There is a tendency for people view the world from the narrow time frame of their own lives----and extrapolate that information to mean that things have always been that way----or at least for a longer period of time than is statistically meaningful historically. The same sort of thing happens in the way we look at houses. We sometimes want to know if the house we are interested in buying has ever been remodeled. We tend to ask this question as to mean “remodeled” in the context of, “brought up to current standards.” I find houses all the time that have been remodeled. Some fit this definition of being brought more up to date, but most fall short because standards change so fast and vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. I even find homes where changes to the house were made before it was even completed. In other words “remodeled” before it was even “modeled.” I know this happens because as a builder I had to do it many times myself. Sometimes in older homes I find where homes were remodeled within a few years of their original construction so that even the newer portions are really no more “up-to-date” than the older part----at least in terms of today’s standards. Take a look at the following picture. This house, built in 1901 (very old by Seattle standards), was remodeled. As part of this remodel the original REALLY tall ceilings were lowered to 8 feet creating this nice crawl space between the new ceiling and the original ceiling. In the picture, one can see the old lath and plaster and also see where the electrical needs of the home have been “upgraded” with the “new” knob & tube wiring. It would be difficult to determine when the “remodel” was done----but most likely some time between 1901 and 1950-----since 1950 is just about the end of the use of this wiring method. So by modern standards this remodel doesn’t even count----it is all hopelessly outdated. Perhaps due for another “upgrade.” Now take this information and extrapolate it to a building that is “actually” old (like in Europe) as opposed to “pretend” old like we have here in the United States. The old farm house that I grew up in, in Connecticut, is about 200 years old----pretty old for the United States. Britain’s oldest continuously inhabited dwelling is 850 years old-----just think about the number of remodels that home could have gone through----and the stories its walls could tell. Now we are talking archeology. Charles Buell
One example of this is this idea that somehow tomatoes and Italian cooking are virtually inseparable. The reality is that Italians have only known tomatoes since the discovery of the New World----not really very long in terms of the total history of Italian cuisine.
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My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
I would want the tall ceilings back for sure. My husband is an electrical contractor and has STORIES about remodels gone astray. About remodeling....just because you can, doesn't mean you should...
I know... I love forensic architecture
Lisa, I have seen a lot of "can-shouldn't haves"
Alan, it is fun to sort it all out----sometimes it can be difficult
Hi Cahrles, this was interesting to me. I often see older homes that were remodeled, and I wished they hadn't been!
Debi
I think it is very interesting how from around 1900 (which is about the oldest we see in this area as well) to 1950 there weren't a hole lot of changes but from 1950 on you can tell from design, colors and materials what year a home was built. Significant and continuing changes that you just didn't see prior to 1950.
oh yeah and a big congrats on 400,000! you are the man!
Debi, I was wanted to go around and photograph REALLY badly designed additions to homes and make a book out of them----still may do that someday.
Jim, there were big shifts around all the wars it seems----but especially after world war 2.
Charles, Charleston, SC is famous for old buildings that have been refaced and remodeled over and over. This can make termite and pest control difficult.
When I first moved to Florida, a savvy builder told me that before the 1970's in Florida the builders used local wood. Local wood was naturally termite-resistant because it grew here and over centuries had survived. Apparently in the 1970's it became cheaper to bring wood from up North, and so the buildings that were built or remodeled from then on are great termite food... another reason to know when your home was "remodeled."
Of course, Charles, you may now tell me this is a tall tale... I've always thought it made perfect sense!
Charles, that is wild that they still were using the knob and tube wiring, I grew up in an old house, and there were some of the insulators left attached, but nothing like what you have in your picture!
Matt, I can imagine
Shoshana, hard to say, but for sure no modern wood has the same resistance to decay and bugs that old growth lumber had. Cedar shingles used to last 50 years or more---now you are lucky to get 15 out of them.
Tony, when this remodel was done there was no other choice than to use the knob & tube.
Great post Charles, here in G'burg we have alot of homes with active knob and tube, it can create problems with geting insurance...
Gerry, there are companies around here that won't insure knob & tube as well----some still do though.
I could only imagine the stories that 850 year old home could tell. They've seen it all!
You know Charles, some of your remodel photos make me very happy that my home is "new" even for US standards.
Craig----probably those walls would like to have had blinders at times:)
Tammy, I have almost NO interest in older houses except to look at and marvel at----not to live in or maintain (own).
Charlie,
Thanks with the help with the Email account. Worked fine. Glad you are minding the store. <I guess ou are off and at BTC tomorrow. My house has sheetrock, knob and tube, lath and plaster and romex. Quite the mix but not uncommon as you know.
That looks like the residential housing version of an electric chair! Did you lick anything to see if it was live?
Very kindly,
Croakster (Mr. 100,000K!)
Steve, hope you are having as much fun there as we are here at your expense.
Jay, it was all live---but no licking involved:)
Croakster because tomatoes are members of the deadly nightshade family many people consider them somewhat toxic. Nice to see you tip over 100,000 here:)
Charles, I don't think I've ever heard of knob and tube wiring but we lived in a house in Massachusetts once that had wiring covered in some sort of cloth mesh and the receptacles were made of porcelain.
Charles - I love old buildings and boats and have restored both. I especially love the historic buildings of Europe--now that's history!
Nice distinction Charles, remodel and being brought "up-to-date" certainly do not equate, and as for code issues . . . well let's not go there.
I love seeing between the ceiling and the ceiling. I've always wondered what was above the lowered ceilings.
Silvia, there is tons of it around
John, I like looking at them and marveling at them----just don't want to own one or maintain it----my 1932 is old enough:)
Frank, how would you like to point out all the fire-stopping issues alone in that picture?
Barbara, there are often tons of problems when the ceilings are dropped
Unlike you I love older homes, but I have to agree they are a headache (at best) to maintain. There is something about the looks of a Victorian or Revolutionary period saltbox, but to each their own. Bringing them up to date is a, hmmm lets say, challenge.
I also wouldn't want to live in one though.
Some of those "old looks" like salt-box, craftsman etc translate very well into new homes----without all the headaches:)
Hi Charles a very good post. I can certainly relate to it. I grew up in a home that was over hundred years old with lath and horse hair plaster walls. Walls and beams were 12" square on the main level . The baseboards were 10 inches high, Sliding doors from Dining to Living room was 2" inches of solid wood thick. The double windows were floor to just 24 " below 10 foot ceilings on the second level and raised 2 feet above floor level and 4 feet below the 14 foot high ceilings on the main floor. There was even a secret area accessed deep from inside a closet in the dining room. There were two gigantic furnaces for heating, a coal cellar ( actually only one a of a number of rooms in the basement and it was remodeled to the old style wiring before we owned it. I can't even imagine what it was like before that. Lanterns? lol. The dining room sat comfortably 19 people since my father alone sat at the head of the table unless my grandfather was attending Thanksgiving and then, they shared that end of the table. Your remodel post brought back a lot of memories of those times and the issues of the constant updating of sections of the home that always seemed to be going on.
I find it funny when someone calls me and I ask how old the house is and they say very, it was built in 1950. It's all relative.
William some of these beautiful old homes were lovable money pits:)
James----so true:)