New York Renovator

Heating Season: Remember Safety

Posted on24. Oct, 2009 by Mrs. Mecomber.

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If you have a woodstove, gas- or oil-fueled furnace, please remember to have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for your home. These devices are not expensive and in some locations, they are mandatory. Usually, you can find a good sale on these devices this time of year.
There are two types of smoke detectors:
The ionization type [...]

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Looking at Electric Heaters

Posted on22. Oct, 2009 by Mrs. Mecomber.

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I do not trust kerosene heaters. They are a terrible burn and fire hazard. I had a few bad experiences as a young lady (turned it on only for the flames to go POOF; another time, I burned holes in a shirt that I had been drying over the heater). And if you have young [...]

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Please: Get Your Work Inspected

Posted on31. Mar, 2009 by Mrs. Mecomber.

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One of my favorite blogs is Electrician’s Notes, and blogger Sparky has had some really good posts lately. He’s been showcasing some of the nightmares discovered in homes concerning their electrical wiring. I am closely associating with the posts (and photos), because my home is a nightmare, too!
My house was built in 1855, and has [...]

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Up, Up, and Away

Posted on23. May, 2007 by Mrs. Mecomber.

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My house is a balloon-frame house. Balloon-frame houses became all the rage after the World’s Fair in Chicago, when visitors saw Augustine Taylor’s new building design in 1833.
Balloon-framing was the alternative method of post-and-beam framing. PandB framing requires massive timbers with strong, skilled workers. The labor for this is extensive and demanding. The invention of [...]