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Getting Started
First, inspect the walls for any obvious issues that could have caused the cracks, like sagging beams or spreading walls. Old houses usually settle slowly over the years, causing stress that results in those familiar diagonal fissures over door and window openings. A horizontal crack can indicate lateral movement, a sign of structural problems that need addressing. Determine whether the settling is active by traversing a crack with tape and checking for signs of movement after several months. Inspect the supports in the basement and attic areas, looking for fissures in the foundation. If the cracks have been there a long time, they're often the result of slow settling and can be repaired without structural intervention.

Rich Rifkin New Home Alliance Bio If you don't have much confidence in your ability to lay down a smooth, even bead of caulk, there are caulk strips on the market that you simply unroll and press into place. They take the artistry out of the process but are a pretty foolproof solution if you want to do the job in a hurry and have a standard installation.

On the next page, well take a look at the challenges of fixing a leaking faucet.

Rich Rifkin New Home Alliance Co

Behind the Scenes of a Decade-Long Restoration
An old-house contractor gives an inside glimpse into a decade spent doctoring up an 1870 Second Empire in Boston.

By Rich Rifkin

View Decade-Long Restoration Photos

New deck on a Second Empire house
During the years they spent restoring the house, a new deck on the rear of the house—became friends and running partners. Rich Rifkin photo
It's not unusual for old-house owners to find themselves challenged by their restoration needs. Bringing an old house back to the glory of its youth can be a daunting proposition, and without the time to research specific period details—and the skills to re-create them—repairing older houses can be a daunting prospect. But what if you had someone on your side who already knew the process inside and out? Enter a design-build contractor.


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