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1. Know your upkeep cycles. The majority of structures require tuckpointing upkeep every 50 to 60 years.

2. Match the mortar. New mortar need to match as carefully as possible in color, consistency, and elevation. Utilizing too much Portland cement in the mix produces difficult mortars, which can damage old structures.

3. Never ever grind out joints. Only deteriorated mortar needs to be removed. If somebody tells you otherwise, run.

4. Never ever use sealants. Sealants trap wetness, intensifying problems during freeze/thaw cycles.

5. Change in kind. Damaged masonry systems ought to be replaced entire or through Dutchmen of the exact same product. Voids filled with putty do not last.

-- Jacob Arndt, Preservation Expert, Architectural Stone Carver

Radiators

6. Do not throttle a one-pipe steam radiator The steam and condensate have to share that confined space. Keep the valve either fully open or completely closed to avoid water hammering and squirting air vents.

7. Produce a perfect pitch. One-pipe steam radiators should pitch toward the supply valve. Use 2 checkers under radiator feet-- they're the ideal shape and size.

8. Gain control. Thermostatic radiator valves are a great method to zone any radiator and save fuel. Hot-water and two-pipe steam radiators get them on the supply side; one-pipe steam radiators get them in between the radiator and the air vent.

Old radiator.

( Image: Sylvia Gashi-Silver).

9. Get a terrific surface. Pros agree that sandblasting followed by powder coating gives the best, lasting, non-sticky finish-- however do not attempt this in the house.

10. Do not fret about fires. Even with steam heat, a radiator gets only about half as hot as the temperature required to kindle paper, so you can rest easy.

-- Dan Holohan, Author, The Lost Art of Steam Heating.

Woodworking.

11. Use heartwood. Heartwood is always the most disease-resistant. Sapwood of most types ought to never ever be used.

12. Rift or quarter-grain cuts are best. These cuts are the most stable. Flat grain typically expands and contracts seasonally at two times the rate of quartered stock.

13. Install plain sawn lumber with the heart side up. Flat lumber will use much better with the heart facing up. If there's cupping, the edges will remain flat, and only the center will hump slightly.

14. Learn to use hand tools. Many historical woodwork was produced by hand tools, and most machine-made millwork (late 19th century and after) was set up with them. Historic woodwork surfaces produced with hand airplanes can't be recreated by modern-day machines like sanders.

15. Usage standard joinery. Part repairs ought to be http://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/?action=click&contentCollection&region=TopBar&WT.nav=searchWidget&module=SearchSubmit&pgtype=Homepage#/Montclair Victorian Restoration used standard joinery rather of non-historic techniques like a wholesale epoxy casting of a missing part.

-- Robert Adam, Creator and Senior Consultant, Conservation Woodworking Department, North Bennet Street School.

Slate Roof, remodeling old houses.

Slate roof on a turret, remodeling old homes.

Slate roofing system on a turret. (Photo: Nathan Winter).

16. Determine your slate.To properly take care of your slate roof, find out what kind of slate it is. Simply as you can't repair a Chevy with Ford parts, you need to never ever utilize New York red slate on a Pennsylvania gray slate roofing.

17. Understand your roofing's longevity. If your roofing only has 100 years of durability and is 95 years of ages, it's unworthy sinking money into. However a roofing system with 200 years of longevity that's 75 years old is a young roofing system that ought to be highly valued and effectively kept.

18. Examine your roofing frequently. At least once a year, walk your house (use field glasses if needed) and victorian house renovation Montclair look at your roofing. If you see missing, broken, or moving slates, or flashing that looks suspect, call your slater.

19. Look around for quality. Good slaters are out there, however you have to try to find them. It deserves the effort to have somebody who genuinely knows what he's doing.