New Windows For My House

[Tuckervill]

Being preservationist doesn't gain me anything in my town. The historic houses stay on the market for years before they're sold. I can count 3 in my neighborhood (which I think are still overpriced) that are empty and/or still on the market after more than a year. It only takes one buyer, but those that want to take on a big old house (or a small old house) are few and far between around here. Fortunately, I knew I would be leaving this house feet first when I bought it, so I'm not fazed by the chance I couldn't sell it.

I fought it hard, getting the new windows. I didn't want to do it. I wanted to have the storm windows repaired, but they were hideous aluminum. The $300 gas bill (plus electric) in the winter for a 1200 sq ft house was just way way too much for the long haul, so I gave in. I'm very very happy with them, and I still have the old windows, which some of my artistic friends have begged me for (for art projects).

There is no market for the old windows (I looked for a year before I found anyone else even selling their old windows--this was before I replaced mine.) So, it seems to me that people are either keeping their old windows, or replacing them with energy efficient ones.

Now my preservationist bent is being challenged again because I can't find anyone to replace the plaster in the upstairs bathroom. They all want to just slap up drywall and call it good, but I'm just not doing that. All the plaster in the house is good, except where they glued paneling to it! I won't be doing traditional plaster (we'll be putting in veneer plaster, which goes over blueboard) and we'll have to do it ourselves, I think.

Karen