Getting it done without droplets In the blink of an eye the world changed and many found themselves at home. We became more familiar with our surroundings, seeing things we did not have the time to notice or maybe we…
Contracting in a Pandemic
Plaster: To Save or Not to Save
Our house has failing lead paint on the original horse hair plaster walls. The firms contacted thus far have stated that, given the size of the job, the most sensible way to proceed is through the removal of the plaster…
Truth about Lead Poisoning
Lead is all around us. Prior to 1978, lead was in many everyday products like paint and gasoline, but it also was the pipes and solder feeding us water and in the glazes that covered ceramics and cast iron fixtures.…
I get it….it’s cold
It has been an interesting winter. In the last week we have gone from 9-55 degrees, with even bigger ranges over the past month. In January we had about 6.5″ of precipitation, most of it rain coming down horizontal. Right…
Fix or Toss?
Repairability: to restore to a good or sound condition after decay or damage; mend; to renew by any process of making good, strengthening. Fixing stuff has been replaced by buying new stuff. But it’s not because we don’t want to…
Facing the Cold
Your building is fighting the cold. But how prepared is it? Is it winning? Or is it losing at your expense? Can every building be treated the same? What is the best way to resist the cold with reasonable effort…
How can we all work to preserve Rhode Island buildings?
I have been in Rhode Island for almost 30 years. I love our community and the friends that are our family, the beauty and diversity of our landscapes and vistas, and without a doubt, I am crazy about the buildings.…
Every Door Deserves to be Functional
Doors are perhaps the most used, abused, and neglected parts of a house. We rely on doors to separate us from weather, people, and things. We slam them shut, whip them open, and use all parts of our body to…
Troubled heating
Winter brings out the worst in buildings. Many existing and old buildings have air sealing and insulation deficiencies that can make rooms cold and heating systems overworked, or worse, not able to keep a house or area warm enough. Many…