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 Fixing stuff has been replaced by buying new stuff.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…
Fix or Toss?
Making Windows Operate
New or old poorly operating windows are one of the most common home repair questions, with many homeowners at a loss at what to do. Nothing is more frustrating than a window that will not open, slams down when opened,…
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…
Why old windows are better than new
We are told old windows are drafty, do not function well, and lose energy through the single panes. Window replacements are pitched as giving us better energy efficiency and longevity. But is it true? And with claims replacement windows can…
A building is a reflection of where it is and what we do to it
There can be consequences for changing a building and its behavior towards its environment. As time passes, the natural environment matures and a building wears. We manipulate and upgrade buildings for energy efficiency, ourselves, and because we have to. We…
Lead Laws and Safety
Lead poisoning is a concern for good reason. A small amount of pure lead dust can create substantial health risks. For example, if you take the same quantity of lead as a 1-gram packet of sugar, it can over 100…
House Efficiency Tips
We are having a crazy fall. Periods of warm weather followed by bouts of cold and wind. While I hope we will have more warmth than cold, hope does not make the weather. Every year we make our homes prettier,…
Fixing a Single Pane Window
“How do I ‘affordably’ replace one cracked window panel/part on a true divided light historical window? Tuni, Wickford Tuni, you have touched a nerve that drives me nuts about modern building parts and misconceptions of all things old. Single…
Salvaging & Using Old Building Parts
“We would be open to using salvaged materials in new construction, but don’t know where to start or what the pitfalls are. Where can I get used building materials?” Brad, Wakefield “We would be open to using salvaged materials in…
Preparing for the cold…
Fall is perhaps the most beautiful season in New England. And by fortune or luck, this fall is gradually leading to the inevitable winter. This prolonged furlough from steamy days where we have had nice, moderate temperatures will inevitably be…