/r/OldHomeRepair
A place to ask questions, give answers, and post some nice repair/renovation pictures. This is a subreddit for people who are buying an old home, living in an old home, or looking for ideas.
/r/OldHomeRepair
2,046 Subscribers
1890s home in SF, CA, USA. What are the chances this is just decorative? What do we think is behind the bricks.. please convince me to not go at them with a chisel.
23:50 UTC
Alternatives to awnings
I’m hoping someone can give me an idea of an alternative to an awning over our back porch. The icicles drip off the roof and turn the snow on the porch to slush, which then refreezes (or just drip and coat the porch with ice), so we want to cover it, but in a way that looks house-appropriate, and I don’t think an awning would look good (the house is Richardsonian Romanesque in style). Can anyone advise me?
13:42 UTC
Paper under Paint?
Many (most?) of the interior corners in our 1908 house look like the picture. Someone told me that back in the day the walls were lined with a type of paper before they were painted. Is that right? We want to paint the walls, should we remove this down to the plaster, or is the paper possibly protecting the plaster from cracking? Also, some spots have cracked or bowed inward a bit as the house has settled - what’s the best way to repair these spots?
13:35 UTC
22:31 UTC
Possible Plaster Disaster
Hi All! I grew up in and my mom lives in a 1912 farmhouse in rural North Central Illinois. The plaster (seen in this photo) in the primary bedroom has been slowly cracking for about 4 years and she now says she feels a breeze through it. Got a new roof two years ago after a small tornado hit the property.
Can this be fixed by a novice DIYer and if so, how? If not (or not recommended) who does one even call about something like this? Drywall guy? General contractor? It can be tough to find good, insured home help.
Any advice much appreciated! Thank you!
Also, she's not sleeping directly under the crack, so she's safe.
18:32 UTC
Soft spot or normal movement?
Soft spots in floor
Hey all! I have a 205year old home. I have noticed some softer spots or like depressed spots, nothing feels like my foot will go through or anything, in my second floor parquet flooring I am not trying to rip up the entire floor if I don’t have to and my husband thinks I’m being crazy. Is it possibly from the -6 degree days we have been having and having our heat blaring? Or do I need to be concerned something is damaged or water logged in the subfloor? Thanks in advance!
16:02 UTC
Turn of the Century pocket doors
I have a question. Has anyone ever repaired a turn of the century pocket door? Particularly in Chicago. I encountered 2 pocket doors with rollers I have never seen. Also it seems to be impossible to drop these doors without taking apart the header and the pocket door build. If anyone has encountered this before I would love to hear your insight.
19:46 UTC
Wood paneling removal?
We're considering buying an old house, originally built in 1861, that's completely covered in ceiling tile and faux wood paneling. The work doesn't scare us, but should we be worried about finding asbestos/lead paint underneath all that? Would it be better to just drywall over everything as to not disturb it? Need to have an idea on costs before we make a decision on this house.
05:26 UTC
110 year old stair railing is wobbly. How to improve this without fully disassembling.
20:32 UTC
Field stone foundation repair.
We've got some mortar crumbling in our field stone foundation. House is 120 to our best guess. I keep finding different answers on what to use, and even how to use it. I'm frustrated. I think I need a line based mortar, but it all seems to be rather expensive.
Anyone have any knowledge about this?
18:34 UTC
What do I use to cover?
13:26 UTC
How can I properly insulate between the ceiling and roof of an 1860 stone house
Hello! I am looking for any and all advice and knowledge regarding insulation for an old stone farmhouse. We are NOT insulating the walls. We know that is a big no no. We are also NOT going to used spray/foam insulation.
The situation we have is that the seller (flipper) finished the attic into a 3rd floor which we love and planned to use as an office and bedroom, however there is no insulation between the ceiling and the roof. All of the heat is escaping and we can’t keep the house warm without a $700 energy bill.
Currently planing to take down the ceiling (plaster), add baffle style insulation, put up drywall.
Is there anything we should/should not do when looking to get the space between the ceiling and roof insulated?
02:59 UTC
Helping or hurting black mold
Had a pipe crack in this small area behind my kitchen cabinet and wall. Obviously wet and there is some black mold. The plumber came out and fixed the pipe properly. I told him to leave the opening they cut for access so that I could attempt to dry it out. I sprayed a lot of bleach back there and plan to do more. I added this small fan to get air moving to speed up drying. My Question is, am I spreading spores everywhere? Or am I actually doing anything to help? Thanks all!
15:16 UTC