You really don't need to interfere with the shutters. Dipping and stripping will spoil (and damage) them. They need an absolute minimum of attention. They are in excellent condition. We've not touched ours, other than to strip a few edges and the catches. They will just look modern if you take them back to to bare wood and repaint. The slightly knobbly paint is part of their charm. Original hardware are the best bits. Rust is seldom a fatal problem. Scrape paint from the operating part of the hinge and lubricate. Hand made screws are lovely. Don't discard them. You' may well find new screws are too long and will need their tips filing off. Weights are usually cast iron.
Absolutely right. Chemical dip stripping can loosen all the joints... then you're in an expensive mess. I know several people who had beautiful panelled doors stripped by dipping and bitterly regretted it.
We dipped ours; at home in an old tank with caustic. We removed them immediately the paint was off so they didn't sit in acid for ages. Out of 20 sets only one needed re-gluing, an easy job. We've since done the same for 3 other houses in the area, again no problems. It allowed proper prep for a re paint without months of sanding.
Have you looked for chat rooms on line that discuss renovating old houses? I agree with the above comment that you’ve made an error in removing the shutters. If you had a group of people who have experience with renovations they could have advised you on the shutters.
I would be reluctant to dip those shutters. The caustic dip gets in all the joints and could dissolve the glue holding the parts of each shutter together and may also shrink and dry out the wood. Dipping can do a LOT of damage. If you must strip them of paint could you not use a poultice stripper product? Hot gun stripping is unlikely to work well if the under layers are very old ( can end up like burnt sugar) and also may well contain lead so fumes from hot stripping need to be avoided. Heritage house type web sites or magazines about period homes often have good articles / info about approaching restorations like this.
The rectory will look SO much better when the horrible upvc windows are replaced with wooden sash ones. I love that you're restoring the house back into one, rather than the flats. Thank you for sharing your journey X
Don’t have them dipped it will remove all the paint but it also removes all the oils in the wood and destroys the glue in all the joints. Best to leave in situ use paint stripper.
Be aware of having the shutters dipped. It's too harsh on that lovely old wood. You will lose the character of the shutters with their bumps and blobbles of years of paint. They don't need to look like "new". If only you could replace those awful plastic windows with wooden #heritage sash ones in keeping with the house. Enjoying your project very much. My daughter has spent the last 8 years restoring an old Rectory in Leicestershire. Good luck to you both!
While window tax definitely existed, a lot of what look like 'blocked up' windows were actually just dummy windows included to make the design of the building look more balanced and symmetrical.
Such lovely mature trees! I'm glad that taking care of them is on your massive to-do list. A lot of people forget about that sort of large landscaping, but it's such an important part of old homes.
I was going to write the same thing. Boiling them in vinegar seems to do the trick in all those furniture restoration videos on RUclips. Just don’t use the slow cooker for anything else.
I know of someone who restores antique hardware by placing them in what Americans call a 'crock pot', cover with water and let them simmer on low overnight. The paint just washes off with a little steel wool.
I was going to suggest something along those lines, but using linseed oil instead of water. In Denmark where I live there is a company that has a mobile "kettle" where they remove paint from window leaves, including glass and hinges. Another point I wanted to leave about plaster, look up " hot lime mortar" on youtube, you will get English and Portuguese hits, because that is where burned lime is sold at builders merchants and farm supply's. Suit up and give it a try yourself, I believe that you have the "spheres" to do it. Keep up the great work.
I must admit to being slightly jelly because I love your rectory. It's going to be so lovely when you're done. I hope you have many happy years living there.
I have been binge watching all of your fabulous and interesting videos on The Rectory. What a beautiful building. A lot of hard work and probably more to come, but absolutely worth it! Can`t wait to see more and the finished result. 😊
I had some antique furniture dipped and it was the worse thing we could have done. It weakens it, especially if there was any glueing of any kind. I hope it doesn't happen to yours. I watched Escape to the Country a lot and there are specialists who carry hardware for all types of old homes it would be a good place to find yours possibly.
I have had very good results soaking hardware in boiling water, baking soda, and a drop of washing up soap. Leave for an hour then use a brush, rinse well, and dry thoroughly.
I had shutters like this in my house in the UK. It was a huge task to restore them, but so rewarding. Good for you in taking on this house and restoring it.
Reusing the original hinges will save so much fiddly work without damage or unnecessary alteration to your valuable shutters. Boil the painted window hinges in vinegar, in an old pot, and leave soak. The paint should then be easily removed and scrub with a wire brush. Alternatively, some sites say just boiling water, or boiling water with Fairy liquid and leave for 24 hrs.
I had never heard of a ha-ha so I quickly looked it up. It’s basically a sunken fence meant to keep livestock out of the formal gardens while still keeping the sweeping view of the countryside. What a great idea. Your little woodland is just lovely.
Essentially it's a ditch, which works like a moat. They were common in the estates of the country houses of the upper classes. There was one still in existence near my old home. Not as safe nowadays when people like to hike and roam wherever they please but worked well originally when estate lands were extensive and private.
handmade screws, imagine all the work, i hope if you can't use them, you don't throw them away...what abeautiful place this is already, and you make it every video much more beautiful...
Very interesting to see how the shutters work and they're going to look beautiful in the end. The woods are delightful - deer and sheep sightings are a blessing.
Hi, you’re both doing a great job with the restoration. You should definitely reuse as much of the hardware on the shutters as you can. Everything these days is so expensive and trying to find something the same as what you have will drive you crazy. Wishing you both the best of luck with the work.
I was deeply touched by the love and respect you have shown for the children who died tragically; such sentiment tells us all how right you guys are for this house. Please plant something beautiful and floral for them, in their memory. And best wishes for your future!
Blocking up windows due to the tax also influenced architects, very often blank windows were designed into the facade of houses to maintain symmetry while minimising the number of windows - yours look like they were probably designed like that rather than being blocked up since the tax would have already been in place at the time of building. There was logic to the tax - window glass was hugely expensive, so only the wealthy could afford large numbers of windows.
About twenty-five years ago a new Waitrose supermarket was built in St. Neots, with a long line of blank bricked windows all along one side for supposedly aesthetic purposes - so as not to have a huge plain brick wall running the length of the building. It amused us. I don't think they would get it past the planning department nowadays.
Loving both your work ethic & dedication in restoring the Rectory; is definitely a labour of love. The garden is looking really well & lush with growth whilst the woods seem totally idyllic. Many thanks for sharing, is very much appreciated 😊❤
I am enjoying seeing you bring this beautiful house back to life and I can’t begin to imagine just how much hard work you are doing, thank you so much for sharing your adventures 😊
I am unsure about dipping the shutters - i have had many pine doors dipped successfully, but be prepared for more extensive repairs (I usually ended up taking the whole door apart and rebuilding it). If they are oak as you suggest, then I think that caustic stripping is not advisable. Anyway, regarding the hardware, there have been various suggestions, but the best method IME is a (plastic) bucket of caustic soda - you can buy caustic soda crystals quite cheaply - dangle each item or group of items in the bucket with some wire for a few hours and then scrub off the dissolved/softened paint under a tap repeat for stubborn deposits. Absolutely the best approach for all old door and window hardware.
Stinging nettles are a culinary delight and more importantly a medicinal treasure!! I wish i had them growing on my property! Please dont destroy them! The leaves and tender stems can be boiled just like spinach! Boiling removes the sting so it doesn't irritate the stomach. And it has enormous medicinal and nutritional value! Most people think they are just a useless weed but they are so much more!! Please do some research and find out for yourself how valuable they are! I have actually found a few wild ones and transplanted on my on property in hopes they will grow and spread so i can have my own foraging patch!! People just have no idea how many of the so-called "weeds" that grow in their own yards and in the wild are actually very beneficial! Our ancestors knew about these wonderful plants but the knowledge has been lost over the years.
To add to their benefits, Stinging Nettle Tea taken daily also blocks DHT which causes male pattern baldness and post menopausal hair loss….. just saying 👍🏻
Don't strip the shutters. The caustic process can and often does seriously damage the wood. They will not look better for it. They seem to be in relatively good condition and just a gentle maintenance will have them looking and working well.
I've been thinking that since the first episode! I assume that's the part of the lands that were sold off. I'd have planted trees before doing anything else, since the houses overlook the lawns. 😊🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌲
You could rent goats to clean the brambles and weeds. They can handle the steep slopes of the ditch no prob. And then you have no refuse to haul off. They turn it into fertilizer which helps your land !
Look at that lawn, wow, love these beautiful old trees! Definitely listen to the voices on here regarding dipping the shutters and restoring the original hardware, it is sound advice… You might regret a too harsh chemical treatment on these beautiful old shutters, and I agree, they do not need to look new. Do you know the channel Veradona Restorations here on RUclips? This guy is awesome with restoring any old object trying to keep it as original as possible. He might be happy to answer a few questions, I could imagine. Having said that, I love how beautifully the two of you work together, such a pleasure to watch, and you are so dedicated and organised, hats off 👏🏻
I am totally enjoying your rectory restoration process! You are doing an admirable job of balancing historical authenticity with practicality. You are creating a lovely family home. Thank you for sharing with us!
We live in a 250 year old French farmhouse and we love the old hardware in our home. You will be pleased if you keep them. Think about all those hands which touched them, it is something which pleases me😅
Wow, a window tax! The sickness it caused, and very sad. I look forward seeing the shutters restored (great you do not have to strip them). I do not blame you what wanting to reuse, and to save money. To have the woods beyond the garden, lovely, and more nature to see. (My grandparents had woods beyond their house and farm property, and miss going to the home place very much.) The garden is beautiful, trimming the trees will be helpful to see more nature. I look forward to the other videos.
Where you have nettles might be worth checking out for a historic dump site. It’ll be clear in winter. Look out for broken glass or sherds. You may find lots of historic bottles. 😊
Turn the crockpot on "high" for apx . 8-10 hours, carefully remove hardware using tongs and put hardware into a bowl of ice water immediately.... Paint will come right off :). Regards from Texas
Have you used/looked at the Georgian Group website and their resources ,and available expertise. (Not only for Georgian buildings) Also the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) SPAB have excellent resources. The shutters look as if they have perhaps suffered over-heating and possibly Shrinkage. They were always painted, this protects them from distortion due to changes of temperature and humidity. They look as if they will be very useful but it should not be necessary to do any more than make them work by freeing up the mechanisms. Your enthusiasm and energy is delightful. I wish you well.
Thank you so much for showing us how the old Georgian shutters work! I've only seen pictures of them all tucked away. I hope they all can be restored - they are quite lovely. You can strip the paint off the hardware pretty easily - I've done it and although time consuming, it's not a difficult job. Also, the old hardware will be much more substantial and better made. Were the shutters originally painted or were they varnished or oiled? Your lawn is looking wonderful these days! Thanks for the tour of the woods.
The shutters are amazing and refurbishing them is a great idea. The mechanisms are so interesting. The whole system is ingenious. As for the woods -- not sure if this is done in the UK, but in the U.S. there's a movement to pull out invasive plants like the ones in your woods and replant with all native plants. Once native plants are established, they require much less care.
I have wondered in the past how shutters worked so it was very interesting to see the demo. They work differently to ones I have seen in Austria and Italy. There it seems they all have bolts or hooks and eyes as closures. Seeing the sash weights takes me back to my childhood and seeing my father replacing the sash cords when they wore out or, worse still, snapped. Have you ever thought of renting goats to clear the wooded area? I believe there is a company in West Wales that does this. A couple of smallholders near where I live keep goats just for this purpose. Although they do tether them and put protection around the trees etc to be kept.
Most definitely put the hardware (hinges, latch mechanisms) in a crockpot in water overnight, and good elbow grease the next day. Works a treat every time. You can clean up the screws this way too, then you can make a proper assessment whether they can be reused or binned.
The hardware you already have, if not broken. will be far much more robust than anything modern you will pay a high price for. The counterweights in the windows can be reused with chains or new sash cord.
Regarding the metalwork, it might be worth popping down to your local classic car club. Someone may have an ultrasonic bath for cleaning engine bits. They use solvent, so no risk of rusting.
I just had a vision of a pool in front of the guest house/pool house. Such a good place to see the house, from the woods, gorgeous woods. Climbing roses or wysteria for the space between the windows. I watched a video of a very huge old Japanese wysteria that has been trained to be just above head height, you can walk under it, around it's outer edge, on a walkway. This care for the shutters will be such a strong restoration of the old houses simple beauty, It's built in aesthetic. The paint stripping can be harsh on the wood. I hope it all goes well. The handmade screws are astonishing, we know there were handmade nails, screws is an whole other level, charming. Cleaned up and displayed in a shadow box maybe.
If you have an old slow cooker, put them, the hinges, in the slow cooker in water and laundry detergent. Set to med high and let cook for 8 hous. The paint will soften and be easy to remove. You can also add some baking soda.
I’m sure you are getting lots of “advice” on how you should do or not do things on your renovation. To me you are doing an amazing job and I am full of interest and admiration for the work you are doing
Wonderful vlog! Windows are lovely. Original hardware is hard to come by! I did not know about the window taxes! Thanks, for the information! On top of everything else you have to do!!! Put removal of the ivy from your trees. The weight can literally bring large limbs down. We learned the hard way with large limbs coming down from our black walnuts! Good to see you, guys! Lovely home! Indiana, USA.
I may steal that shutter design for our south facing bedroom window. Classy and practical. I am already in love with your woods. I can see what a lovely asset it can be. Thanks for the tour.
Apparently when England had a window tax it was the glass that was actually taxed rather than the ‘window’ itself and the thicker the glass the more you paid . However the glass was blown and bullseye windows show the pontil mark where the pontil blowing pipe was broken off and as such were deemed faulty and not subject to tax Hence why so many Georgian shop windows included bulls eyes and they could also be found to the rear of properties where the neighbours wouldn’t see the cheaper glass. Also servants quarters at the top of big houses had fewer windows than they might have had if there had been no tax Thank you Bill Bryson for interesting snippet
the woods are an ideal place your cat will like , take ages to find it, the shutters look like you can revive them , like the look of them , weights are hefty but having said that sash window were heavy I remember them in my bedroom , we had some shutters also , thanks for letting me watch the progress ,
I had been wondering about the shutter mechanisms. Have to agree about dipping the shutters- be very cautious and test as dipping can be too harsh on the wood and the glued joints. You have so many heritage buildings and groups/people with experience and resource finding to draw upon so hopefully they can help. The garden and "wilderness" are more and more interesting with each video. Quite a while since I have seen a ha ha. The stinging nettles are a very useful plant, including teas and fibres for spinning. Looking forward to the next update!
Interesting. Here, they had a door tax, but for the same reasons. People put in long windows to their front porches and balcony porches, with low sills, and simply opened them and stepped over the bottom sill to go out in the hot weather. They were not taxed, as they were windows, not doors.
One of the problems of dipping thin wood with panels is the problem of warping when drying. There is also the problem if there is any glue use it will be animal glue and there is a reason to retain this as it can be melted with heat and joints unlocked if necessary. The hardware should be retained because you will not replace it with modern hardware of the same dimension. There will also be a variation in their format. The hinges are butt flap hinges and if the shutters are oak the fastenings will be brass. This is because iron screws will be corroded by the acid in the oak. The screws should be wood screws which have a plain shank near the head. They will often not have a point in the modern sense because they will have been screwed into a pilot hole. You could strip your ditch but you could learn how to use a scythe. Get a bramble scythe not a hay scythe as they are heavy and require considerable skill. A bramble scythe by Fuchs is far more manageable and makes no noise. Much better than going to the gym! A HaHa differs from a ditch in that the face nearest the house will be vertical and the face towards the field will slope. This allows animals to feed up to the vertical face and not be trapped by falling in. No fence at the top of course. Do things slowly it will pay off in the end. This is not a building or grounds built to modern tolerances but to nearest 1/8 inch and then the parts are fitted. There is often no standard between bricks from different yards at this period as the moulds were made by hand literally. One person’s hand dimension is different from another!
We dipped all our shutters. Really regretted it but they were pine not oak. Good luck putting them back because I bet you wont get them back correctly labelled. Its a massive headache refitting them too! Sorry!
Don't be sorry, we know it's going to be a nightmare putting them back together, they were always going to be challenging to refurbish. It's difficult to see in the video but ours are covered in many layers of thick modern gloss paint, I'm glad in a way that we're tackling them early on! I hope your shutters turned out okay in the end!
My experiance with dip-n-strip for paint removal is not good. I had doors and shutters that couldn't be re-used as they just came to pieces. Send one replaceable piece to be done and see how it goes. My home is around 130 years old and we were devestated with what we lost. You are probably well aware of the risk of lead based paint when stripping all the old stuff off.
I have seen on other restoration utubers where they put all the old hinges etc into a pot and boil them. I can not remember if its vinigar or water they boul them in. Check it out as the paint just lifts off and the original hinges etc are beautiful plus saves you a fortune
A word of advice re shutters. Please make sure that you insist that during the drying process after dipping they are kept completely flat and weighted to keep them that way. Also use slot headed swrews to maintain the authenticity of the assembly, Hope this helps.
Love the herbivore tee 🤩🌱 Also look into the stuff clock makers use to soak and clean the mechanisms of clocks & watches. You could probably use that for the screws and things like that.
I wonder if there is a local organization that coordinates homeowners to tie together nature corridors. You could be a lovely part of that. Before our back woods was built up, we would have herds of deer come through and munch on our apple trees. We would leave out tubs of water for them to drink from. Still such clear lovely memories.
Wow, those shutters are ingenious! I’d get those in a heartbeat. Thank you for another interesting peep into your lovely (to be) home and your Herculean efforts to return it to its former state.
The easiest way to strip hardware is to use a slow cooker (that is what it is called in Canada). When we refurbished our windows I put my hardware in a slow cooker that i thrifted. Cover the hardware with water and put in 3 or 4 tablespoons of laundry detergent. Set in on high for 6-8 hours. The paint will soften and use a soft brass brush or fine steel wool to peel it off. It is so much quicker than stripping and there is less damage to the hardware.
The hinges are probably good quality brass which will clean up and look lovely. You won't get that quality or the same size these days.. I've done up a few modest houses over the years but you've taken on a huge task, it will take many years and much money but is a labour of love and will be well worth it in the end.
I used regular oven cleaner. Spray on, put in a plastic garbage bag, wait 2 hours, then pressure wash and rinse off with a vinegar dilution, rinse again. Works great! Also good for removing old wood finishes.
There is no reason to put all new hardware on the window shutters. You simply remove the layers of paint. You can't beat the quality of the original hardware. You will also find that in your period of house, most of the woodwork with exception of your stair rail and post was always painted right from the start.
Impressive shutter mechanism, great craftmanship obviously went into them. The wooded areas seem to have a lot of potential for paths, spring flowers etc.
Lovely job on the shutters! Shame as the paint is good enough. Just the hardware-who does that-needs to come off. I put new Carlisle brass hinges on my doors and they look fab😂
So glad you're keeping the shutters, and such a large amount of land, fabulous! 💚💚💚 Ooh, forgot to add, loved the history about the window tax. You still see houses in London with bricked up windows.
The best way to remove paint from hinges etc, is to put them in a large jar with paint and varnish remover. Shake, leave overnight and the paint floats off. Use a brush for any left and wash them 12:49
The best way to strip paint off of hardware is to boil in white vinegar~!!! It will do no harm and works very well. I've used that method many times while refinishing.
You really don't need to interfere with the shutters. Dipping and stripping will spoil (and damage) them. They need an absolute minimum of attention. They are in excellent condition. We've not touched ours, other than to strip a few edges and the catches. They will just look modern if you take them back to to bare wood and repaint. The slightly knobbly paint is part of their charm. Original hardware are the best bits. Rust is seldom a fatal problem. Scrape paint from the operating part of the hinge and lubricate. Hand made screws are lovely. Don't discard them. You' may well find new screws are too long and will need their tips filing off. Weights are usually cast iron.
Absolutely right. Chemical dip stripping can loosen all the joints... then you're in an expensive mess.
I know several people who had beautiful panelled doors stripped by dipping and bitterly regretted it.
It’s most likely lead based paint which is hazardous. I would like them in their natural wood
@DrQuadrivium I agree. The joints will swell followed by loosening.
We dipped ours; at home in an old tank with caustic. We removed them immediately the paint was off so they didn't sit in acid for ages. Out of 20 sets only one needed re-gluing, an easy job. We've since done the same for 3 other houses in the area, again no problems. It allowed proper prep for a re paint without months of sanding.
Have you looked for chat rooms on line that discuss renovating old houses? I agree with the above comment that you’ve made an error in removing the shutters. If you had a group of people who have experience with renovations they could have advised you on the shutters.
I would be reluctant to dip those shutters. The caustic dip gets in all the joints and could dissolve the glue holding the parts of each shutter together and may also shrink and dry out the wood. Dipping can do a LOT of damage. If you must strip them of paint could you not use a poultice stripper product? Hot gun stripping is unlikely to work well if the under layers are very old ( can end up like burnt sugar) and also may well contain lead so fumes from hot stripping need to be avoided. Heritage house type web sites or magazines about period homes often have good articles / info about approaching restorations like this.
The rectory will look SO much better when the horrible upvc windows are replaced with wooden sash ones. I love that you're restoring the house back into one, rather than the flats. Thank you for sharing your journey X
This is true.
I totally agree.
I can't get over how rare it is to have a Georgian rectory virtually intact to restore - congratulations on your worthy project!
I love how you show all the interesting little details like the handmade screws and how the parts all fit together. It’s so satisfying for my brain!
Don’t have them dipped it will remove all the paint but it also removes all the oils in the wood and destroys the glue in all the joints. Best to leave in situ use paint stripper.
Be aware of having the shutters dipped. It's too harsh on that lovely old wood. You will lose the character of the shutters with their bumps and blobbles of years of paint. They don't need to look like "new". If only you could replace those awful plastic windows with wooden #heritage sash ones in keeping with the house. Enjoying your project very much. My daughter has spent the last 8 years restoring an old Rectory in Leicestershire. Good luck to you both!
While window tax definitely existed, a lot of what look like 'blocked up' windows were actually just dummy windows included to make the design of the building look more balanced and symmetrical.
Oh interesting I'd forgotten they used to do that - good point!
Ooo, so much potential in those magical woods. The shutters are so lovely, what a treasure.
Such lovely mature trees! I'm glad that taking care of them is on your massive to-do list. A lot of people forget about that sort of large landscaping, but it's such an important part of old homes.
I recommend finding a second hand slow cooker and trying to strip the hardware that way, no chemicals! And it works while you sleep!
I was going to write the same thing. Boiling them in vinegar seems to do the trick in all those furniture restoration videos on RUclips. Just don’t use the slow cooker for anything else.
I, too, was going to mention this trick. Saved a lot of chemicals and effort.
I third the suggestion. There is nothing wrong with your hinges. Dip and strip, then replace.
Drain cleaner worked like magic when I was restoring the hardware from our 1910 windows :) Old paint just melted away easily.
You can just boil in a regular pot then put into cold water. This should help get the paint off without chemicals.
I know of someone who restores antique hardware by placing them in what Americans call a 'crock pot', cover with water and let them simmer on low overnight. The paint just washes off with a little steel wool.
Yes, I’ve seen this done. Easy
#flippingdrawers refurbished furniture and he does it all the time. They usually look better than new because they are shiny but have history.
Aka a slow cooker for us in the UK 😊
I was going to suggest something along those lines, but using linseed oil instead of water. In Denmark where I live there is a company that has a mobile "kettle" where they remove paint from window leaves, including glass and hinges. Another point I wanted to leave about plaster, look up " hot lime mortar" on youtube, you will get English and Portuguese hits, because that is where burned lime is sold at builders merchants and farm supply's. Suit up and give it a try yourself, I believe that you have the "spheres" to do it. Keep up the great work.
Yes please restore the old hardware!! Will be beautiful compared to anything new you would buy.
I must admit to being slightly jelly because I love your rectory. It's going to be so lovely when you're done. I hope you have many happy years living there.
How wonderful to have your very own woods. That is a child's dream come true.
I have been binge watching all of your fabulous and interesting videos on The Rectory. What a beautiful building. A lot of hard work and probably more to come, but absolutely worth it! Can`t wait to see more and the finished result. 😊
Thank you so much - glad you enjoyed them 🥰
I had some antique furniture dipped and it was the worse thing we could have done. It weakens it, especially if there was any glueing of any kind. I hope it doesn't happen to yours. I watched Escape to the Country a lot and there are specialists who carry hardware for all types of old homes it would be a good place to find yours possibly.
Obviously, reading the comments, we're having a "shutters war". I'm still very impressed by the amount of work both of you are able to do!
Thank you! Shutters war - love it! 😂
I have had very good results soaking hardware in boiling water, baking soda, and a drop of washing up soap. Leave for an hour then use a brush, rinse well, and dry thoroughly.
I had shutters like this in my house in the UK. It was a huge task to restore them, but so rewarding. Good for you in taking on this house and restoring it.
Those shutters are going to look stunning when stripped back, I really enjoy watching a house being lovingly restored into a home.
I agree with you! I’m excited to see the results!
Reusing the original hinges will save so much fiddly work without damage or unnecessary alteration to your valuable shutters. Boil the painted window hinges in vinegar, in an old pot, and leave soak. The paint should then be easily removed and scrub with a wire brush. Alternatively, some sites say just boiling water, or boiling water with Fairy liquid and leave for 24 hrs.
Absolutely love your methodical and clean approach to each job. What a great find for the weights for the sashes. Thank you for sharing.
I had never heard of a ha-ha so I quickly looked it up. It’s basically a sunken fence meant to keep livestock out of the formal gardens while still keeping the sweeping view of the countryside. What a great idea. Your little woodland is just lovely.
Essentially it's a ditch, which works like a moat. They were common in the estates of the country houses of the upper classes. There was one still in existence near my old home. Not as safe nowadays when people like to hike and roam wherever they please but worked well originally when estate lands were extensive and private.
Love to have a ha ha. A vista that needs one is beyond my finances.
@@maggiegray1698 beyond most of us. 🥴
handmade screws, imagine all the work, i hope if you can't use them, you don't throw them away...what abeautiful place this is already, and you make it every video much more beautiful...
Very interesting to see how the shutters work and they're going to look beautiful in the end. The woods are delightful - deer and sheep sightings are a blessing.
Hi, you’re both doing a great job with the restoration. You should definitely reuse as much of the hardware on the shutters as you can. Everything these days is so expensive and trying to find something the same as what you have will drive you crazy. Wishing you both the best of luck with the work.
So nice you're restoring this home to its former glory...the finished product will be fantastic...can't wait!! 😊👍
I was deeply touched by the love and respect you have shown for the children who died tragically; such sentiment tells us all how right you guys are for this house. Please plant something beautiful and floral for them, in their memory. And best wishes for your future!
I would send one set out first to be sure what will happen. Immersion in stripper could damage them if there is glue holding them together.
Blocking up windows due to the tax also influenced architects, very often blank windows were designed into the facade of houses to maintain symmetry while minimising the number of windows - yours look like they were probably designed like that rather than being blocked up since the tax would have already been in place at the time of building. There was logic to the tax - window glass was hugely expensive, so only the wealthy could afford large numbers of windows.
About twenty-five years ago a new Waitrose supermarket was built in St. Neots, with a long line of blank bricked windows all along one side for supposedly aesthetic purposes - so as not to have a huge plain brick wall running the length of the building. It amused us. I don't think they would get it past the planning department nowadays.
Loving both your work ethic & dedication in restoring the Rectory; is definitely a labour of love. The garden is looking really well & lush with growth whilst the woods seem totally idyllic. Many thanks for sharing, is very much appreciated 😊❤
Thank you! ❤️
I am enjoying seeing you bring this beautiful house back to life and I can’t begin to imagine just how much hard work you are doing, thank you so much for sharing your adventures 😊
I am unsure about dipping the shutters - i have had many pine doors dipped successfully, but be prepared for more extensive repairs (I usually ended up taking the whole door apart and rebuilding it). If they are oak as you suggest, then I think that caustic stripping is not advisable.
Anyway, regarding the hardware, there have been various suggestions, but the best method IME is a (plastic) bucket of caustic soda - you can buy caustic soda crystals quite cheaply - dangle each item or group of items in the bucket with some wire for a few hours and then scrub off the dissolved/softened paint under a tap repeat for stubborn deposits. Absolutely the best approach for all old door and window hardware.
Stinging nettles are a culinary delight and more importantly a medicinal treasure!! I wish i had them growing on my property! Please dont destroy them! The leaves and tender stems can be boiled just like spinach! Boiling removes the sting so it doesn't irritate the stomach. And it has enormous medicinal and nutritional value! Most people think they are just a useless weed but they are so much more!! Please do some research and find out for yourself how valuable they are! I have actually found a few wild ones and transplanted on my on property in hopes they will grow and spread so i can have my own foraging patch!! People just have no idea how many of the so-called "weeds" that grow in their own yards and in the wild are actually very beneficial! Our ancestors knew about these wonderful plants but the knowledge has been lost over the years.
To add to their benefits, Stinging Nettle Tea taken daily also blocks DHT which causes male pattern baldness and post menopausal hair loss….. just saying 👍🏻
They are also a food plant for the larvae of several butterfly species.
Don't strip the shutters. The caustic process can and often does seriously damage the wood. They will not look better for it. They seem to be in relatively good condition and just a gentle maintenance will have them looking and working well.
I'd consider planting some trees to screen off the view from those houses.
I've been thinking that since the first episode! I assume that's the part of the lands that were sold off. I'd have planted trees before doing anything else, since the houses overlook the lawns. 😊🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌲
You could rent goats to clean the brambles and weeds. They can handle the steep slopes of the ditch no prob. And then you have no refuse to haul off. They turn it into fertilizer which helps your land !
Look at that lawn, wow, love these beautiful old trees! Definitely listen to the voices on here regarding dipping the shutters and restoring the original hardware, it is sound advice… You might regret a too harsh chemical treatment on these beautiful old shutters, and I agree, they do not need to look new. Do you know the channel Veradona Restorations here on RUclips? This guy is awesome with restoring any old object trying to keep it as original as possible. He might be happy to answer a few questions, I could imagine. Having said that, I love how beautifully the two of you work together, such a pleasure to watch, and you are so dedicated and organised, hats off 👏🏻
I am totally enjoying your rectory restoration process! You are doing an admirable job of balancing historical authenticity with practicality. You are creating a lovely family home. Thank you for sharing with us!
We live in a 250 year old French farmhouse and we love the old hardware in our home. You will be pleased if you keep them. Think about all those hands which touched them, it is something which pleases me😅
Wow, a window tax! The sickness it caused, and very sad. I look forward seeing the shutters restored (great you do not have to strip them). I do not blame you what wanting to reuse, and to save money. To have the woods beyond the garden, lovely, and more nature to see. (My grandparents had woods beyond their house and farm property, and miss going to the home place very much.) The garden is beautiful, trimming the trees will be helpful to see more nature. I look forward to the other videos.
Thanks for explaining about the window tax. The shutters are really cool. The garden and woods are really beautiful.
Put the hinges in boiling water and boil the paint off. Keep all old screws for future projects. Imperial screws are so hard to find.
Where you have nettles might be worth checking out for a historic dump site. It’ll be clear in winter. Look out for broken glass or sherds. You may find lots of historic bottles. 😊
I love those shutters! You are doing a wonderful job restoring this beautiful old home. Remember to take care of yourselves along the way.
Turn the crockpot on "high" for apx . 8-10 hours, carefully remove hardware using tongs and put hardware into a bowl of ice water immediately.... Paint will come right off :). Regards from Texas
Have you used/looked at the Georgian Group website and their resources ,and available expertise. (Not only for Georgian buildings) Also the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) SPAB have excellent resources. The shutters look as if they have perhaps suffered over-heating and possibly Shrinkage. They were always painted, this protects them from distortion due to changes of temperature and humidity. They look as if they will be very useful but it should not be necessary to do any more than make them work by freeing up the mechanisms. Your enthusiasm and energy is delightful. I wish you well.
The shutters have quite a nice design, as someone below has said, a treasure.
Thank you so much for showing us how the old Georgian shutters work! I've only seen pictures of them all tucked away. I hope they all can be restored - they are quite lovely. You can strip the paint off the hardware pretty easily - I've done it and although time consuming, it's not a difficult job. Also, the old hardware will be much more substantial and better made. Were the shutters originally painted or were they varnished or oiled? Your lawn is looking wonderful these days! Thanks for the tour of the woods.
The shutters are amazing and refurbishing them is a great idea. The mechanisms are so interesting. The whole system is ingenious.
As for the woods -- not sure if this is done in the UK, but in the U.S. there's a movement to pull out invasive plants like the ones in your woods and replant with all native plants. Once native plants are established, they require much less care.
USE THE ORIGINAL HINGES THEY WILL BE FINE ONCE STRIPPED.
Yes, RUclips is a bit of an educational resource when it comes to these things.
I have wondered in the past how shutters worked so it was very interesting to see the demo. They work differently to ones I have seen in Austria and Italy. There it seems they all have bolts or hooks and eyes as closures. Seeing the sash weights takes me back to my childhood and seeing my father replacing the sash cords when they wore out or, worse still, snapped.
Have you ever thought of renting goats to clear the wooded area? I believe there is a company in West Wales that does this. A couple of smallholders near where I live keep goats just for this purpose. Although they do tether them and put protection around the trees etc to be kept.
Clever!!
Most definitely put the hardware (hinges, latch mechanisms) in a crockpot in water overnight, and good elbow grease the next day. Works a treat every time. You can clean up the screws this way too, then you can make a proper assessment whether they can be reused or binned.
The hardware you already have, if not broken. will be far much more robust than anything modern you will pay a high price for. The counterweights in the windows can be reused with chains or new sash cord.
Gosh the shutters are going to come up a treat. Love your woods and how wonderful to know there’s wild life around
Blind window openings are pretty common in Palladian architecture everywhere, including outside the UK( no glass tax). They maintain symmetry.
Love what you are doing to this magnificent home! I love Georgian Architecture! This will shine like the jewel it is with your caring!
If you want brass screws to replace old ones, take a magnet when buying. Too many sold as brass are just plated steel.
Regarding the metalwork, it might be worth popping down to your local classic car club. Someone may have an ultrasonic bath for cleaning engine bits. They use solvent, so no risk of rusting.
I just had a vision of a pool in front of the guest house/pool house.
Such a good place to see the house, from the woods, gorgeous woods.
Climbing roses or wysteria for the space between the windows.
I watched a video of a very huge old Japanese wysteria that has been trained to be just
above head height, you can walk under it, around it's outer edge, on a walkway.
This care for the shutters will be such a strong restoration of the old houses simple beauty,
It's built in aesthetic. The paint stripping can be harsh on the wood.
I hope it all goes well. The handmade screws are astonishing, we know there were handmade nails, screws is an whole other level, charming. Cleaned up and displayed in a shadow box maybe.
The shutters are fascinating and definitely worth saving .
After being dipped your shutters will likely need a lot of sanding. The caustic stripper used raises the woods grain, it is hard on the wood.
If you have an old slow cooker, put them, the hinges, in the slow cooker in water and laundry detergent. Set to med high and let cook for 8 hous. The paint will soften and be easy to
remove. You can also add some baking soda.
Get one from charity shop
I’m sure you are getting lots of “advice” on how you should do or not do things on your renovation. To me you are doing an amazing job and I am full of interest and admiration for the work you are doing
Wonderful vlog! Windows are lovely. Original hardware is hard to come by! I did not know about the window taxes! Thanks, for the information! On top of everything else you have to do!!! Put removal of the ivy from your trees. The weight can literally bring large limbs down. We learned the hard way with large limbs coming down from our black walnuts! Good to see you, guys! Lovely home! Indiana, USA.
Thank you very much!
Just love the shutters and the way they work,so look forward to seeing their completion
I may steal that shutter design for our south facing bedroom window. Classy and practical. I am already in love with your woods. I can see what a lovely asset it can be. Thanks for the tour.
Little by little. So good to keep the original and restore if possible.
Apparently when England had a window tax it was the glass that was actually taxed rather than the ‘window’ itself and the thicker the glass the more you paid . However the glass was blown and bullseye windows show the pontil mark where the pontil blowing pipe was broken off and as such were deemed faulty and not subject to tax
Hence why so many Georgian shop windows included bulls eyes and they could also be found to the rear of properties where the neighbours wouldn’t see the cheaper glass. Also servants quarters at the top of big houses had fewer windows than they might have had if there had been no tax
Thank you Bill Bryson for interesting snippet
the woods are an ideal place your cat will like , take ages to find it,
the shutters look like you can revive them , like the look of them , weights are hefty but having said that sash window were heavy I remember them in my bedroom , we had some shutters also ,
thanks for letting me watch the progress ,
That was so interesting, I love the woods.
I had been wondering about the shutter mechanisms. Have to agree about dipping the shutters- be very cautious and test as dipping can be too harsh on the wood and the glued joints.
You have so many heritage buildings and groups/people with experience and resource finding to draw upon so hopefully they can help.
The garden and "wilderness" are more and more interesting with each video. Quite a while since I have seen a ha ha. The stinging nettles are a very useful plant, including teas and fibres for spinning.
Looking forward to the next update!
The hardware for the shutters can be put in a crockpot or boiling water and they will expand… the paint will be able to peel off.
I look forward to each new video. Thanks so much for sharing your adventures with us all. Keep up the fabulous work. Love the skeleton in the corner 😂
Interesting. Here, they had a door tax, but for the same reasons. People put in long windows to their front porches and balcony porches, with low sills, and simply opened them and stepped over the bottom sill to go out in the hot weather. They were not taxed, as they were windows, not doors.
That's very interesting I never knew that!
Where's here?
@@sroberts605 areas of the usa- the taxes were local ones
People are sneaky 😂
One of the problems of dipping thin wood with panels is the problem of warping when drying. There is also the problem if there is any glue use it will be animal glue and there is a reason to retain this as it can be melted with heat and joints unlocked if necessary. The hardware should be retained because you will not replace it with modern hardware of the same dimension. There will also be a variation in their format. The hinges are butt flap hinges and if the shutters are oak the fastenings will be brass. This is because iron screws will be corroded by the acid in the oak. The screws should be wood screws which have a plain shank near the head. They will often not have a point in the modern sense because they will have been screwed into a pilot hole.
You could strip your ditch but you could learn how to use a scythe. Get a bramble scythe not a hay scythe as they are heavy and require considerable skill. A bramble scythe by Fuchs is far more manageable and makes no noise. Much better than going to the gym! A HaHa differs from a ditch in that the face nearest the house will be vertical and the face towards the field will slope. This allows animals to feed up to the vertical face and not be trapped by falling in. No fence at the top of course.
Do things slowly it will pay off in the end. This is not a building or grounds built to modern tolerances but to nearest 1/8 inch and then the parts are fitted. There is often no standard between bricks from different yards at this period as the moulds were made by hand literally. One person’s hand dimension is different from another!
We dipped all our shutters. Really regretted it but they were pine not oak. Good luck putting them back because I bet you wont get them back correctly labelled. Its a massive headache refitting them too! Sorry!
Don't be sorry, we know it's going to be a nightmare putting them back together, they were always going to be challenging to refurbish. It's difficult to see in the video but ours are covered in many layers of thick modern gloss paint, I'm glad in a way that we're tackling them early on! I hope your shutters turned out okay in the end!
Absolutely fascinating! I have seen houses with that hidden sash window mechanism in use. Wouldn't it be lovely if you could recommission them?
Love the shutters! You truly have a beautiful piece of property. Love the woods. You guys are doing such a great job.
I think 100£ a window is a very good price for the work and well worth it.
A little late, but will help to use a wire wheel and clean the screws head and hinges for ease of removing! Amazing work
Hiya, be careful of caustic dipping. The joints can expand!
The Georgian shutters are wwonderful ❤
My experiance with dip-n-strip for paint removal is not good. I had doors and shutters that couldn't be re-used as they just came to pieces. Send one replaceable piece to be done and see how it goes. My home is around 130 years old and we were devestated with what we lost. You are probably well aware of the risk of lead based paint when stripping all the old stuff off.
I have seen on other restoration utubers where they put all the old hinges etc into a pot and boil them. I can not remember if its vinigar or water they boul them in. Check it out as the paint just lifts off and the original hinges etc are beautiful plus saves you a fortune
A word of advice re shutters. Please make sure that you insist that during the drying process after dipping they are kept completely flat and weighted to keep them that way. Also use slot headed swrews to maintain the authenticity of the assembly, Hope this helps.
Love the herbivore tee 🤩🌱 Also look into the stuff clock makers use to soak and clean the mechanisms of clocks & watches. You could probably use that for the screws and things like that.
Thank you! 🥰🌱and that's a brilliant idea!
I wonder if there is a local organization that coordinates homeowners to tie together nature corridors. You could be a lovely part of that. Before our back woods was built up, we would have herds of deer come through and munch on our apple trees. We would leave out tubs of water for them to drink from. Still such clear lovely memories.
Wow, those shutters are ingenious! I’d get those in a heartbeat.
Thank you for another interesting peep into your lovely (to be) home and your Herculean efforts to return it to its former state.
They used to use brass tacks to mark the window and shutters. Brass is very easy to punch a number into.
The easiest way to strip hardware is to use a slow cooker (that is what it is called in Canada). When we refurbished our windows I put my hardware in a slow cooker that i thrifted. Cover the hardware with water and put in 3 or 4 tablespoons of laundry detergent. Set in on high for 6-8 hours. The paint will soften and use a soft brass brush or fine steel wool to peel it off. It is so much quicker than stripping and there is less damage to the hardware.
The hinges are probably good quality brass which will clean up and look lovely. You won't get that quality or the same size these days.. I've done up a few modest houses over the years but you've taken on a huge task, it will take many years and much money but is a labour of love and will be well worth it in the end.
Definitely look into the slow cooker trick for getting rid off the paint of your hinges, it will save you a lot of time and product
I used regular oven cleaner. Spray on, put in a plastic garbage bag, wait 2 hours, then pressure wash and rinse off with a vinegar dilution, rinse again. Works great! Also good for removing old wood finishes.
For the e metal I mean.
There is no reason to put all new hardware on the window shutters. You simply remove the layers of paint. You can't beat the quality of the original hardware. You will also find that in your period of house, most of the woodwork with exception of your stair rail and post was always painted right from the start.
Impressive shutter mechanism, great craftmanship obviously went into them. The wooded areas seem to have a lot of potential for paths, spring flowers etc.
Lovely job on the shutters! Shame as the paint is good enough. Just the hardware-who does that-needs to come off.
I put new Carlisle brass hinges on my doors and they look fab😂
So glad you're keeping the shutters, and such a large amount of land, fabulous! 💚💚💚 Ooh, forgot to add, loved the history about the window tax. You still see houses in London with bricked up windows.
Just started watching this....2 minutes in and came straight here for the "dipping" comments. I knew what was coming 😂
😂😁
The best way to remove paint from hinges etc, is to put them in a large jar with paint and varnish remover. Shake, leave overnight and the paint floats off. Use a brush for any left and wash them 12:49
The best way to strip paint off of hardware is to boil in white vinegar~!!! It will do no harm and works very well. I've used that method many times while refinishing.