Replies

1. 
   Theodora | Oct 15, 2003 10:16pm | #1

   Hi Alchemist,

   Your house sounds remarkably like the ranch home I grew up in, in North Carolina. Same vintage, cinderblock constuction on slab with exterior brick veneer. We also had radiant infloor heating. Windows were wood, however, huge expanses of glass with tilt-in sashes (I can't remember the technical name for that style window.) And what I remember of the cabinets upon our move-in in 1965 were that they were pine. The house was remodeled in 1970, with drywall going up over the cinder block walls. I wish I could remember how the dry wall was attached to the block. At that point, a substantial addition was built, but electric baseboard heat was used.

   I hope you enjoy your addition. Are you still pleased with the original windows on your house? And what are you planning for the windows in the addition?

   "Our whole American way of life is a great war of ideas, and librarians are the arms dealers selling weapons to both sides."
   -James Quinn
   

1. 
   alchemist | Oct 16, 2003 02:22am | #2

   Hello Theodora,

   The walls are block on the outside with metal lathe and plaster inside. I would like to continue with steel windows because of the sight lines. The sashes on the steel windows are deep and after looking at the steel windows available today (HOPE and Crittall - still no thermal breaks) I am going to see if I can just replace the glass with custom thermal panes in my existing windows. [Yours were called "hoppers".]

   I will get prices for the new ones before a final decision is made on them.

   Take care!

1. 
   rjw | Oct 18, 2003 04:12pm | #6

   You might consider installing interior storm sash.  Old House Journal has discussed them numerous times, although I don';t know much about it's on-line material.

   _______________________

   Albert Einstein said it best:

   “Problems,” he said, “cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them.”

   Your mileage may vary ....

2. 
   user-7006886 | Oct 16, 2003 06:26am | #3

   Do you have any photos? I would especially like to see what the outside looks like.
1. 
   alchemist | Oct 16, 2003 04:33pm | #4

   Maybe next week after our son's birthday party...... and the long weekend. I work from home and the schools here are closed Friday and Monday.

1. 
   user-7006886 | Oct 17, 2003 02:14am | #5

   Ok, I'll try to be patient. Thanks. It will be difficult though. ;-)

3. 
   user-849056 | Oct 27, 2003 06:36am | #7

   Hi alchemist,

   Your house sounds fabulous!  As a Vermont based architect I mostly see 1830s Greek Revivals and seldom much of anything later than 1980s ... mostly ski chalets.  Up here your house would be cutting edge!

   I'm sure you don't miss the sketchy radiant floor heating but, really, the guy must have been way ahead of his time.  Who was this Russian?  I mean, how could anybody from the USSR practice architecture in the States during the height of the Cold War? And in Baltimore, no less; hardly a stone's throw from D.C.!

   But enough history.  I'm intrigued with your renovation project.  What will the addition include?  How will it improve your life?  How will it change the house and the landscaping?  I'd really love to see a picture (do you know how to attach images?)

   I assure you, I'm not looking for work.  I have more than my share of Greek Revivals to hold me well into the future!

   Best of luck!