Renovating to Restore: Ridiculous Adventures Repairing the (amazing!) Borden Milk House in Wassaic NY
From the ground, the chimney appears reasonably sized - we thought it was up to Sergiu's chest or shoulders. Oh how wrong we were... When the roofers were replacing the crazy roof, they mentioned that the chimney (the bit sticking out of the roof) was in truly awful shape - crumbling into nothingness. Given the … Continue reading The Chimney.
Does the house have a septic tank? *shrug* Stock photo - not a picture of my house/property. At the time of offer, negotiation, and closing, I had no idea what the answer was. We waived inspections as part of our offer, so I was basically just hoping for the best. What I did know was … Continue reading The Septic Tank
I bought a house. It needs a bit of work* We waived official inspections, replaced the roof, and have begun the multi-year renovation project to bring this beautiful abode back to habitability. Starting in July, we'll live in the attic and slowly restore each of the (so many) rooms back to former glory - with … Continue reading About
The lawn is way too big. There is no reason for a lawn this big. This is not brag-complaining, the lawn is just way too big. That tiny dot in the back is my 9 year old diligently mowing away with our push (non-engine) mower. Where are the trees?? The wildflowers? The goats to help … Continue reading The Lawn.
With the roof repairs done, it was time to tackle the water damage left behind. It looks both worse and better than it was. Pro-tip: Clean up your damaged materials before the roofer's dumpster is removed. 😉 First, the challenges: conducting major home repairs with no electricity can be tricky. Props to my partner, Sergiu, … Continue reading The Ceiling.
When I told my dad we found an amazing house (albeit in need of some work) he was very supportive and confident we could do many repairs ourselves. He offered his help on anything and everything we needed. I told him the roof had to be replaced, but he was not concerned: we'd all repaired … Continue reading The Roof.
Built in 1870 for the Superintendent of the New York Milk Company (later known as the Borden Milk Company), the house is a dream come true. Sure, it's lacking walls, has no running water or electricity, and urgently needed a new roof when we purchased it in January, 2019. But look at it! It is … Continue reading The House
