I can do 95% of the work myself and the house is structurally sound. I plan on spending the next few years working on it full time. This house is special and worth restoring. It is 1 of only 8 places on the historic register in the entire county where it is located. It has it’s own Wikipedia...
I like the old k&t wiring also. It is a misnomer that you have to replace it. If it is in good shape it is still fine to use. My house still has the push button switches in the parlor rooms.
The problem is that I am spending a tremendous amount of money at the moment. I had to buy the house out-of-pocket. Bank will not give loans for this type of house. I do not have the thousands it would take to replace the wiring right now. I know the k&t will be fine until I get around to...
Thank you. The ductwork is on the first and second floor but not the third floor. In fact, there is no electricity on the third floor and the only plumbing in the house is in the very back where the kitchen and only bathroom are located.
Yes the house is in Illinois. It is actually insulated, plus all of the walls are brick, interior and exterior so it holds heat in the winter and stays cool in the summer w/o ac. As for the ice box, I am digging a pond(will have to wait until spring) for the ice and I am turning the smokehouse...
This is why I wanted this house, and that is, it is a time capsule and hardly changed since it was built. It does not have generations of alterations that destroy the historic uniqueness. Homes back then, like mine, were built like tanks. People do not realize that the wood back then was much...
Yes, I was not implying all homes of the 19th century were large but italianate homes of the era, like mine, where large as a whole. Most were mansions. They had high ceilings in a lot of homes back then for the heat to rise in summer.
Hi, I am restoring an historic mansion out in the country. It currently has access to power thru electric company but the house still has the knob and tube wiring which cannot take much power(I will eventually update wiring in parts of the house so it will handle modern power requirements). I...
Thank you very much for the help. Yea I have watched Will Prowse videos, and he is awesome. Thank you for the specifics because that is what I was looking for. It is my fault I did not clarify that when I first asked the question. I was torn on getting a fairly powerful solar generator(Ecoflow...
Yea k&t tube in the house is in good shape. I want to keep the main house as period correct as possible, antique furniture and gas chandeliers that have been electrified. The house will be almost like a museum. I will only use low power led bulbs. They make led bulbs that replicate the old low...
Thank you for the reply. Of course I am absolutely no expert but I want at least 20kwh. I will have a lot of power needs. The mansion is almost 5,000 sq.ft. so the furnace will need to heat that much home. I will be building a wood shop, etc. I have over 6 acres so I plan on having 24 solar panels.
Hello, the heat is powered by propane at the moment but I am not familiar with the size or exact type of furnace. I will not be back the house for a few more days. It cost me $500 a month last year and that was keeping the house at only 50 degrees. I am actually trying to take house off-grid...
Your right. Homes also had transoms above doors for heat as well. My house has 3 floors and a staircase that goes all of the way to the third floor. You can look down from the third floor to first floor. On top of the house is a cupola. There is a small door on the cupola that opens up. It was...