Comments on: About Us http://www.oldstonehouse.ca To renovate is divine, to restore is to fix their mistakes... Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:14:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Michael http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/about-us/comment-page-1/#comment-46661 Michael Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:53:51 +0000 http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/?page_id=3#comment-46661 I'm on the verge of deciding between charmless new construction with every Energy Star feature and a charming circa 1939 all fieldstone cape with plaster lathe walls. While the stone house is not only immensely charming retaining a lot of original details, it has a new roof, was recently repointed, has kitchen and baths needing only modest updating and seems to be in great shape and literally rock solid and, even rarer, an attached (basement) garage and oil radiator heat. Here's the big question and concern - does an all fieldstone exterior coupled with a plaster lathe interior make for better or worse insulation for heating and air conditioning? The house has its original windows plus storm windows and I noticed that in the upstairs children's plastered wall-to-ceiling attic bedrooms despite the presence of the original radiators there were rollaway electric ones. To me that signals high heating bills with the attempt to reduce costs via "localized heating" as you mentioned earlier. What are your thoughts regarding the insulation value? The old stone house is a bargain, but not if I have to pay several hundred dollars a month in heating bills. However, the one big and hopefully non-invasive renovation we'd probably perform would be to have two zone forced air heating ducts installed so we can have both a heat pump (economical in northeast Pennsylvania) and central air. The seller is supposed to meet us this weekend with copies of last winter's utility bills which should answer the question, since the rollaway heaters consume electricity. I can also send pictures of this home, which seems to need very little renovation. I’m on the verge of deciding between charmless new construction with every Energy Star feature and a charming circa 1939 all fieldstone cape with plaster lathe walls. While the stone house is not only immensely charming retaining a lot of original details, it has a new roof, was recently repointed, has kitchen and baths needing only modest updating and seems to be in great shape and literally rock solid and, even rarer, an attached (basement) garage and oil radiator heat. Here’s the big question and concern – does an all fieldstone exterior coupled with a plaster lathe interior make for better or worse insulation for heating and air conditioning? The house has its original windows plus storm windows and I noticed that in the upstairs children’s plastered wall-to-ceiling attic bedrooms despite the presence of the original radiators there were rollaway electric ones. To me that signals high heating bills with the attempt to reduce costs via “localized heating” as you mentioned earlier. What are your thoughts regarding the insulation value? The old stone house is a bargain, but not if I have to pay several hundred dollars a month in heating bills. However, the one big and hopefully non-invasive renovation we’d probably perform would be to have two zone forced air heating ducts installed so we can have both a heat pump (economical in northeast Pennsylvania) and central air. The seller is supposed to meet us this weekend with copies of last winter’s utility bills which should answer the question, since the rollaway heaters consume electricity. I can also send pictures of this home, which seems to need very little renovation.

]]> By: Joleen Mirenda Alaniz http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/about-us/comment-page-1/#comment-44599 Joleen Mirenda Alaniz Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:02:20 +0000 http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/?page_id=3#comment-44599 Oh my goodness. Those thoughts of people ripping off roofs tearing down walls, painting the inside pink or green, sent shivers up my spine, I am looking at restoring an old farmhouse that I am purchasing myself. I hope ur project turns out well. I will check back often, as I will definitely need help in my new endeavor. Hugs... <em><strong>Hi Joleen - thanks for the kind words. Everyday we get to gaze at the callous renovations of the past - but in truth, we wouldnt have wanted a perfect house - this one is just fine! ;)</strong></em> Oh my goodness. Those thoughts of people ripping off roofs tearing down walls, painting the inside pink or green, sent shivers up my spine, I am looking at restoring an old farmhouse that I am purchasing myself. I hope ur project turns out well. I will check back often, as I will definitely need help in my new endeavor. Hugs…

Hi Joleen – thanks for the kind words. Everyday we get to gaze at the callous renovations of the past – but in truth, we wouldnt have wanted a perfect house – this one is just fine! ;)

]]> By: Oldstonehouse http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/about-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1600 Oldstonehouse Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:35:13 +0000 http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/?page_id=3#comment-1600 I haven't any resources to suggest - early in the research process we learned that the dead-air space in the walls was too minimal to be filled with insulation and the only way to insulate the walls was to tear out the plaster and lathe and install stud-walls. One of our solutions has been to install doors between each room and to rely on localized heating. Thanks for the note. Good luck! I haven’t any resources to suggest – early in the research process we learned that the dead-air space in the walls was too minimal to be filled with insulation and the only way to insulate the walls was to tear out the plaster and lathe and install stud-walls. One of our solutions has been to install doors between each room and to rely on localized heating. Thanks for the note. Good luck!

]]> By: Barb Jarrett http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/about-us/comment-page-1/#comment-1562 Barb Jarrett Thu, 04 Oct 2007 20:00:51 +0000 http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/?page_id=3#comment-1562 Came across your website by accident. We own an old 18th century stone farmhouse. I was researching to see if there are any ways to insulate the house better. Do you know of any books or websites that I could access that would help? Thanks for your help. Came across your website by accident. We own an old 18th century stone farmhouse. I was researching to see if there are any ways to insulate the house better. Do you know of any books or websites that I could access that would help? Thanks for your help.

]]> By: Tony Moon http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/about-us/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Tony Moon Sat, 23 Dec 2006 13:37:09 +0000 http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/?page_id=3#comment-17 Wow!what an amazing site and story we have slowly been restoring our house on limited funds and now at the point where we are tired and going to list and get a smaller house. Wow!what an amazing site and story we have slowly been restoring our house on limited funds and now at the point where we are tired and going to list and get a smaller house.

]]> By: Chris and Mandy Emery http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/about-us/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Chris and Mandy Emery Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:58:35 +0000 http://www.oldstonehouse.ca/?page_id=3#comment-6 Hi Michael I've spent the last half hour reading your blog from start to finish and what a journey it's been. The bathroom looks fantastic. I almost wish I'd waited until now before doing ours as that slate blue you chose is just great. I particularly liked the image of you standing with that bucket over your head with water pouring all around you...I'm certain that day's coming for me too. I wanted to ask: what part of Ontario are you from? Reason I ask is we're not AB natives - the wife is from Cambridge originally but studied at OVC in Guelph, so she's been pestering me to find out where you are? I'm all caught with your story now and will be reading often. I'll say it again, the design of your blog is just great. Wish I had the time or talent to revamp mine. Cheers Chris Hi Michael

I’ve spent the last half hour reading your blog from start to finish and what a journey it’s been. The bathroom looks fantastic. I almost wish I’d waited until now before doing ours as that slate blue you chose is just great. I particularly liked the image of you standing with that bucket over your head with water pouring all around you…I’m certain that day’s coming for me too.

I wanted to ask: what part of Ontario are you from? Reason I ask is we’re not AB natives – the wife is from Cambridge originally but studied at OVC in Guelph, so she’s been pestering me to find out where you are?

I’m all caught with your story now and will be reading often. I’ll say it again, the design of your blog is just great. Wish I had the time or talent to revamp mine.

Cheers
Chris

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