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Editor’s Note
I’ll start with a confession: That “friend” in last issue’s note—the one looking at house after house with disappointing updates—was me. I’d been viewing properties in southeastern Michigan because I’ll soon be relocating there from the Washington, D.C. suburbs with my family. (I’ll continue editing my favorite magazine, thanks to modern technology and my accommodating bosses.) In the end, our house decision—like most people’s—was an emotional one; there was one home we just couldn’t get out of our minds. It’s a real beauty, a 1929 Colonial Revival designed by a noted Detroit-area architect—and it’s almost completely original. As we wait for the loan approval and make plans to move forward with the purchase, I feel like I’ve hit the jackpot on the home front. But I imagine there will be several unexpected repairs that will pop up over the course of our first year in this home, especially since it hasn’t been lived in full-time for several years. So rest assured, I’ll be keeping in touch with the real issues we’re facing with our old house.
On the subject of troubleshooting, in this issue we address two common problem areas in old houses: floors and fireplaces. Wood floors are one of the most defining features inside old houses, but after a century of use, they can start to show their age. Two how-to articles address ways to nurse them back to good health. Contributing editor Ray Tschoepe shows us how to replace damaged floorboards and install spot repairs called Dutchman patches. The other story, by expert wood refinisher Bruce Johnson, explains that you don’t always need to strip floors to make them pretty again—sometimes all it takes is a quick refinishing coat. Old fireplaces also can be plagued by problems, but one of the most common is a lack of functionality—repurposed through the years to vent a major appliance like a furnace, they’re no longer able to burn wood. While the fix here is an involved one, newer technologies—like cast-in-place liners—can help provide innovative solutions.
Quick fixes just weren’t in the cards for the couple in this month’s Old-House Living story. Their emotional house purchase brought them to a building that was almost falling down. But with time, patience, and determination, they brought it back. It’s a stunning project, and one I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading about.
As we head into a new year, I’m hoping we’ll hear from more of you about the types of challenges and projects you’re facing in your own houses. Your letters and questions help us put together a better magazine, so don’t be a stranger—keep that communication coming. Wishing you a great 2011.
Demetra Aposporos, Editor-in-Chief of Old-House Journal
