The front room is a corner room so it features windows on both external walls. The ones pictured below were on the front wall, overlooking the front porch.
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| The original front windows when we moved in, May 2009. |
The windows were upgraded when we remodeled the front porch in 2016. We replaced the original single glazed windows with an energy efficient window.
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| How it's looked since Dan replaced the old windows, Dec. 2016 |
We got to add much needed extra insulation in the wall.
After Dan finished the wall that incorporates the back of the masonry stove, he turned his attention to that window. But how to finish it? Do we try to match it to the original wall? I think it's nearly impossible to recreate an original look to match, so it might as well become a design feature. We decided to continue with the rustic barn look to coordinate with the new closet.
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| After I paint the wall, I'll put up the curtain rod and my quilt window covering again. |
Dan's challenge with all the repairs and improvements he's done to our house, is partly because it's 100 years old. That means they used true 2-inch by 4-inch 2x4s when they built it, which we can no longer get! So the reconstructed parts of the walls are never exactly flush with the original.
One more window to go, and then it's on to repainting the ceiling and walls.
I had to do some googling but found a good article on the history of wood sizing and it say that the 2x4 dimensions we all use now wasn't universally settled until the late 1960's. I had always assumed it was because the wood started out as true 2 inches by 4 inches and dried down to the 1-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches but that isn't true. It seems like a combination of forces but it was largely the economics of paying by the pound for shipping lumber that caused the industry to reduce the size. Learn something new everyday.
ReplyDeleteIn case you are wondering:
https://www.harvarddesignmagazine.org/articles/nominal-versus-actual-a-history-of-the-2x4/
Ed, that is interesting. Thanks for the link. Dan and I always assumed it had to do with increasing profit margins. Cutting a fraction off probably means only a fraction of a penny increased profit. Not of much account for a few units, but do the same for a million units, and those penny fractions add up.
DeleteLooking good, Leigh. We have the same issue with the dimensional lumber, plus in an old house, nothing is square, but it has character in spades.
ReplyDeleteRosalea, "nothing is square," another good point! I reckon we could be glad to exercise our problem solving skills for cognitive function, but it sure can be frustrating. Very true about character!
DeleteNo doubt adding all of that insulation along with more efficient windows will save y'all money.
ReplyDeleteDaisy, that and we notice a definite difference in the comfort level of the house. We aren't as cold all the time as before the upgrades!
DeleteAnd when "they" say a 2x4 wall "they" say they are leaving room to add 1/2" of drywall so it finishes at 4". But I think that is them justifying the skimping to save money on volume and shipping. How do they know I am going to use 1/2" drywall? Maybe I want to finish my wall with 1" shiplap. Our old house has dimensional, rough cut 2x4 studs plus 3/4" (originally 1" dried to 3/4"?) tongue and groove planking on the outside and the inside. Plus old drywall. I'm looking at the jam extension on the doorway through the old back wall and that baby is over 7" thick!
ReplyDeleteAlex, I can so relate! Right now Dan is finishing up the side windows and got the difference down to 1/8th inch between the old wall and the new window. We have a number of places in our house that he's used shims on, to have a flat surface to nail the trim.
DeleteI've been lucky to have a roughcut sawmill just a few miles down the road, so 99% of my construction projects and repairs on my old house have been made with "real" 2x4s, 2x12s, etc. But the sawmill owner is an older fellow and has been talking of selling up for years now, so I always buy a little extra whenever I have the chance to get over there and pick up lumber these days.
ReplyDeleteQuinn, how nice to have that source so close by!
DeleteLeigh, of course I have fallen behind on posting in the back of the masonry stove post, as well. Suffice it to say I love the look that you and Dan have made here. The before and after pictures make it very real!
ReplyDeleteTB, sometimes Dan and I go back and look at these before and after posts. It's amazing how much we forget, but nice to see what we've been able to do. Eventally, I hope to have a before and after for the entire finished room.
DeleteLooks so good. Have a beautiful day.
ReplyDeleteThanks Regine!
DeleteYou and Dan have made so many improvements there! I love before and after pictures. It looks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Henny! The before pics are such a great reminder of how far we've come. :)
DeleteThat's a decent solution which looks good. We've had some similar issues, plus having to deal with lath and plaster old walls. When we were redoing the kitchen, we found out that they originally had some shiplap and the rest just lath, with no plaster, and layer upon layer of wallpaper, old 50's/60's tile paneling etc. What a mess! Old houses are lots of fun sometimes, aren't they, with their surprises.
ReplyDeleteNina, it's interesting to see what people have done over the years, even if it sometimes leaves us scratching our heads. But then, I'm guessing at some future time people will wonder why Dan and I did what we did. :)
DeleteThat is a nice and cool upgrade! I like that and the fact you went with a smaller window, windows are $100 sinks, almost like taking a 100 bucks out your wallet and set it on fire. Trying to copy the original wall board and material is difficult with older homes like that. I know I remodeled a 100 year old house in South Dakota that had true 2X4 studs with furring out to a 2X6 wall required using a a 3X3 posts and trimming them down so as to insulate with closed cell polyurethane spray in insulation. and replaced with smaller, triple pane insulated windows and the heat cost reduction was tremendous! I did this on all the exterior walls. I sure learned how to feather sheet rock to the interior lathe and plaster walls.
ReplyDeleteKevin, we've been fortunate in that we found a builders' surplus warehouse fairly close to us. We bought all our windows from them at a HUGE savings! The smaller window was basically due to limited choice, but I thought it would work well for a front street facing bedroom window.
DeleteWorking on older houses is something akin to an archaeological dig. The finds can be amazing. Good for you for conquering drywall! Dan's done it be doesn't like it because he feels like he doesn't do a good job with it.