As fall ushers in bright colors and crisp air, many historic homeowners plan seasonal delights like visits to the pumpkin patch and apple-picking adventures. Along with enjoying all that autumn has to offer, ensuring your historic home is prepared for the colder months ahead is essential. For historic brick homes, fall is a critical time […]
Don’t Forget to Clean Your Rain Gutters Before Winter Sets In
As winter approaches, many historic brick homeowners attend to the typical seasonal chores like raking leaves, mulching gardens, and getting the winter shovels ready for the first snowfall. However, a commonly overlooked task is cleaning the rain gutters. Ignoring your gutters, especially if you live in an area with deciduous trees, such as Washington, D.C., […]
Should You Paint Your Historic Brick Home?
Sometimes, homeowners want to alter the appearance of their home with paint, but the timeless beauty of a historic brick home often makes it difficult to decide what to do. While a fresh coat of paint can add charm and individuality to your house, it is not without its challenges, especially for historic properties. If […]
Early Fall is the Perfect Time for a Chimney Inspection
Brick chimneys are beloved features in historic homes, representing the dedication to quality and craftsmanship of bygone eras. But before cozying up to the fire, it is critical to ensure the chimney can perform its job safely. As winter approaches, ensuring that your chimney is in prime condition becomes even more essential. Both professional chimney […]
Decorative and Functional Structures: The Dual Role of Retaining Walls
When it comes to retaining walls, homeowners often picture a decorative feature that adds curb appeal to their historic brick homes. While retaining walls do contribute to a property’s overall aesthetic, their primary purpose is usually structural. They play a crucial role in supporting the earth behind them, maintaining the stability of your yard and […]
Transforming Your Unfinished Basement into Valuable Living Space
When you live in a historic brick home, space is often at a premium. With smaller footprints, compact lot sizes, and regulations governing additions, expanding outwards often isn’t an option. Instead, turning an unfinished basement into a functional living area can be a practical solution for increasing living space. Renovating your historic brick basement adds […]
From the Bottom Up: Keep Your Basement Dry This Fall and Winter
Historic brick homeowners sometimes mistakenly believe their basements are destined to be somewhat wet. They are often willing to overlook chronic dampness since the alternative — water running down the walls and puddles on the floor — is a much worse scenario. However, your historic home’s basement shouldn’t be damp. In fact, it’s a sign […]
Creating a Plan to Prioritize Fall Repairs for a Historic Brick Home
As summer winds down and the days grow shorter, it’s time to put together your fall to-do list. This list can quickly become unwieldy for owners of historic brick homes, as your home may require more than just routine maintenance. It may need significant repairs to preserve its structure and character, but it can be […]
Patio Safety Tips for Historic Brick Homes During Stormy Weather in DC
The Washington, D.C. area is known for fluctuating temperatures, and summertime is no exception. With its sweltering heat and high humidity, the conditions can become perfect for severe electrical storms. While owners of historic brick homes frequently take steps to protect their interior spaces, it’s essential to take stock of your patio and ensure you […]
Why You Should Repair the Historic Windows in Your Old Brick Home
Opening a window and letting in some fresh air is a wonderful change as the summer nights cool down. But sometimes, with historic windows, it can be a bit of a challenge. They can get stuck, or not fully open. Over time, the wood and glass may look past their prime. There may also be […]
