Phew. Western Red Cedar Clapboard Siding!

Well, I came home to this:



and almost had an accident when I turned into the driveway because I was taken aback in such an abrupt, and black way. I know, I know, it's tarpaper. But I was not properly prepared to see my house clad head to toe in black. It is quite a change in appearance.

After working on the front a little, it looks like this:



which is not much better, I understand. But at least you can see that it is siding. What is less noticeable in the picture is that it is in very good shape. The tar paper is stuck to it like glue and there are only like a bajillion nails in it, but other than that, it is not rotten or anything.Looks like the house was a sage greenish color. It's a nice color! I may do that again.

The asbestos guy said he took the asbestos out up to the soffit line, but stopped at the gutters and soffit because he didn't know my intentions for the house and thought I might want to keep my soffits. I said, no. I want to keep none of the asbestos and any soffit casualty is ok, so please return to finish the job. Please stay tuned on what is under the soffits when Asbestos Management Corporation from Lenior City comes back and they come down... Harry Gilman, the owner, seems very nice and he said there would be no additional charge since he had quoted me for the whole house. They will come back out - working me in between other corporate jobs.

I wonder if there are exposed rafter tails under there then??? The suspense is killing me. As much as I hate to have the house in a state of disassembly, I don't want to have broken asbestos shingles lurking anywhere. Is it weird to imagine asbestos as a beast?

Also the asbestos registers inside the house were not easily removable, like I thought they were. Harry came over on Saturday and I showed the registers to him and, well, he showed me that it was going to be more involved. I felt bad to have wasted his gas on a Saturday. He thinks they can get to it with a full crew when they come back for the soffit asbestos.

I had this crazy thought - the attic space is so hot and there is no ridge vent. Why??? Did they just do that that way back then? Or, was some ventilation system shorted so to speak by enclosing exposed rafter tails in a non-vented boxed plywood soffit? I welcome commentary on this. :)

Goodbye Asbestos Transite Siding!

Tomorrow is the day! Harry Gilman of Asbestos Management Company out of Lenoir City, TN, called today and said that he had a day open tomorrow to take the siding off the house! He'd been over at the house and could do it. I'll be happy to tell you what it cost if you email me. ;)

Please, please keep fingers crossed that the old clapboard siding underneath the asbestos is in good condition! Please!!! I'm going to give myself an ulcer worrying about this until it is over. :P

Colors?

Thinking of paint colors, I came up with this...
My house:


My Inspiration:


The roof I will most likely choose (Berkshire Collection in Chelsea Green by Owens Corning):



What do you think?

Closing, Aquisition of a fridge, tearing up of floor, horticulture

Closed on the house on Friday! We brought home the claw foot tub (good to get it out of my truck finally - boy that increases gas mileage!) and then went and bought a 1946 Westinghouse refrigerator for $30 - it is so cool.. But very small - up to my shoulder. More on that later - with pictures. I have a deep freezer, so we are up for having a "go" at using it for our primary fridge. And it fits the tiny fridge area in the kitchen. This weekend we took out the scratched laminate flooring to reveal... blue padding. Okok, to reveal... Luan plywood... Okok, under that, we took off one piece ever so gingerly and found the original hardwood floor. It is in moderately bad shape, but not rotten at all. Needs a few patches and of course, to be sanded and refinished. Dan and I have gotten SO GOOD at putting in hardwood, we are up for the challenge. And the old floor has so much more character and satisfies my inner purist (the only thing that will "do" actually). We will stain it dark dark dark, so the new patches will not show so much. I have patched hardwood before. It doesn't suck as much as putting in a whole floor. Just a few boards so far will have to be taken out.

I've ordered the floor jacks and also have the asbestos abatement company ordered too. Dan sprayed round-up on poison ivy. We found I have wild roses, a holly tree, an enormous shade honeysuckle, LOL, lovely wisteria, boxwoods, etc. Someone planted nice things here. They are just overgrown.

"The Bungalow as a Home", The National Builder, March 1915, 72 - 74

Everyone thinks of a bungalow as something a little different. Why should it differ from a Cottage? Or from a House? Or from a Residence? And does it?

One need not travel back more than a few years to see why a Bungalow is popular. The Bungalow Idea originated in the West, where Sociability is supposed to be above Society. The necessary adjuncts to Social Duties being absent, there is in consequence, a freedom not generally present. It is nearer to being in a Summer Camp year round.

But even the popular conception of the Bungalow fails when the true artist begins to think over the project. An artistic effect is obtained on the exterior by getting away from the conventional materials and finishes. Rough boards and shingles take the place of finishing lumber while stains replace paint or even Time decorates the clean surfaces.

In the interior there is further room for Ideas. Built in Furniture, often Home Made takes the place of movable chairs, tables, sideboards, cupboards, etc. In one way everything is simplified, to provide the maximum comfort for the least labor.

ake this Florida Bungalow for example. Not a great deal is spent on the exterior and yet it is positively not a Cottage or a House. It is a Bungalow and cannot be called anything else. It lends itself to the landscape and in a few years, will appear as part of it.

But if the exterior is satisfactory, how about the interior? The plans show the arrangement while the photos will give one an excellent idea of the finished appearance. The use of disappearing beds is new to many sections, but there is no insuperable objection to their use almost anywhere. The arrangement has the quality of furnishing two extra rooms for very little space.

It is not the number of rooms, nor their size that makes or mars a home, but rather, their appearance and use. A closed piano is about as effective at subduing conversation as a muffler, while drawn curtains and shades drive company away just as effectively as a Smallpox sign. By all means, let the House or Cottage or Bungalow show what it is and be made for some visible purpose. Then it will be successful from the landscape, the Artistic and the Social viewpoint.

The National Builder Magazine

I just got THE COOLEST primary source ever. :) Off of craigslist (of course, my current obsession). I got an issue of The National Builder Magazine from March 1915 - vol. 57, No. 3. On the cover is "A Bungalow in Florida".

As I am sure it is out of print and the magazine is no longer published, I'll be transcribing the articles here and scanning the pages just for you, dear reader(s) (are there more than one of you?)

How cool and exciting!

I locked in my Mortgage Rate

Yesterday, I decided I waited long enough and I locked in my mortgage rate. I don't even mind to tell you all that it is 5.25% without any points. I also want to remember for later, that this day in history, that was just about the best rate you could possibly hope for. Good things come to those who wait.