Wooden furniture spindles and legs on a worktable in a woodworking shop.

Woodturning

I can turn spindles and newel posts up to 40 inches in length and 6 inches in diameter from your choice of wood (including old growth cypress). I can duplicate the details of historic designs that CNC machines or copy lathes cannot replicate. Other offerings include knobs for porch brackets, sash stop knobs, and furniture legs and feet.

Light green double door with a brass handle, set within a beige stone frame, with a metal grate window above and a house number 619 at the top.

Windows and doors

  • The fix for broken glass or water leaking around panes. It is also important to maintain glazing in good condition because the putty and glass add strength and rigidity to the sash, helping prevent failure of the joints. I can also help with obtaining glass to match original historic glass.

  • I offer installation of spring bronze weatherstripping on both doors and windows. This classic material will easily last 100 years. For some applications, I offer silicone weatherstripping as well.

  • If your windows are leaky, ratlle, or are hard to operate, you may be suprised what basic repairs and refitting can accomplish. Many people are shocked at how well and easily a properly restored wood window can function. Most sashes that are not extensively rotted can be repaired instead of replaced, preserving the character of the building and saving money and resources.

  • If your windows don’t open or won’t stay open, a rope replacement may be all you need. Since this involves taking the sash out, some basic refitting will be done at the same time.

  • In addition to hardware restoration and repairs, I can help you choose, obtain, and install appropriate replacement hardware.

  • Pocket doors are common in old houses, but they rarely work well. I can refit and repair them and get them working smoothly.

Blueprint drawing of a horizontal section through an interior door and frame, showing detailed measurements and construction materials, including wood lath and plaster, for The Arch at 3601 Locust Walk in Philadelphia, PA, from 1927.

Preservation services

  • Whether you want to know the history of your home, or the chronology of alterations, I can help. I have both an academic background and hands-on experience, which helps me get the full picture. I can prepare:
    -Building history
    -Historic Structures Report (HSR)
    -Historic Building Conditions Assessment
    -Window Conditions Survey
    -Historic Resource Survey
    -National Register Application
    -Section 106 Determination

  • Historic buildings can suffer from problems both common and unique. I can help document conditions, determine the root cause, and design a treatment plan. I will ensure that the solution meets the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for historic preservation and best practices for reversibility.

  • Caring for a historic building can be overwhelming. Let me help you develop a plan. This can include:
    -Triage, determining which problems are urgent and which can wait
    -Determining the best sequence of tasks
    -Deciding which elements should be retained
    -Developing specifications for contractors

  • I have extensive experience with neighborhood and district surveys. I have surveyed hundreds of buildings and I maintained a GIS database of over 50,000 buildings, containing almost 200,000 photos. I can help determine new district boundaries, resurvey existing districts, or inventory other resources.

  • I have extensive experience with photography and other types of recordation. I offer both digital and large format film photography to meet HABS/HAER standards.