Client Expectation

eastend

when restoring original historic details, do you find clients expect the end result to be more like new- without imperfections, or is there a greater acceptance of evidence of age and use.
For example, we strive to achieve an " old but well-cared-for look" when restoring original woodwork, rather than make it look like new wood.
I wonder what others encounter.

Big Bob

It is critical to get a meeting of the minds. I find most HO's want it to look new even if all they want to pay for is well maintained.

Ed the Roofer

I find that most of the home owners with designated plaqued historical homes have gotten so much information from the historical commission and the top dog snob already, that they have false expectations about the actual work and everything else that needs to be done.

Especially regarding pricing, because the head guy on one of the commissions near me did his own work and he tels everyone how everything should be done. He doesn't tell them that it took him 5 years to do, what we do in one to three weeks.

Ed

Jason Whipple

I tried to paste a link that would help but it came out bad. I'll try again later

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Ed the Roofer

Ahhhhh!!!

Editing Police. Your immediate attention is required.

Ed

skylands

I find that people want the details restored with "like".

Sometimes I can just rebuild what's there but many times I have to spend some time in the shop.

Since most of my restoration customers live in old crooked buildings, "new" doesn't excite them.

The scroll work in the following gallery was taken down because of rot and rebuilt using MDO.
http://www.sevengablesstamford.com/exgallery.html

Chris G

I try to make everything look like it was there for a hundred years but cared for. I take into consideration all of the details throughout the house, and the condition they are in. And then try to match that I guess.

It's like creating art. I love doing it. It's the one time that it really helps to have the HO there with you. It's always a collaborative process, but I also stress that it's often a series of compromises.

skippythetownie

I'm new to this type of work but the owner I worked for wanted as much of the original wood left as possible. There was also a sag in the building that I couldn't eliminate without more work. I showed the owner the sag and explained the situation to him and he was fine with the sag ( I wanted to fix it and see it whenever I drive by and it bugs me). He said it's "part of the charm of an old building".

skylands

These old houses have incredible resilence. As long as the sag is not the result of decay, then simply work with it.

The most important tool in my tool bag is my scribe.