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Anyone live in a hundred year old house? - Page 4

post #46 of 59
8/7/09 at 6:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Henry Boogers View Post
As to modern construction looking or feeling flimsy it makes me wonder what a house built in the 1800s looked like while it was being framed.
They often used beams and other pieces of wood that are probably just way bigger than what you could even get today, at least for a reasonable price. I don't know if timber framed construction with big pieces of wood is actually stronger than modern style framing with lots of little pieces of wood, but it seems sturdier.

Also the use of actual brick/stone instead of brick/stone veneer could contribute to the impression of old = sturdier.
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post #47 of 59
8/7/09 at 9:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yerfdog View Post

Also the use of actual brick/stone instead of brick/stone veneer could contribute to the impression of old = sturdier.

I think that the use of inferior materials, while perhaps not a structural concern, are a significant factor being considered. Heck, most new homes don't even use solid wood molding.
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post #48 of 59
8/7/09 at 9:26pm
I have a good friend whose house is apparently mentioned in the Domesday book (or material that went with the book, I'm not exactly clear) which means at least part of it was built before 1086. It was only a pair of rooms then, one on top of the other. Presumably downstairs for the animals and upstairs for the people. The original beams are still in the original rooms (and quire low, I regularly smack my head on them) and are now rock hard, they almost seem to have petrified in place. As my friends house is so old all of the walls, windows and doors are at slightly different angles, and the floors and ceilings at different heights. It is also, however, warm and cosy with all mod cons and rock solid. I can't think you would have many problems in a building that was only 100 years old that you wouldn't have in a modern building. Is it built well? is it well insulated and are the windows very large or the ceilings very high? Is the plumbing well looked after or has it been left as it was? etc. the age itself is not really an issue.
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post #49 of 59
8/7/09 at 9:28pm
I live in an 100 year old apartment. The wood is phenomenal.
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post #50 of 59
8/7/09 at 9:35pm
My aunt and uncle live in a home that is quite old; parts were built in the 16th century, as a monastery. Killer view too. I dream of someday owning a late 18th/early 19th century Georgian in NoVa or D.C.
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post #51 of 59
8/8/09 at 2:32am
^ That is awesome. Take more photos of the place next time you go. Where is that exactly?
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post #52 of 59
8/8/09 at 10:55am
My first apartment in Brooklyn was an 1881 Brownstone in Park Slope. I loved it...working fireplace, coal chute in the basement (with free storage!) and great wood floors. It was very haunted, and pretty small...was on the corner where a TWA Plane crashed in 1960 (130 died).\\\\

My apartment now is about 80 years old, and I own it. The repairs and upkeep outweigh the "charm" imo...we have beautifull herringbone floors though in the living room, but since its a building with plenty of renters who don't give a shit, we get leaks often. If it were just a matter of repairs from OUR OWN wear and tear, I'd be good, but since other peoples carelessness contributes it pisses me off.

FYI, there is litigation against the sponsor who owns most of the rentals as he agreed in the 80's to sell most units by now, yet hasn't sold any...its about 30% owner occupied and if the litigation is successful (which it should be) things will improve.
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post #53 of 59
8/8/09 at 11:00am
I'll one up you...I live in a 106 year old hotel.
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post #54 of 59
8/8/09 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ms244 View Post
So having successfully moved out west I am looking for a place to rent.

There is a 100 year old house that has been made to have four apartments. Its pretty big and has hardwood floors and is in a good location (for me at least. Basically accross the street from a liberal arts college )

Rent covers all utilities too, since the house is, according to the owner, a little drafty.

So the question is, anyone have experience living in a really old house? Is it charming? Or a little too adventureous? I'm going to go back and look at it this week, so any tips as to what to check out would be greately appreciated.

The first house where I lived in Philadelphia was a 2500 sq ft Victorian built in 1896.

The second was a 696 sq ft 3 story row home built in 1874.

My current home was built in 1925, is 664 sq ft, and is great.

Adventureous? Hardly, it's the same as living in any other house. In fact, I have a feeling that a lot of the new construction in my area will be long gone, while these old brick rowhomes are still standing.

Be careful of mice most of all, and make sure you have good curtains for the winter to keep out window drafts.
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post #55 of 59
8/9/09 at 1:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nantucket Red View Post
In New England it is not old.

QFT. Last house I lived in in New Hampshire before I left for Texas was over 200 years old. Slightly creepy too, that's no joke.
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post #56 of 59
8/10/09 at 8:36am
My house is about 150yrs old. Given that Australia was only settled 200 years ago, that's rather impressive. Free settlers first came to the city were i live in 1842. The house itself is dated earlier than 1861. It must have belonged to someone wealthy at the time, as it is absolutely massive even by modern standards. Australia has very little history, so telling someone your house is 150yrs old is pretty much the most incredible thing that could happen
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post #57 of 59
8/10/09 at 8:42am
Our house was built in 1879. It is a massive pain in the tail. We have decided enough is enough, and we are moving to a house that was built in 1928.
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post #58 of 59
8/10/09 at 9:05am
Never actually lived in one but own a couple as rental properties.
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post #59 of 59
8/10/09 at 9:53am
Connemara, that house is beautiful... My parents house is over 400 years old, in a tudor merchant house style. It used to have thatching, but that was a pain and rather expensive to replace and subsequently removed. Apart from the low beams and rather small rooms it is fine and requires minimal upkeep.
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