Since the last post, our new home now has conventional air conditioning on the first floor. No high velocity, no mini splits on the wall...conventional duct a/c, but the duct work is all in the basement, and remarkably so, is not in the way. Mark the Magnificent is indeed "Magnificent"!
By no means the first project (an entry on the courtyard will be forthcoming), I give you the "Anatomy of a 140 Year Old Shutter". Now these door shutters are from the Harmony Street door henceforth known as the "Harmony Door" or "Harmony Door Shutters":
Before we realized we had hot air guns for stripping, we were hand stripping, no gel application yet. Mark began working to remove the rotted wood.
It's fun to reveal what is underneath...what color were the original shutters? We found the lighter colored green, followed by a black, and then the current dark green. There were hints of yellow and gray...maybe two toned at one time?
More black.
More black and the hints of wood rot to come.
Only the beginning of clearing the rotted wood. When done, the whole section was rotted all the way through, and revealed cracked side rails which had been covered up with pain, or somehow cracked under the paint. Hence a discussion followed regarding replacement.
Between last night and this morning, many measurements were taken and in the process we realized that the style of the Harmony Door Shutters was slightly different than the Ivy Door Shutters.
The mid rails are different sizes and placement.
Inspection of the Ivy Door Shutter "appears" to not have as much wood rot. Of course that could change once we begin working on them. However, it looks that as if they just need cleaning, sanding, perhaps judicious application of some epoxy, then repainting and rehanging. Considering this, the replacement of the Harmony Door Shutters will be in this style.
As always...the adventures and joys of historic home ownership.
