Guides
Booking a structural engineer for old house projects
What to expect when you hire a structural engineer for old house projects: credentials to verify, the site visit, the report, permits, scope and scheduling.
Desk
Systems Desk
Wiring, heating and insulation without wrecking what is there.
Guides
Choosing Period-Accurate Exterior Trim and Siding Colors for Old Houses
Trim value, not wall color, decides whether an old house reads as period. Era-by-era pairings, contrast rules and paint research steps for exterior palettes.
Guides
How Sun, Salt and Freeze-Thaw Wear Period Paint Colors on a Historic Home
How sun, salt air, humidity and freeze-thaw wear exterior paint on old houses, which pigment families and finishes last, and how to test a period palette outdoors.
Guides
Historic Home Restoration Contingency Funds: How Much to Set Aside
Set a 15 percent reserve and a $10,000 floor for historic home restoration, then add 5 percent when small-market trades are booked months ahead.
Guides
How to Document an Old House Before Restoration Work Begins
A step-by-step guide to photographing, measuring and logging original details in an old house before restoration, so color and repair calls rest on evidence.
Guides
How to Read Old Paint Layers Before Choosing Exterior Colors
Learn to read paint layers on your old house exterior, test for lead before scraping, and turn the chips into period-appropriate paint colors that fit the era.
Guides
What does a preservation specialist do in an old house?
What does a preservation specialist do? Learn how the consultant assesses an old house, defines repair scope, documents work, and coordinates with contractors.
Guides
What to Do When a Restoration Bid Comes In Higher Than Expected
A bid that lands over budget is a scope problem before it is a price problem. Cut finishes, phase systems, and use credits and reserves to close the gap.
Features
Preservation Contractors Timeline: When to Call
A preservation contractors timeline for seasonal trades, matching materials, weather delays, review queues, and written schedules for old-house work.
Guides
Historic-home renovation: when to book in Charlottetown
Historic-home renovation in Charlottetown: plan the May-to-October season, the winter booking window, the CAHP directory, and what to sign before a deposit.
Rules
What can Canadians import from the US for restoration work?
Historic-home renovation sourcing from the US means CBSA duty, brokerage fees, shipping limits and material compatibility checks before you buy.
Guides
How to Remodel an Old House Bathroom without Losing Its Character
An old house bathroom remodel that keeps character starts with code clearances, not finishes. Here is how small footprints shape the plan for your house.
Guides
How to Spot Foundation Problems in an Old House
Old house foundation repair signs are mostly about width, movement and water. Learn which cracks are historic and which need a structural engineer.
Rules
Old House Knob and Tube Insurance: How Coverage Is Decided
Old house knob and tube insurance: the four layers of rules that decide coverage, the file underwriters ask for, and the five routes that can keep a policy.
Guides
A first-year checklist for restoring a historic home without regret
A first-year checklist for a new old-house owner: what to test, photograph, measure and ask, in the order that prevents expensive surprises later.
Maintenance
Caring for a restored period interior once the first year passes
A seasonal upkeep routine for restored period interiors: woodwork, plaster, floors, stone and hardware, with the cleaning mistakes that undo good work.
Industry
Period interior projects: the five lessons that keep repeating
Five lessons that repeat in period interior work, from exposed brick and stripped woodwork to lighting, paint sequence and the value of a finish record.