y ® ® Repairs to heritage home can be challenging "This Old House" is my old house! Built in 1864, its politically correct definition is probably "age challenged". Whenever 1 see a sign of stress that REAAVIBKX (/sutzwe.. P “:’1%%5&% s %I'%%%%&a% Around . the House _ necessary, comâ€" fortable in the knowledge that the very fact of its age makes it a survivor and worth saving. is ageâ€"related 1 set about whatever maintenance â€" is any more, at least, not for the mass market. Labor costs would be prohibitive and the construction details call for lumber dimensions that would be all special mill jobs today. For example: 1 just carved a house number for one of my neichbors out They truly don‘t build ‘em like this any more, at least, I removed years of accumulated paint with my trusty heat gcun and from _ an old kitchen cabinet I wanted to replace. The shelves were full 12 inches wide and straight as a die. of a piece of beauâ€" tiful, clear, full oneâ€"inchâ€"thick pine without a blemish on it. I salvased it 67 Lakeshore Rd. E. it old Lately, with the increase of doâ€"itâ€" yourselfers fixing up older homes, there are now sevâ€" eral specialty hardâ€" ware mail order businesses in the United States which sell reproâ€" ductions of nearly all of the old hardâ€" ware. Old houses have their drawâ€" backs, of course. Having to find a replacement for a broken hinge or window lock is a real challenge. A wrecker‘s yard is a good source but you have to do a lot of rummaging about. house are all solid wood, a far cry from modern slab doors made of thin veneer over a honâ€" eycomb of cardâ€" board. Did you know there was a cardboard â€"reinâ€" forcement in slab doors? What a surâ€" prise when I first discovered that bit of news. it was ready to receive the number I traced on it for carving. The doors in the g W/M Mdé&'fl@tdlte REALTY CcorP g « 418â€"2 North Service Rd. E + 842â€"7000 But usually you have to settle for a piece of modern glass from the hardware _ store with none of those unique imperfecâ€" tions and wavy distortions â€" that spoke of a differâ€" ent era when there Our street has just been given a Heritage designaâ€" tion because the majority of the houses have either historical or archiâ€" tectural signifiâ€" cance. was more hands on manufacturing. Wood mouldâ€" ings go in and out of style and none of the mouldings in my house are mass _ produced anymore. If I want moulding made to match, the first 10 feet or so are priced to cover all the setâ€"up costs for a . custom job. What a jolt you get the first time you inquire. This designaâ€" tion, given by the province, means none of the strucâ€" tural features of the homes‘ exteriâ€" ors can be altered. Nor can additions When a window that has 80â€"yearâ€" old glass in it is broken you can try to find something in an old storm window at the wrecker‘s yard Cz € Greetings Ei 4 t ',Q, 3 » l ’ 22 This time of year is always a time of reflection, a time to remember the bfnends and associates we have made throughout the past years. We would like to take this opportunity of wishing you a beau%l holiday season and a new year of peace and happiness. Helen & Victor Saric Associate Brokers This provides solid protection for the continued appearance of the streetscape, which is most pleasant. None â€" can be demolished and no great ugly addiâ€" tions can be built to establish a new duplex or office building. be made that canâ€" not be supported by evidence that such additions are replicas of what was once part of the building. There are matching grants of up to $3,000 per year to do approved mainteâ€" nance and repairs on the exteriors but these are closely scrutinized _ by committee. Having to find a replaceâ€" ment for a broken hinge or window lock for an old home is a real challenge. You may have to look in a wrecker‘s vard. For example, if I want a grant to paint my house I have to prove that the colors I will use are the same as the original colors. They are deterâ€" mined by sanding down through all the upper layers until the last one is exposed. In the case of my house all the window and door trim was painted black. I don‘t think there is a grant large enough to persuade me to go out and buy a few gallons of black paint. If your house is over 50 years old it has met the first requirement for designation. The next steps involve discussions with local historic and architectural comâ€" mittees who in turn may â€" start the process that ends up at Queen‘s Park for approval. It would have been nice if it was ivory, though.