Visit the Old House Doctor

Old houses were built to last, and, with a little TLC, they can last for many more years. Owners of older homes are invited to a free “Visit the Old House Doctor” open house on Saturday, September 6, sponsored by Historic New England and Boston Building Resources.

The drop-in event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boston Building Resources, 100 Terrace Street in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood. No preregistration is needed.

Preservation experts will be on hand to answer questions about preventive maintenance, tuning up older double-hung windows, identifying a home’s architectural style, and choosing paint colors that enhance historic houses. Participants are invited to bring photos or images of their houses along with their questions.

Among the experts on hand will be three preservation services staffers from Historic New England: Joseph Cornish, a preventive maintenance consultant; Joanna McKnight, an architectural historian and style expert; and Sally Zimmerman, a consultant for paint color selection. Contractor Steve Gentile, who leads window restoration workshops at Boston Building Resources, will be available for a demonstration of how older double-hung windows work and how they can be restored and weather-stripped.

The free event will be held rain or shine and will kick off the fall series of do-it-yourself workshops offered by Boston Building Resources. On-street parking is available, and the location is a five-minute walk from the Roxbury Crossing MBTA stop and close to Southwest Corridor bike path.

Historic New England is a museum of cultural history that collects and preserves buildings, landscapes, and objects dating from the seventeenth century to the present and uses them to keep history alive and to help people develop a deeper understanding and enjoyment of New England life and appreciation for its preservation.

Boston Building Resources is a home improvement business that inspires, educates, and empowers homeowners to increase the efficiency and value of their homes, including a consumer co-op and nonprofit reuse center.

For more information, visit http://www.bostonbuildingresources.com/advice/visit-the-old-house-doctor...