Plank and Beam

03/20/2026

It's "make your own lath Friday" which always falls right before "repair the plaster wall Monday!"

03/03/2026

02/25/2026

Photos from an older restoration. This head board was pretty rough, but I was able to carve replacement pieces and with the aid of a great stain match, it's as "good as old." The pieces were pre cut on a scroll saw, then the relief carving was fairly simple. Just keep that gouge sharp!

02/06/2026

Knots in softwood bleeding through your paint? The answer is don't use lumber with knots in it for making trim! Realistically though, choose pieces that are clear and knot free. Better yet use hardwood like poplar. If cost prohibits that decision, pre treat (prime) the knot with shellac. # 1 it seals in the resin #2 it is compatible with the resin #3 it is compatible with the paint, and thus prevents bleed through. Products like Bin and Kilz don't always do the job, even though they are essentially white pigmented shelac. You are better off applying shelac full strength. Even if you did a great job installing the trim, you don't need a knot winking at you for attention!

01/31/2026

While priming these old doors for paint, I took the opportunity to highlight why the old 6 panel doors were often referred to as cross and Bible doors. The upper stiles form a large cross, centered and obvious. The lower panels look like an open Bible, with pages falling to both sides.

01/23/2026

It's the details that matter... it also matters who you let paint.

01/21/2026

What you'd think to be commonly understood...the placement of chair rail. It is not arbitrary, or "up for interpretation" the placement of chair rail has historically been in line with the window apron, or just under the window stool, regardless of the depth of the window cavity. They were never changed in this home and shows the case in point.

01/12/2026

Cracked plaster walls. So many have made sad attempts to repair this problem in older homes, including covering the entire wall with 1/4" drywall ( please don't be that guy!) Remove all loose material, secure anything that looks like it may be a future problem. Consider the notorious door and window headers. When this coat is dry and all is secure, use mesh to bind and hold your first coat. Then apply a finish coat. If you know what you're doing, no sanding is required, only sponging, minimal dust!
If it is done this way it won't look ridiculous and you'll preserve the integrity of the period specific trim.

10/31/2025

The initial call was to check out water damage to the floor, after finding out how it was previously addressed-twice, it was necessary to do a total demo, and start over with a little integrity.

10/25/2025

There are many hidden spots (not hidden to those that spend at least a little time outdoors) just like this one. A fireplace, and chimney standing like a grave marker where a house once stood. The wood reduced to earth again, but perhaps the outline of a foundation still visible. You could easily imagine a family hanging Christmas stockings, or just the harsh reality of keeping warm on a late January night. There may have been a time when a mother had made soup and warm biscuits, or the feasting on father’s successful hunt. Maybe just a blanket, a warm lap and a bedtime story. There is something in life to be missed, in the absence of a fireplace. Consider the building of one. The men carrying the stones from the creek, or using the ones cast aside from digging the garden. Then fashioning the three dimensional jig saw puzzle of rock into a safe place, a warm place, the center of a family’s life. When you see one, like a gravestone, don’t be sad, it is a gentle reminder of the souls that have gone on before, remember the Love, the simple joys and take that feeling back after your walk in the woods.

08/16/2025

Replacement windows are rarely just replacing a window. Years of leaking, rot, and neglect lead to replacing the sill and sometimes reframing parts of the wall. Replacing with pressure treated wood, using vinyl flashing tapes and capping with aluminum will offer peace of mind for years to come.