Plan B Forum

Yeah, in Philadelphia we had historic cobblestone and Belgian block streets that were torn out and replaced with concrete and asphalt.

Thank God.

Just because it's "historic" doesn't mean it should be preserved.

Cobblestones look cute but they are much harder to walk on.

Sometimes function has to win.


yrs,
rubato

They are murderous on the ankles for old folk, slippery when wet (like old folk) and should be torn up and tossed out (like old folk). I'm headed for the garbage heap right away...

Agreed, but perhaps they could have picked up something better looking than that dull gray flagstone to replace them with (sorry meade, I know a preposition ends this sentence).

I thought they looked like interesting pastel shades rather than dull grey. They appear to be congenial vis-à-vis the wall colours of the local shops.

I think those shades of color might be the reflection of the orange railing, but the light is not great so I am not certain.

Reflection? Sun? Somerset in winter? It's like Cornwall without the yokels.

Were the stones that were removed actually present at the time of the Domesday Book or, indeed, during the Iron Age? If not, then they are no more worthy of preservation as "historic" than the mud and pig shit that undoubtedly formed the paths before the stones were laid.

I know a guy who "paved" his driveway with the cobblestones from broadway in Bed Sty when they redid that street.

Shovelling that driveway in winter must have been great fun.

The whole preservationist thing has just gone too far. There are a lot of nasty old buildings that should be burned down that wind up on 'preservationist' lists. It's like preserving dog shit in amber for future generations to admire.


yrs,
rubato

I am on the fence - but not about the cobblestones, because those are hazardous and very disabled-unfriendly.

I do think that there is something to be said for preserving historic architecture - I live in an historic home myself, so I'm possibly a bit biased.

But I also agree that just because something's old doesn't mean it needs to be preserved - anything poorly built or hazardous isn't worth the effort, it's much more economical to build something new, and especially energy efficient.

Downside of my preserved structure: it's winter in Montana and I've got my thermostat set at 50 degrees, which keeps the coldest rooms at around 55 - keeping it there costs me plenty, thanks to a 102-year-old house with poor insulation.

Luckily, that temperature (which results in a few cozy rooms @ 65-78 degrees, closest to the basement/furnace, and several chilly rooms @ 55 degrees farthest away) is fine for me, and keeps me burning more calories and sleeping better.

And anyway, this is how people lived for hundreds of years before they expected to be cozy on the couch in their underwear in the dead of winter, right? So I'm a bit stuck in the past.

You can improve the insulation but its costly. AFAIK you have to tear off either the outer siding or inner walls whether plaster or sheetrock to do a decent job. There are newer kinds of spray foam insulation which are very good.


yrs,
rubato

Downside of my preserved structure: it's winter in Montana and I've got my thermostat set at 50 degrees, which keeps the coldest rooms at around 55 - keeping it there costs me plenty, thanks to a 102-year-old house with poor insulation.

Luckily, that temperature (which results in a few cozy rooms @ 65-78 degrees, closest to the basement/furnace, and several chilly rooms @ 55 degrees farthest away

Your thermostat isn't working...? Or your thermometer! The room containing the thermostat is the one that should control what happens. Surely, the furnace is not supposed to come on at all until the temperature in that room sinks to below 50? I don't see how that yields 68 degrees anywhere (except on the pilot light). Exprain Rucie? (DId you mean "set at 80 degrees"?)

The thermostat is in the front parlor on the main floor of the house. This is a large, elegant room with leaded glass windows, hardwood floors, 12 foot ceilings. The windows have been sealed and very good storms inserted; however, because of the design of the house this room gets the least warm air from the basement - the radiators put out heat, but not enough.

This room is where I set the thermostat to 50, which keeps the furnace from running non-stop - not only because I don't want massive heating bills, but because I can't stand to waste the energy. I was raised in New England during the energy crisis of the 70s and the rule was, put on another layer, don't touch the thermostat.

And it's true that all one needs is to keep one's body warm, and cooler air is healthier. Last winter I slept in the basement bedroom @ 78 degrees, and was sick with colds a couple of times over the winter plus had terrible insomnia issues. Now I'm in the upstairs bedroom @ 55 degrees, and I am sleeping like a stone and haven't been sick at all from respiratory issues.

The basement is very warm because the pipes from the hot water heat system all run under the ceiling of the basement, so the radiant heat down there is super cozy. The back of the house is also fairly warm because the basement door is left open and that radiant heat rises into the kitchen, hall, bathroom and office.

I use space heaters for a few minutes here and there in the colder rooms - it's all I need to be comfortable. I'm sure some folks would not like the way I keep the heat, but to me it's the only responsible way to utilize energy in a house with these heating/insulation issues.

I do plan to look into blown-in insulation at some point, and my plan is to install a pellet stove insert into the front parlor fireplace as soon as I can afford - before next winter. Then the heat will be closer to the living space & thermostat, which will keep the furnace off but the space cozy.

Do some investigation on blown-in insulation and ask for references who will show you before and after heating bills. It is a very fussy business and if you don't get the spaces all evenly filled it doesn't work nearly as well. You can't 'see' inside the walls so it's hard to tell if they did a good job or not. It was popular in the 1980s locally but fell off after that. I don't know why, but I'm curious.

On the other hand, I tried some silk knitted long underwear and THAT was great! Much cozier with less bulk.


yrs,
rubato

blown in insulation eventually settles, leaving the top portions of walls uninsulated, even if it is done well, which it often isn t. plus you get holes drilled in every stud and joist space. it was often just shredded newspaper, not great in houses with ancient electrics

I have silk long underwear - they're great for keeping toasty without bulk!

I ordered myself a belated Xmas gift last night (I hadn't gotten myself anything yet) - a lovely pair of cashmere fingerless gloves which should keep my hands toasty while working. They will pair nicely with the Scottish cashmere cardigan I inherited from my friend Linda; it's the toastiest thing I've ever worn.

I have cotton longjohns. with holes and baggie waists. I have to wear boxer briefs over them so they won t fall down