Living In The Past: An Owner's Guide to Understanding & Repairing an Old Home

Let me start out by saying that this is a good book, the author has an upbeat, encouraging tone while still being realistic about the fact that sometimes something can be damaged to the point where it needs to be torn out. But he's also quick to point out that it can be replaced with the traditional methods, it doesn't have to be replaced with modern techniques.I grew up in the home that my great grandfather built, have a degree in history and took a few under grad classes that dealt with historic structures. My husband is an accomplished carpenter and grew up working on historic homes with his dad. Together we have a pretty solid bank of knowledge to draw on when working on my family home and the historic home we just purchased. But there are still things, like windows and plaster, that are uncharted territory for us. I was very excited about this book, but it ended up mostly covering territory that is already familiar to usSo, if you are already somewhat familiar with what went into homes built before the mid 1900s there won't be a lot of new info for you. He does present some great resources that I wasn't previously aware of, and some step by step guides, like unsticking windows that are painted shut, and a step by step guide, with pictures, on repairing damaged boards in a wood floor that are good.Bottom line, if you have purchased an old house, or are thinking about it and you don't have a background in history, historical architecture, or restoration work then this is a great book for you! It's like a 101 primer on what went into building historic homes, the benefits and unique challenges, and so on. I don't regret buying it, there are still some pages that I dog eared for future reference, and the author's overall attitude would make it a great read when I get discouraged about some issue I'm dealing with in my old home. I just wouldn't recommend it for someone who already has a good foundation in old architecture.

As others have commented, this is not a repair guide. In Sidler's defense, if you look at his own blog he has a list of recommended books, including several in-depth repair guides. There was no need to write what was already written. As a call to action for the owners of older homes, however, this is a great read. We're in the midst of closing on a farmhouse that was started in 1820. I say "started" because anybody who loves old houses knows these things are always expanded upon over the decades. During the process of that expansion, the older parts of the house may have been modified, updated, or "improved".While Sidler's points are well-made and well-taken, I'm sure there are many of us who are looking for tips to return our well-intended, but perhaps not-so-well-executed house improvements to something closer to the spirit of the original. The previous owners left some of us with a bit of a frankenhouse. The next book should include tips like "now that my vinyl replacement windows are finally failing, how can I replace them with something more accurate?" Maybe that book already exists....All that said, this is a good, quick, and easy read. Worth the few hours it will take. For a self-published book, I was impressed. I noted only a few minor grammar/spelling errors (not that I was looking), and at that rate they aren't distracting.If you think of this as a repair guide, you'll be sorely disappointed. But like instant mashed potatoes, if you think of it as its own thing, you'll be pretty happy.

Not worth $32. While I applaud the author's basic tenet: respect the old and, when updating, do no harm to its integrity, this isn't much of an owner's guide. There just isn't a whole lot here. Maybe it's for beginners or folks thinking about buying an old house. Dunno. For someone with a little experience owrking on old houses, there are more comprehensive and detailed resources out there to help you.I've restored a 1920's NYC apartment, a 3200 sq ft 1880's Eastlake Victorian in upstate NY and a small 100+ year double-walled adobe in NM. I found some new and useful tips/advice/warnings on treatments and use of certain chemicals (wood strippers). But based on other reviews here, I expected to read more on most subjects. For instance, I was hoping for an in depth explanation of how to evaluate the pros and cons of a property from an expert's point of view. Four and a half pages. However, I loved the step-by-step how to repair double hung windows. I wish I'd had it for the 20+ I fixed myself but it wasn't hard to figure out. He's so right: don't replace, repair those. Other strengths: fixing sagging plaster (but nothing on removing wallpaper from those walls!), working with various materials and a life expectancy of buildling materials chart. But these sections are short for the most part. And too many leave out really relevant things, such as safe wallpaper removal.Specifics:The book is in large print format,@180pp of core text (207 pp tota) would boil down to just over half that length in typical 12 pt font typeface and typical line spacing.It's big and bloated to seem like more than it is, sadly.The BEST, most indispensible book I've EVER come across (and USED to death) for restoring/rehabbing properties: Renovating and Restyling Older Homes, L.Dworin. And for inspecting potential older homes for work/purchase: same author, Profits in Buying and Renovating Homes. Also in the same vein of save, reuse, restore: the first 6 seasons of Nicole Curtis' "Rehab Addict." OUTSTANDING!!!! She is an amazing resource for tips and how-to's, very knowledgable, thrifty as well as very VERY inspiring. And you can SEE how it's supposed to be done. Invest elsewhere is my advice. Happy rehabbing!