The Old-House Journal Guide to Restoration [Hardcover]

Patricia Poore (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1992

A manual for caring for old houses features nearly seven hundred photographs and drawings and offers step-by-step instructions that cover every detail of repair and restoration.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Since the 1970s, ambitious do-it-yourselfers have relied on Old-House Journal for authoritative information on the restoration of Colonials, Victorians, and Craftsmen Style Bungalows. The magazine was one of the few sources offering expert advice on repair issues unique to houses built before the 1930s. Now this much-needed advice has been compiled in an all-in-one guide for homeowners ready to put paintbrushes, hammers, putty knives, drills, sanders, and saws to good use. This resource includes a discussion of house periods and styles along with exhaustive instruction on interior and exterior restoration projects--supplemented with diagrams, photos, step-by-step illustrations, sidebars, and even mini-dictionaries of terms. With this guide, not only do readers learn how to fix leaky stem faucets but also what all the inner parts of a stem faucet are.

What's special about The Old-House Journal Guide to Restoration is that it answers questions specific to houses that have withstood the test of time and weather. How does one fireproof a balloon-construction home? How does one replace a rotting window frame without compromising appearance? Similarly, there's much practiced advice on repairing masonry, updating plumbing and electrical systems, straightening bowed floors and walls, and improving energy efficiency. The book's overall tone is "can-do." If something's broken or decayed, the Old-House Journal folks believe it can be fixed or restored--and they're not afraid to tell how in great detail. This is not just a lesson in stripping and refinishing wood floors, but rather extensive schooling in boosting an old house owner's confidence. --Karen Karleski

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; 1ST edition (November 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525935517
• ISBN-13: 978-0525935513
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Old-House Journal Restoration Guide, March 7, 2000

By 

Stacy R. Curro (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Old-House Journal Guide to Restoration (Hardcover)

When we purchased and moved into our "remuddled" (the previous owners paneled over the fireplace in the living room) 126-year old home, we were completely overwhelmed. My husband and I took turns being stumped by all the things that needed repair. Then a friend told us about this book. I finally have answers to the questions I thought were unanswerable. I can tackle the calked-shut windows, the sagging staircase, and even the holes and cracks in the plaster. On some issues I even know more than the home improvement store people I used to seek out for help.

If you have a pre 1939 home, then you NEED this book. It is the owners manual!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book, July 22, 2007

By 

M. M. Corbett (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Old-House Journal Guide to Restoration (Hardcover)

The first house we bought was a 1920s-era Spanish Med Rev. It had been "updated" in a horrendous way in the 1980s and our first task was to undo the updates. The book has been an indispensable resource that helps us understand many of the basic principles involved in old house construction and trim work. Besides allowing me to perform DIY more effectively, it also has been very useful for understand when contractors do--and do not--follow the principles as they work on our old house. On one occasion, when a contractor started to do some work incorrectly, the book allowed me to discuss with him some aspects of the window trim that I wanted done differently. I've had this book for over 10 years and it is one of the most-used books in my collection. I don't want to lend it our because I'm afraid I won't get it back!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OHJ RULES, July 11, 2009

By 

John Diele (Hollywood, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Old-House Journal Guide to Restoration (Hardcover)

AS I HAVE EVERY ISSUE OF OLD HOUSE JOURNAL SINCE IT WAS FIRST PUBLISHED OVER 30 YEARS AGO I FELT OBLIGATED TO BUY THIS MAGNIFICENT BOOK.

NEEDLESS TO SAY IT'S ANOTHER WINNER AND WELL WORTH HAVING AS A SOURCE OF VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION.

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION FOR 35 YEARS - AND DESPITE CURRENTLY BEING A GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR SPECIALIZING IN OLD HOUSE RESTORATION, THE GOOD PEOPLE AT OLD HOUSE JOURNAL ARE ALWAYS A WELCOMED FRIEND AND NEVER CEASE TO EDUCATE EVERYONE - EVEN THE PROFESSIONALS.

MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.