Rotten Sills, Droopy House

Mason — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -1800

I just received this inquiry from old friend and fellow remodeling professional Janver Holly in California:

Dear Mason,

I have an 1860’s house on a wood foundation. Over time the wood around the perimeter has rotted. I suppose this is because the outside of the building gets wet from weather and irrigation. The floor and floor supports are fine, just the lower part where it touches the dirt is gone. Underneath the house it is bone dry and the wood supports are perfect [...]

Ask! Ask!

Mason — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -1800

We live in an age of information overload – supported by expanding traditional and electronic / online media. Direction and data on all things is available at our fingertips, or otherwise unavoidably thrown at us from all angles, typically in flashy “bites”. Everyone that has cable or a computer with an internet account has the opportunity to become an “instant expert”.

New Technology / Preservation

Mason — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -1800

I received this email from Jim, in Richmond, VA:

Mason - just caught your blog. What a great idea. This question may or may not rank on your list.

Many older (pre-WWII) homes in the Fan and West End areas of Richmond were constructed and finished with high-quality materials of the time, such as millwork made from old-growth hardwoods. Obviously, not all of our homes are on the historic landmarks registry, but these homes have a certain charm and scale not often found in more modern ho [...]

Triad of the Sages

Mason — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -1800

In the course of some reading recently, I happened across this: According to the sages of ancient India, there are three fundamental processes at work in the universe: creation, preservation, and transformation.

Interesting. Those processes are at the core of what we do in the design and building / renovation business. [...]

Also for DIYers...

Mason — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -1800

I recall when I was a kid, picking-up a booklet on bicycle repair at a local bike shop in my hometown of Fredericksburg. I inquired of the shop owner, the apparent conflict of interest that may lead to less repair business for him. “We have plenty of repair business… if you want to do the repairs yourself, I’d like to help you”, he said.

Naturally, I have had plenty of opportunity to build (what I think is) the proper response, which asks the homeowner to dig deeper regarding his or her definition of value.

Ask Mason - June 2007

Rotten Sills, Droopy House

Ask! Ask!

New Technology / Preservation

Triad of the Sages

Also for DIYers...