Now that fall is upon us we are all trying to find ways to save on our energy costs. If you have a cracked or broken window or the old glazing has fallen out it’s time to fix the problem. This How-To will help you tackle the job. Re-glazing is an easy and inexpensive job that will give you an airtight, watertight bond. To make the window look like a pro did the job will take patience. The good thing is that glazing compound is very forgiving, just remove the putty and re-apply. Finished window... more

Gambrel Roof Modillions Cornice Corner Quoins Fishscale Shingles Queen Anne Window The vocabulary of architecture is rich and varied. In the Portland area, we have myriad examples of architectural forms and styles, all with their own structural and stylistic lexicons, some of which overlap styles and eras. As one of my professors used to say (although I am not sure that he originated the definition), a building is “an efficient container of flexible space.” The... more

Replacing your home’s windows is a considerable investment, but well worth the expense if you are losing energy through these openings, or if returning the exterior look of your home to a more historic theme. Make sure that you or the installers choose window styles and sizes that complement your house. Armed with a little knowledge about today’s window types and design, you can make choices that will enhance the beauty of your home for a long time. Photo courtesy of Milgard Windows. Photo... more

Atomic Age Lighting from Rejuvenation For the first time Rejuvenation is offering fixtures that are right at home in a mid-century ranch house, rambler, or split-level, and all home styles that have recently seen their 50th birthday. These are circa 1957 reproductions in every detail except the inexpensive steel or aluminum they were originally constructioned from. Their versions are solid brass. They are available in a more broad and beautiful range of finishes than when first introduced. All Atomic... more

You need them for a lot of reasons.. Time to remodel the kitchen? Or maybe you’re ready to build your dream home. Whether you’re a skillful do-it-yourselfer, or you wouldn’t know a two-by-four from a railway tie and need a good contractor, the experts want you to know that permits protect the safety and value of your home. “For most people, their home is their most important investment. We see too many... more

Can a person have a passion for hardwood flooring? Yes, and Tobey Parsons, owner of McGee Salvage located on the south edge of Scappoose, has it bad. Parsons’ main gig is reclaiming high-quality wood flooring from gyms, dance floors, old warehouses, buildings, and homes. “I get calls from schools all around the West to tear-out their old floor. Hardrock maple gym flooring has a lot of life still left in it and provides a great hard surface for homes. Just a few months ago we removed old growth... more

If you’ve never stepped inside Hippo Hardware & Trading Company at 1040 E. Burnside then you owe it to yourself to do so soon. Named one of the “10 best things to do” in Portland by AAA Oregon, Hippo — as it’s affectionately known — has long been a resource for historic and hard-to-find hardware, plumbing, doors and windows, light fixtures, mouldings — just about anything that can be salvaged ... more

Fall in the Pacific Northwest is the most wonderful time of year. The corn is tall, the pumpkins fat and orange, and yes, there are leaves all over the place. Fall is the time of year when one wonders what winter will bring, ice storms, wind, torrential downpours — the list goes on. Conditions change from one extreme to the other within a 25-mile radius. It could be snowing in the West Hills, while Gresham is sunny and 20 degrees with 50-mile an hour winds. Some species like these cedars... more