Top 10 Reasons My House is Falling Apart // 120 Years of NEGLECT 😩 (ep.4)
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- Опубликовано: 20 окт 2024
- Buying an old house is always a risk, and so far we've focused mainly on the good aspects of the house - what made me fall in love with it, and why I decided to buy it.
But as I was filming these house renovations adventures, in my 120 year old fixer upper, I had this nagging feeling that I was missing something. Like there was something I was forgetting to properly communicate, and it wasn't until reading some of your comments (and one email in particular) that it really hit me - I haven't really told you everything that's wrong with the house! It's practically falling apart, it's in total disrepair, and I haven't really mentioned anything about it, other than the lack of plumbing.
So today I go over the top ten most dire things in need of fixing in my Cheap Old House - from the roof to the foundation, and everything in-between!
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When my husband and I got married I came with 2 boys hubby came with 2 girls and together there were 4 cats. Money was tight so we bought an old Victorian 100+ year old house. The basement was made of flagstone and brick when it rained it would wash in small snakes not poisonous. The first winter we froze the furnace was one that looked like a giant monster 👹 so most of the heat went up the chimney. I wish I could tell you everything we went through those went easy times but the memories the laughs, cries, frustrations, we restored the house we finished raising our family. We are now grandparents and great grandparents. Enjoy your adventure 🤹♀️
People need to stop being keyboard warriors and just be uplifting and positive. Why people think that RUclipsrs have no idea what they are doing is beyond me . Great work so far Shannon and Phil and much love from Eastern Ontario 💞
I totally agree! Thank you so much! :-)
😂 question is that from Mike Rinder statement? Just curious. Lol😊
Some people just don’t know how to have fun
@@MaryR1231 don't know what you are talking about so I will say no ..lol 😂
Jenna Phipps is doing the same thing and people are all over her as well. They are doing everything by the book and yet there are people calling them out as not knowing why they are doing . Neither of you have ever come across as stupid woman . Give it a rest already just support your favorite RUclipsrs . Or they will be gone .
Shannon, call your closest Habitat for Humanity Store and let them know what items you need. They can add your name to a list and when they know they are getting that item in they will call you. Big items like gutters are hard for them to store in the store thus they try to sell those items quickly.
Definately, do merch it will be a great way to raise house funds!
Also, there was Victorian duplexes but not many survived so you are a true hero to save that beautiful old home! I know most people probably are asking you 'Why???' but just ignore them. Your home is so happy to have you take care of it and that is all that matters.
Ahh, that's interesting to know. We don't have one super close to us, but yea, great to know!
Shannon, I'm no expert but live in FL now and I think that a regrade is only part of the solution. Even with retaining walls, you'll want your graders to try and funnel around the the house. I think it may be French drains all the way down the hill. But I'll leave that to the experts. The main thing is to do it "right" the first time. Save yourself a world of trouble years down the road. (Also, probably need to do some kind of waterproofing on all the basement walls). Perhaps sump pumps too.
Great thought for Habitat Humanity if t is an option where they are. 😊
It seems such a understatement when you say "adventure" but it deffinetely is and a long one also 😂😂😂 I really admire your spirit to do such a big job, and I can see you are doing it lovingly and with great respect. Can't wait for the next episode of this adventure 😅 Have a great week❤😘
Hi, I'm from the United States. I am all for what your doing, I rather see someone saving the older buildings. What I was wondering if there are any Amish people in your area. They are very good at wood work, that they might be able to help.
Don't let your "backseat contractors" get you down. Fix-it guys gotta tell you how to fix it. The more comments you get, the better your channel will do, especially if you can avoid becoming defensive towards critics. They're not there with you doing the hard work, and they don't know how much time, energy, and money you have to devote to your project.
To me, it's always great to see a younger person who is enthusiastic about working with older homes. If people really are being nasty, just block them. It's your show, manage it the way you want.
A dry, stone-filled creek bed could be a useful landscaping feature at the bottom of your hill near the house. It could be placed and graded in such a way as to channel the runoff from the hill and house around the house and to the street. Pretty and useful!
That sounds cute
Totally cool idea in concert with french drainage--direct the flow into the "creek"--would be so cute!
I am afraid it's too muddy to work with most types of rock beds
If growing healthy coverage (local grasses?) can avoid that your idea would be adorable
In my area, it’s also possible to make “rain gardens” in those areas, to help store and gradually seep the water back into the ground. Not sure if it’s possible in your area but they do turn out beautiful!
@@fionafiona1146 I think there would be work-arounds when doing it in concert with a French drain as Denverdubois mentioned. Some water-management plants on the hillside would probably be a good way to put the landscaping to work, though. The chat gallery is going to have this whole thing sorted for her in no time. 😄😆😄
We once bought a Victorian house that had a huge oak tree growing right up against the house, like literally touching it.. Someone thought it was a good idea to let that acorn grow? And no one in 50 or 60 years thought it was a bad idea? You guys are smart, you will deal with it, it just takes time and money. I know someone who bought an old house and had it jacked up, foundation removed and poured a brand new concrete foundation and basement. Anything is possible with enough time and money. The YT channel Stories from the Cascina had an episode showing him rebuilding an old window. "Yard by yard life is hard. Inch by inch it's a cinch."
Jack and the house up with a new foundation might be the right answer. less problems in the long run?
My Husband and I are really rooting for you. We bought a “as is” 160 year old Grist Mill. We thought we were crazy! Just have fun with it! Omg the basement, what an adventure! Really enjoying watching someone else go through it. Wish we were younger like you. It’s a lifestyle not a project.
Omg! You just redefined my husband’s and myself’s existence . We are both in our 50s now and you have now given me a new term to describe our crazy life. It’s definitely a lifestyle. Thanks you , lololol
That beautiful window frame shape would make a great logo for the defenestration theme.
Omg so true
I think you’re on to something!
I’m def one of the people who cheered when you said defenestration, lol! Is it weird that I feel like you should turn it into “DEFENSTRATE” delivered like a Dalek? 😂 And show trash being yeeted out the window with Canelle as the furry Dalek? 🙃
Oh! You could also do an antique dictionary treatment, with a woodcut looking sketch of your window, saying:
defenestration, noun
de·fen·es·tra·tion (ˌ)dē-ˌfe-nə-ˈstrā-shən
1: to yeet someone or something out the window
Ok. I may or may not (but definitely am) be going to make this for you now…
Yes! I'd love to see some merch relating being a pro at DIYing (lol), with how certain "professionals" use defenestration to get the job done (if you know what I mean, wink, wink, nudge, nudge 🤣)!
I had to look up the meaning of defenestration. Modern Latin ; down from the window. So throwing stuff out a window is defenestration. Now how to pronounce it. lol so much learning going on by watching RUclips.
Defenestrate is one of our family's favourite words. And yes, we're the kind of family that has favourite words.
The crafsman told a story once on his channel that I remember hearing from family when I was young, too...
If ever you get hopelessly lost in the woods, all you need to do is pull out your pocket knife, sit down to sharpen it, and start to carefully work the edge... keep working and working, do the very best you can, and before long, somebody will come up out of those woods to tell you that you're doing it wrong.
You can't escape the critics. Keep an eye out for the one that might actually be saving your butt, and keep your head high as you stride on past the rest. ✨💖✨
Ugh, sorry people are up in your business assuming you didn’t cross your t’s and dot your i’s. Anyone who watches you knows how thorough & realistic you are. Not to mention your incredible work ethic.
Keep rocking it- I love all of your videos. Rooting you on!
Aww, thank you Kristen! Appreciate it!
Honestly, It's a testament to the craftsmanship of this place that the roof is still in such good shape!
I love watching these videos because it reminds me of summers spent working on those old houses and seeing all the history in them. Pencil marks on the studs, height marks on walls where kids' heights were recorded as they grew up, layers of wallpaper, little nicks and dings in the woodwork where furniture was moved. I'm two years into a debilitating autoimmune disorder and can't walk without a cane anymore, so no home improvement work for me, at least in the near future. I've missed it. This series is letting me live vicariously through you :)
Ok, when you were showing the backyard with the grading/ runoff issues all I could think about was how to harness this into a cool landscaping/ garden opportunity. I know that is waaaaaaaay down the line but could be cool to think about a seasonal diversionary creek, especially since you have an opportunity to reshape the lay of the land.
I'm a gardener in Sonoma County, CA, where drought and wildfires are a major consideration. We have a way different climate but over here. It's all about slowing water when we get rain and helping it soak into the ground (and obv. away from the house) to recharge groundwater. A lot of people put in a dry creek bed that water will flow into when we have rain and they plant things that go seasonally dormant until rain. Then, these beautiful native grasses and wildflowers just come to life! Here in the states, there is a federal program called "Master Gardeners" who are trained in their region on the landscape and gardening advice. It is free. Wondering if there is something in Canada that is similar?
Maybe there's a "too much water" version (I saw someone mention a French drain) of this that could be really beautiful and mitigate some of the water issues. This is not an area I am an expert in, but it might have some potential to stabilize the hill, depending on what plants you choose.
I've lived in a few fixer-uppers, in the early days you tend to move from crises to crises. Never enough money. Learning as you go, sometimes by making mistakes-ugh! Don't get discouraged, you've made great progress already.
Your house was neglected for far longer than you thought. One by one you will mark things off your list. My house is not as old (it’s only 102 years), but I can share that I too had 20 trees that I had to remove, water leaking into the basement, missing gutters, rot, no insulation blah, blah, blah. You will get through it. Remember it’s a labor of LOVE. 😊
Not sure if you'll see this, but just a heads up that metal roofing does actually require upkeep/maintenance that installers don't always talk about up front. Without that maintenance the warrantee will not be honored.
“And yes, my friends, that is the hill I will be dying on” ….. I just took a sip of coffee and immediately spit it out laughing 😆 😂😢 I’ve been there…..only 7 months pregnant with 2 small boys, and ya know what? I’d do it all again……for the “love” of historic homes and yours is a beautiful home. Hang in there….. LOVE this house and it’s worth every minute of it! Thanks for letting us come on your journey. ❤❤❤
lol glad you enjoyed that, hope I didn’t ruin any of your good clothing!
"Where there is a will, there's a way." It is fixable.
You have taken on quite a project, but you seem to have a handle on the priorities. I think the main constraint will be budget, because you're obviously not afraid of hard work.
You are amazing for undertaking this restoration. The hard work and planning that this takes is quite formidable. I greatly admire you and anyone who criticises you is daft. Godspeed
Thank you!!
I think it's incredibly brave to take on such a large project and wanting to restore the house. Having just moved into a house built in 1930 that was empty for years and facing all the hidden problems here I can't even imagine what you guys are dealing with. Watching your videos has been very motivating for me though, I was feeling depressed with the mounting bills and work trying to save my house, watching you tackle you house with optimism has given me the will to keep going. I know my house is worth the effort, I just needed a reminder.
best of luck!!!
On metal roofs…one more thing to consider. The sound of rain hitting the metal roof is one of my favorite sounds in the world. Nothing better than snuggling up under a quilt with a book and a pet while the rain comes down in my opinion. But some people find it annoying to hear. I think it’s wonderful that you are saving this house ❤
I love the sound of rain in a caravan, so I suspect it's similar to the metal roof, but yea, something to consider!
I live in Australia, so when we build/reno a house, we have a choice between metal (usually ColourBond) and tiles. Most people end up going with metal because they are more durable, and you aren't risking your roof if someone needs to climb up there and accidently cracks a tile (and given that 1 in 4 Australians have solar panels, which need cleaning annually, this is something that needs considering).
I grew up with a steel roof, and like the OP said, it is an amazingly soothing sound, but it isn't for everyone. When we built our house, I had to convince my wife that they were really better and long-term cheaper, because they were afraid of the noise in a storm. Since then they are now convinced, and love listening to the rain at night.
@@ShannonMakesmetal roofs are definitely the roof of choice in Australia. If you want to see how cute they can look on old buildings check out inspo pictures from Australia :)
I didn't think I would want to watch another house restoration as I have watched and continue to be inspired, motivated and entertained. The odder thing is I now follow 3 content creators from Nova Scotia. How random is that? I will see this on Fri afternoon after working on my furniture restore and new furniture finishing project I joyfully took on
yay more Canadian content! We need more of us content creators from Canada in general!
Is Ariel Bisset one of them? (I watch her restorations)
@@Lady_dromeda
Elysia English too?
@@lovingmayberry307 ive not heard of that channel. Ill give it a look
Not Canadian but Rambling Wild Rosie is one of my favourites.
"The Great Defenestration" with a chaise longue on its way out of a high window is the image that I can't get out of my brain! 😂
hahaha love that!
Totally not unsolicited advice 😆 we bought an old house 6 years ago and had the same foundation issues. We dug out the foundation and sill and graded the earth away from the house and installed a French drain all the way around the house and then replaced the sump in the basement. It's fixed *most* of the issues. I hope your plans work out for you too
You'll enjoy watching some future episodes for sure then! ;-)
@@ShannonMakes looking forward to them 🖤
Oh, Sweetheart, the work ahead of you!!! Wish I was young enough and strong enough to tackle that kind of project again. Or at least be in a position to help you. These nightmare problems are going to give you so much satisfaction as you fix them one by one. Maybe not in the moment, but in time it will. Water problems are the absolute worst. As you said it affects long lines of things. You are so blessed to be able to see beyond the present mess and envision the possibilities. That is a true gift. Having a partner that has that ability is crucial so you can tackle it as a team. I miss those days of transforming a bunch of ugly problems into a home. Ignoring the negative yammering from people that can’t see the end vision is as essential as finding pros that can help with good advice or do the work for you. Good luck! Cheering for you every step of the way.
Thank you!! 🥰🥰
It's a labour of love, thanks for sharing. New Ross Farms in lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, has local tradefolk who help keep the historic village alive. We have learned alot about the history and techniques of rebuilding and repairing older homes with contacts gained there. Also check for reclaimation yards, they often have hard to find items salvaged from older homes. For information on your home there are usually historical societies who collect pictures and information on homes and families in your area.
Ooh, good resource, thank you!
I’m quite behind on catching up on your videos- but these are wonderful!
I did want to share a very inexpensive hack to help with water on the property. I grew up in a house that frequently had standing water after every storm, our grading was well done, so it didn’t damage the house, but we would lose half of our yard to it. In college I did a project on a native plant garden, and it lead to my mother and I becoming rather obsessed with native plants. We got some bare root shrubs and trees that naturally thrived in areas with Vernal Pools (areas that temporally flood) and planted them in the worst part of our yard. We honestly did it because we were curious to watch them grow, and knew we had the right conditions for them. We only planted a few, and within a year we went from having standing water for days at a time to a few hours after a storm.
I’m not saying that if you plant some of these that you don’t have to re-grade your property to protect your foundation…but…it is shocking how much the right plants will help in addition to that. We only spent about $20-30 total for about 5 plants in a 1/2 acre.
That's so fascinating, and I LOVE the idea of having a large portion of my property be native plants rather than gRaSs 🥴, so now I'm curious what our local flood-loving plants are!!
@@ShannonMakes it’s a fascinating rabbit hole to go down. It started with an assignment to for college, 15+ years later…we haven’t run out of fascinating things to read up on. I live in a condo, so I only get to experiment now with pots and occasionally growing native plants to give to friends and family to plant in their yard.
My nephew needed to repair some Georgian sashcord windows but had no clue how to do it. They were in a similar state to yours. He did a lot of research before he started, on RUclips, internet sites and even rang restorers for advice. They were surprisingly willing to share information. Needless to say, he did it, replacing rotten timber that matched up and re threading sashcords etc. once he’d painted them, they looked amazing and it was such a satisfaction for him to save what he knew to be original. You are a very resourceful person, I see no reason why you can’t succeed at this. In fact, do not be disheartened or take notice of the trolls. If you trust in yourself and trust in God, you will achieve everything you need to. I’m sure you’ll hit hard times, as everyone does, but just take a deep breath and shake yourself down and get on with it. I certainly have great faith in you. I think you are a very amazing human being. Good luck and God bless xxxx
You got your work cut out for you! As someone who grew up in wetlands at the bottom of a hill, that is not a basement that can be finished. Your basement will probably be useful for storage and utilities but you'll need to make sure any storage is up off the floor by 8-9" depending on how much water usually comes in plus the exceptional flooding event. If you have the budget, a landscape architect can make up a plan for grading that hill and directing water around your house that will stand the test of time. Thank you for taking us on this journey!
It shows how well the house was made that its still standing, especially with all the Canadian weather when it gets really snowy or wet, like around this time of year
true!
French gutters, raised garden beds on the hillside staggered? ...just food for thought..
When the roof is replaced i hope you'll be able to save that hand hewn decking. It's beautiful
SO MUCH WORK! But you're saving a stunning historical home, so hooray.
Exactly!!
You won't believe this but someday you will look back on this as some of the best years of your life :) imo your dream house is beautiful so happy for you ...
I truly admire your fearlessness! You’ve got this, your home will not just be your castle, but an absolute treasure! ❤
Absolutely!!
I'm so glad you mentioned a frencih drain, it will definitely help. And it sounds like you two gave done a lot of research, good for you, i hate when people just jump in without a single clue and then realize they made a bigger problem. I will stand on that hill with you, that window is gorgeous and deserves to stand out proudly. Good luck, make sure you are getting enough sleep, and although you are used to working through aches and pains, take it easy when you pull something.
You are spot on regarding saving the old windows! YAY🎉
🥳🥳🥳
Merch idea; Take pictures of the features you love most and put it in a calendar, or a collage on t-shirts, hoodies...
I was hearing about you needing to replace your roof eventually. Two things that may help you make an educated decision 1) You spoke about a hurricane taking off a few shingles, compare each roof style with durability also ask the neighbors around the neighborhood how their roofs have held up. 2) We have lived in our 1914 home since 1986 and have had 3 different roofs put on; the first 2 were shingled roofs, a hail storm took out the second one. So with the 3rd roof we went with a steel roof. If you look at old barns most of them have steel roofs that look like they have been there many years and lasted through many storms.
everyone likes the calendars (especially the corgi calendars, lol)!!
Dunno how I missed this comment, but yes, there are many many houses in the area with aluminum roofs! They seem to hold up well, but no one I've made friends with has one, so no first hand opinions (yet)!!
My hubby and I have bought 3 houses since we got married in 1978. And we didn't get an inspection on any of them. I could see what was wrong with them going into buying each one. And our plan on each one was to fix it up really nice and sell it to move up to a better house. Then we fixed the 2nd one up. And that led to our dream home. Our 1916 farmhouse on 3.2 acres. We have had this one for 31 years now. And we are still working on it. We knew going into this one that it needed the most work of any of the houses. My realtor at the time tried to talk us out of buying it. But I could see the work that was needed. Pretty much everything. Honestly, we have had no big surprises in the last 31 years fixing this old house up. It's been an adventure in home fix up. So, just enjoy the ride. It will take how long it takes. And you will have joys and lows. But believe me. It's worth it. Just remember to stop every so often. And look at what you have gotten done. Not just all the things you have still got to do in front of you. It's easy to get tunnel vision looking at the long list ahead. But enjoy the done stuff too. 😊
Enjoying the done stuff is SO essential!!
The joys of the antique house! I know it seems endless now. Keep going. You will be so happy in the end.
That's the plan!
I love watching restorations. You are better than THIS OLD HOUSE‼️ I love to see old homes restored and always wished that I could do one. TFS 😎 I knit while I watch you 🧶
aww, thank you!!
Don’t lose heart, Shannon! You and Phil are so smart and capable! Sorry there are so many critics out there. I’m very inspired by the journey you are allowing us to follow!
My house faces a pretty steep downward slope too (and is also old--1917). A French drainage system (YAY!), and subsequent terracing of the slope, made our basement MUCH dryer and did our house tremendous good. Therefore, from what I've experienced, you are totally on the right track. Also...agree with you that the foundation is much more important than the roof right now. Adding the extra weight of a new roof, plywood or metal and all that, would be questionable when your foundation is so compromised. I'm really enjoying watching you save your beautiful old home. Try not to let the internet critics bug you. I've noticed some good advice here too, so it balances out. 🙂
Have you ever thought about putting a French drain around your foundation. Would love to see more on the house. I love it and I love watching what you're going to do with it.
well definitely keep tuning in every Friday, you'll continue to see so much more!
@@ShannonMakes Hi from Hungary! I didn't know it called French drain but I also fought it could be a solution. I'm an engineer, my field of knowlege is closer to road building, but I think a so called French drain system coud be cheaper option than what was hinted in the video.
definitely french drain, in addition to retaining wall and sloping away from back of the house@@szepagnes89
We did this at our farmhouse. It was a good economical way to draw water away from the foundations.
She literally says this at 26:11. Lol
Wow, I never imagined a house having six inches of layers of siding on it - it really explains the windows there. I couldn't put my finger on what looked weird about them but it was absolutely how recessed they are.
I love your approach of keeping as much of the old features as possible! No grey tiles on the whole floor and white big tiles on the walls and the rest in white, grey and beige without walls and structure (this is how I see a lot of people doing it). Maybe in the future you find a solution for the windows to keep the warmths in better. I am looking forward to see all the things from the attic! Wish you all the best!
Don’t worry Shannon, all these things are fixable! I’ve been restoring an old house myself and know how it feels when people are so scared and negative about the process. If you do majority of work yourself you can save a ton of money. It may just take a little longer. You seem totally capable of taking this on. So glad you are insisting on keeping those beautiful windows. Contractors always want to tear everything out and replace it with new stuff because it is the quickest and cheapest thing to do, but don’t listen to them. Take your time, enjoy the process, and in the end you will end up with a really unique and special home.
About the metal roof. They have different makes and models now that can maybe be what your looking for. We got a metal roof and it has been a huge blessing. Also when you do gutters make sure you get gutter guards ( mesh plate over the gutters) to keep debris off. It will save you headaches later on. Just suggestions. Cause I know you have a lot on your list. GOOD LUCK!!😅😊
How do you find the noise of rain in the metal roof? I feel like I’d enjoy it (always loved rain on a caravan roof), but am curious
I live in San Francisco with hills and LOTS of Victorian structures (and older). My apt was built in 1907 after the big earthquake and fire. The apts have various work done on them… all still have high ceilings and picture rails. I’m lucky I still have some built ins in the kitchen (most of the others have had them ripped out. My kitchen sink and cabinets around the sink were put in, in the 70’s. They are not wood and the sink was caving in so I finally got a new sink and counter top. I found a kitchen cabinet (1940’s?) at a reclaim place to hang above the sink and have more cabinets. It was raining and the price was hidden so the guy said $20 bucks and SOLD! Then he carried it out to my hatchback… $40 was written on the bottom! My manager (who was also rebuilding the kitchens as apts became vacant) put it up for me. My bathroom has a large claw tub (all the apts do!). Our windows are original and we now have a law that they can’t be replaced with cheap metal ones so the landlord is having them rebuilt. Alas the pipe that comes off the toilet was designed for those water wasteful toilets and not our water saving modern toilets. My “stack” have all been here 25+ years so the newish owner (15 years) hasn’t had a chance to change the pipes. Our toilets overflow a lot. I’ve got it down on how to handle it. My apt is drafty and cold when it’s cold outside (radiators only run about 4 hours in the am and 5 hours in the pm all year round as our summers are cold. My small radiator can not be turned off so when we have a heat wave it takes managing). My apt is cute and I prefer living with inconveniences than living in a modern motel looking apt!)
They make window inserts that can be removed easily if you want open the windows. There are some RUclipsrs in France that have chateaus that have delt with old window wood that looked just like yours. One is Doing It Ourselves, and the other is Escape To The Dream, Restoring The Chateau. They kept the old wood and "restored" it. So if they could, you can 🙂
I'm so glad I found your channel. I am currently in the process of fixing my uncle's very damaged 124 year old home. Your videos make me feel less alone in this process and also reminds me that with time and patience the house can be fixed. Thank you for posting these videos. You are doing a fantastic job!
Thank you! You got this! 💪
I wonder if on the flat spot that is 6-ish ft above the back of your house if you could add a ditch next to the hillside to divert some of the water coming down from above before it gets down to your house level. Kind of a belt plus suspenders approach. Layers of protection.
Houses cost money - even new ones. And home inspectors can’t see everything and don’t catch everything. There’s no one, right way to do what you’re doing. I’ve owned a couple of houses and I’m pretty pumped to learn with you guys as you tackle the issues. My own home is still a work in progress and I get satisfaction from learning as I’m doing. Keep with it and celebrate the victories along the way! You’ve got this!
I like your attitude to things in general. There is no point in saying, you should have done this or that after the fact. Now is the time to build you up with praise for both your hard work, You are doing a great job. Any way I don't see you stopping till you get the house the way you want it, even if it's baby steps.
Exactly!!
The mirror over the fireplace is the bomb. Love it. You just have to keep your heads up. The end result you will appreciate it very much. And the value will skyrocket. 😊 Nothing but blessings your way. 😊❤
I lived in a 1910 Victorian on a tree-lined street with very mature trees. Our concern was always roots in the sewer lines (which were still cast iron).
Oh, I’m less worried about the cast iron than I am about the clay (which is what we mainly have around here)!!
Also your dog is super cute!
That hill reminds me of the mountainside that formed the backyard of the house my grandparents had when I was a kid.
They had a lovely fruit & veg garden, with everything tiered to account for the slope and which plants shaded which other plants.
Looking forward to the videos tackling this structural stuff! Thank you for laying it all out for us.
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Hey! Just found your channel. I'm very interested in what you're doing, and I think you're so brave to take on such an inspirational endeavor. I wish you all the best and it's going to be very fun to watch. I had one comment about who owns the house. You go back and forth between "my house," "our house," I, we, my, our. I do not have any idea what your relationship is with Phil, and he seems great. I'm just curious and I know it's none of my business but it just flips back and forth a lot. Like I said, I'm new to your channel so forgive me if I'm out of line here! Happy renovating!
Those are pretty windows. I understand your desire to keep them, and best of luck in your journey. I remember my granddad putting up the storm windows in the fall and the screens in the summer. 😊
I bought a house that was built in 1840. Like you I paid for brand new electric from the road in, all new plumbing, new septic, etc....Also have some sill damage. The good news is these old homes support themselves with more then just the sill. Just stay calm, stick to your plan.
You go girl, it all will take time. You and your boyfriend can do it. Just take your time. Great video love watching you.
Thank you so much!!
I would never wonder about your ability to buy a house. The thing is, how do we fix these problems. I am in awe of your Pollyanna outlook. ❤
Shannon… I would suggest considering planting to help retaining the water on the walls. Since you are crafty and resourceful, you can look at taking or getting cutting to help propagate to cut cost. Or buy one plant and take cutting. Plants can help stop the water . I know it is more stuff to add to your list! If you want, we can chat about what will grow in your area and we can help with starting baby plants that can ship to you. Working in my master gardener designation
Hahaha, love that! We definitely will be needing some good plant roots to keep all the soil in it's new place, that's for sure!!
I was wondering about this, actually, because I was wondering how removing the trees (which is obviously very necessary) and their root systems would impact water absorption and soil erosion in the landscape around the house. (I have no expertise in this area, just curious about how people tackle these issues for their homes)
I know this may seem like a mess of problems, but as a problem, solver, and planner, I am dying to sit down and figure out which water issue to tackle first, lol. I am living this adventure vicariously through you. I love home renovations/ restorations.
The wildlife, and the lack of gutters on your roof, planted those trees. We call those trees Volunteers. Birds and squirrels through their waste on your gutter-less roof is how those seeds landed right next to your house. Absent landlords may not have inspected their property often enough and tenants usually don't care about their landlord's property. As a result no one stopped those trees from growing. 🤣🌱🌳
She showed pics where it looked liked someone attempted to cut them back but only coppiced them, didn't remove the stumps.
@@angelbear_og Yep, which unfortunately has the opposite effect of what one hopes for.
Have you considered putting in (a) swale(s?) to guide the rainfall on a path to a pond or soaking-in area (Cattails both love and clean water and are edible -tasting like asparagus at some stage!) before calming and directing water away from the house? It's a permaculture design feature that plants thirsty trees or bushes along the swale, diverting water to safely reduce its effect on the foundation. That's one steep hill, my friend. Wider terraces with planting might be another solution. If you're hiring earthmovers, you might want to consult with a Permaculture Designer. (I am a student and admirer of this approach to help save our Earth.) You're living one of my (75F) old dreams with your lovely house, so well-worth preserving to life. Love from Milwaukee!
House inspection? On an antique Victorian house? Ridiculous! Home inspections make perfect sense in more modern houses when the defects are less severe and obvious, but are not really informative in this situation. You know going in that there is (a) extensive water damage, complete with bad grading and missing gutters; (b) an unstable foundation (see point a); (c) no functional mechanical systems at all, and (d) at least one and a half million tiny defects that have added up over time. You didn't buy this house to get a "move-in-ready" living space! You bought your gorgeous house to save it from complete collapse and restore it to its original glory. You bought a project, not a home. Ignore the detractors - they don't understand the restoration aesthetic, the urge to save the beauty of the past, the willingness to work - and work hard - to complete a brighter better redemption chapter. The people complaining about home inspections do NOT view themselves as caretakers of history and beauty and can't imagine the psychology of someone who is a restorationist. You are very like Kevin and Laine of Restoration Nation. They bought and are currently restoring Hope, an antebellum plantation (the original core of the house dates from the 1700s) that burned down. They spent nearly a year just getting rid of the fire damage and getting a roof on it. A lot of people accuse them of being crazy, too. Or Second Empire Strikes back, where they are working to RESTORE - NOT renovate - an 1890's abandoned Victorian 2nd Empire Mansion. Ignore the idiots who only see a house as a utilitarian object - a roof over their head. They calculate the financial return and amortization of effort from a comfortable home and count your efforts as "ridiculous," and "not worth it." Those of us who love these buildings know this is an act of love - not a pragmatic purchase. Ignore the idiots who cannot imagine the thrill of restoring beauty to properly pride of place. The rest of us hear the siren song of beauty - and we support you 100%!
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Your commenter heckling is 👩🍳 💋 also enjoying the walk-thru of house trauma
hahhaha thank youuuu! Gotta heckle those man-splainers, keep them on their toes... 🤣
Merci Shannon de faire ce bilan si lucide de cette propriété 👍🏻
Je vous souhaite d’obtenir des partenariats pour aider à faire tous ces gros travaux ! Terrasser l’arrière de la maison, installer des gouttières et des drains, “rafraîchir” les façades, conserver cette belle fenêtre, l’isolation…. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Toujours très cool de voir ce corgi courir 😊 ! Vivement la prochaine vidéo 💪🏻👍🏻
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😮 l look for would to your next video
Trees too close to your house can also mess with the plumbing and water lines. My neighbor is dealing with such an incident, and it’s turning into quite an expensive ordeal. They’ve lived in the house over 20 years, and just ignored the problem.
The keyboard warriors have too much time on their hands!
that is very true! They should consider buying their own old house to fix up, so they can apply all their own advice to themselves 🤣
I love that hill, to save the windows!
I have always heard about Christmas tree damaging fondations... a lot of people are buying Xmas tree with roots and planting them in front of their house after Xmas because it is nice to have a Xmas tree you can decorate in front of a house but they can get very tall and their roots are sometimes going under the house in front of which they are planted...
Not sure if anyone said this before, but if you do metal roofing, I suggest "standing t" roofing. It is more expensive, but you should never have to replace it. There are no exposed screws that fail rather quickly, causing leaks. Good luck on your beautiful house. 💟
I've bookmarked a video about Standing T roofing to learn more!
We feel your pain with the keyboard warriors (and water damage 😆)! We’re in Florida, saving our 1923 Mediterranean Revival from collapse… hopefully lol. Really enjoying your videos!😊
Yea, the Know-It-Alls in the home reno comments are nearly unparalleled 🤣🙈 Best of luck to you too!! 🫶🫶🫶
Ok..my home in the Poconos, built in 1897..at the bottom of a hill. My basement is ALWAYS wet..and after a week like last week? I had about 4ft of mud water down there because my sump pumps stopped working. After the past year I, we, as in my girls and I, decided I am moving to Buffalo to be near my younger, nurse practitioner daughter. I’m on 6 waiting lists for Senior Centers (independent living).
I have always loved renovating-from an old Victorian down south, to my former loft apt, also in an ancient building-to this place-plus, I built my own homes twice…with friends help. Now, almost 70? I can’t take the stress, anxiety and financial costs anymore.
Just watching this..oh honey, you’ve got some major issues no bandaid or even a full dressing will fix. I admire your tenacity and really hope you can fix this place up?
I live in a house that was built in 1926. It just 2 two of us working on it. We call it the project. When I saw the cleaning out the attic episode. I new you needed new roof, because of the lack of sheeting. Yes we have done the roof. My only advice is make sure the sheeting is part of the estimate. Some roofers think there is sheeting. Then go with replace any rotten sheets. Witch will cause an surprised extra $$. This will not matter if you are doing it yourself. This is fun and brings back memories. On some of what we had done to our house.
Goodness, you have assessed all the challenges and work ahead of you and you’re still smiling! Yay, you🥳 As an aside, I have been working all spring to pull up all the baby trees planted in our yard by birds and squirrels. I bet a lot of the trees around your house were volunteers, too, and no one dealt with them properly. Also, I’m loving your slowly evolving intro these days, with various things you do ‘by day’ and new footage of your ‘by night’ performing. Very entertaining, along with the rest of every video🥰
I 100% share your hatred of spray foam. It has been my father's go-to solution for keeping the foundation from crumbling for decades, and it is the bane of my existence as I've been trying to pick the sodden masses out and put concrete back in.
The Tim Horton's to-go cup on your basement water heater? is just priceless.
Note on a metal roof: it is loud when it rains. If you like that sound, it's great. If it's going to bother you, it's not great. Also make sure you do the snow bars and breaks - very, very, very important so the giant snow monster doesn't eat your gutters, and an added expense. Speaking from experience there.
Yea, pulled some chunks of it out of our foundation too (and just about everywhere else you could imagine)… drives me wild! Get it out of here! Also, very glad that you appreciate the Tim Hortons cups… my realtor had some funny things to say about those too 🤣🤣
Yes to the defenestration merch!
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The little doggie ears through the windows is very cute! 💜
I was wondering if anyone was going to notice that 🤣🤣
Good luck with the house renovation! 😊 I’ve been helping my mom with hers and it’s been hard work. Our family has been doing all. Thank goodness we have contractors and electricians in the family. I really hope you do enjoy seeing the progress. I’m excited for you. 😊
FGIF 😊 It is hard to seeonthe video but would link about cutting the last slope in the yard out and putting in a retaining wall with bottom drainage so you have som usable yard space. Mi d you, you might have lots of other yard on the other sides of the house.
Have you ever seen the movie "Money Pit" with Tom Hanks? Hilarious!.
Girl, You got this! Enjoy the process. It may get overwhelming but, it is worth it!
I love that you're saving such a beautiful house. For the very little it's worth, your 'moat' on the 'high' side of your house (once you regrade) might be damp enough that you could eventually plant some native bog plants and turn your runoff disaster into something truly beautiful! I'm looking forward to the video where you can say the sill plate is done and the foundation is saved!
I don’t usually purchase merch. I would purchase defenestration merch! 😂 Love your sewing content and am finally catching up on house content and loving it, too!
Awesome! Thank you!
My hubby is a builder and he was impressed with your knowledge of problems and how to solve them particularly redirecting flow of water away from the foundation. I’m very much enjoying your journey with this amazing house renovation. ❤
Oooh, yay! Love votes of confidence in the comments…makes a pleasant changes from the slightly more typical male attitude here of mansplaining! You and your hubby made my night!!
@@ShannonMakes❤
Hubby says ignore all the negative comments and rock on. We will be here cheering you and Phil on. Also, love the Corgi content.
That type of quilting looks beautiful. Can't wait to see it.
You didn't even explain the hill yet and I was like WATER IS DROPPING TO YOUR PROPERTY!!! Comes from living with mom in the house I now own right next to a swamp. I learnt a lot about water and grading without even realizing.
My childhood house has a retaining wall. When my grandparents first bought they were advised to build unless one day they wanted their house in the neighbours yard. It's a beautiful big rock wall I used to walk on as a child. The neighbours planted flowers in the rock on the wall side.
It looks really pretty and natural even though physically speaking it couldn't be. So even if it may feel like a bummer or a practical thing it can be an asteric thing too.
In regards to your beautiful old windows, I have a suggestion. I also watch '2nd Empire Strikes Back' with Caleb from St. Louis, a guy who bought an Empire era house (1906, I think) to restore about 3 years ago. He is also a vlogger and doing most of the work himself. He has become somewhat an expert on restoring antigue wooden windows. I know he has happily offered what knowledge & restoration info he has learned through his experiences to other home owners of historic houses. I would suggest reaching out to him.
Oh my goodness,so sorry to hear all these stressful things going on around your house. It's beautiful to see you are still smiling. Keep smiling through it all . Hopefully it will help you to be able to keep going. I sure hope all this works out for you dear .
I think you slightly misunderstand… this is exactly what I was looking for!! I’ve dreamed of doing this for most of my life, and went I to this purchase knowing about the majority of these problems 🥰🥰
I appreciate the fact you’re brave enough to push back on some commenters. I’m sure there’s going to be some good tips mixed in along the way. I know from experience, each old house brings new lessons. I’m impressed by your knowledge, enthusiasm and energy. You’re clearly enjoying the journey and that is so important.
Oh yea, I don’t mind most people’s advice, even if I might not need it, because the vast majority are genuinely trying to be helpful! But there are a small handful that want to treat me like a naive little child who’s in over her head, and I definitely don’t take that😆😆 And for sure some good tips here and there!
Oh boy, that's a lot to deal with! At least you knew what you were getting into, and have plans for how to fix it. You can do it!
thankyou!!
The retaining wall(s) can actually turn into a really nice landscaping foundation for your backyard, you can make it nice and private while diverting water and soil.
I will admit that I was a casual watcher of your channel before, but now am hooked and look forward to every episode including Instagram. Hope you're able to get some sponsors to help out with the financial aspects of this massive undertaking.
Corgi cuteness overload!!!
I'm happy you are working to save this great old house. We had an inspection and he wrote a book about all the things that were wrong. Our realtor and the inspector as well as many friends thought we were cracked. We started in our 50s. You have youth and strength on your side. I also am impressed by your sympathetic understanding of old house issues. We bought a used John Deere tractor to excavate and regrade all around our house. In a stunning turn of events we removed the gutters from our place. It didn't originally have them and has beautiful trim that was covered and rotting because of the gutters installed in the 1980s. We have most of our 177 year old windows! and for us it was a selling point. Unfortunately the house was abandoned for several years and animals and people broke out most of the wavy glass. We had our small relatively straight forward roof replaced soon after we bought the house. New plywood sheathing for the first time! we put on asphalt shingles. Our barn got metal and There is nothing like the sound or force of a foot of snow dislodging from a metal roof and thundering to the ground. It can literally rattle the windows! Good luck. I am enjoying your progress.