 1832 home known as Westview and to plumb the history of its inhabitants. But history wasn't the only thing they discovered as they stripped wallpaper and tore down walls. Through the good and the bad, the couple enjoyed the element of surprise each discovery brought in their Virginia home.
Tips, Terms and Tradesmen
In the Details: Wood Carver
Patience is truly a virtue for architectural carver Frederick Wilbur when it comes to replicating vintage woodwork. Wilbur carefully studies each piece of the original woodwork and painstakingly creates accurate replacement pieces one chip at a time. The materials and tools are also important. Wood must be free of defects and knots, and Wilbur has a collection of dozens of specialized gouges to create intricate carvings.
Problem Solver: Glass Door
The etched-glass door on her Idaho home was a family memento for homeowner Paula Nelson, as the home was built in the late 19th century by her ancestors. Restoring the door was important, but preserving the etched glass was a bit of a problem since it is difficult to replicate. Nelson decided to encase the original glass in modern shatter-resistant glass and thus preserve a bit of family history.
How To: Strip Wallpaper
Removing wallpaper doesn't have to be a dreadful task. Prepare by protecting the floor with a plastic-lined tarp and removing any hardware on the walls. Score the wallpaper with a perforating tool, then mix concentrated wallpaper remover with water and spray on walls using a deck sprayer. Make sure the room is well ventilated before spraying.
Spray the walls once, wait 15 minutes then spray again. After waiting another 15 minutes start peeling off wallpaper with a putty knife. Remove old glue by mixing tri-sodium phosphate and water and scrubbing the walls with a scouring pad. Work from the bottom up to avoid runs.
Terms:
- Bungalow window: A window that has dividers in the top sash and a large, single pane in the bottom.
- Bossage: Rough stonework that projects out further than the mortar joints holding it together.
- Cross-and-Bible door: A six-panel door with a center stile and top rail that form a cross.
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