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| Introduction | |
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| Why Buy an Old House? | |
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| Conscious Renovation: Philosophies Defined | |
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| A Manufacturer's Warning and Limited Warranty | |
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| Evaluating a House Before You Buy | |
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| Where to Begin | |
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| Inspecting the Exterior | |
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| Inspecting the Interior Structure | |
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| The Mechanical Systems | |
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| The Heating System | |
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| The Electrical System | |
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| Checking for Pollutants | |
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| Real-Estate Matters | |
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| Organizing Priorities | |
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| Structural or Cosmetic? | |
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| Developing the Design | |
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| Approaches to Renovation | |
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| Hiring a Contractor | |
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| Architects and Designers | |
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| Foundations | |
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| The Forces of Earth and Water | |
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| Solving Water-Infiltration Problems | |
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| Creating a Dry Cellar Floor | |
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| Exterior Drainage | |
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| Repairing Foundation Walls | |
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| Replacing Foundation Walls | |
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| Raising or Holding a House | |
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| Jacking the House | |
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| The New Foundation | |
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| The House Frame | |
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| The Evolution of American House Frames | |
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| Repairing or Replacing Rotted Sills | |
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| Replacing or Repairing Rotted Posts | |
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| Repairing Sagging Floors | |
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| Repairing Other Structural Elements | |
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| Epoxy Beam Repairs | |
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| Truing Up the House Frame | |
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| The Roof and Gutters | |
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| Wood Shingles | |
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| Slate | |
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| Cement-Asbestos Shingles | |
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| Metal Roofing | |
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| Asphalt Roofing | |
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| Valley Problems | |
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| Gutters | |
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| Siding, Trim, Windows, and Doors | |
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| Wood Siding | |
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| Getting under Your House's Skin | |
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| Repairing and Replacing Exterior Trim | |
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| Nonstructural Epoxy Wood Repairs | |
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| Windows | |
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| Doors | |
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| Porches, Verandas, and Additions | |
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| Repairing Porches and Verandas | |
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| Shed and Garage Additions | |
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| Insulation and Ventilation | |
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| Ventilation Fact and Fancy | |
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| Energy Audits, Caulking, and Weatherstripping | |
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| The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Infiltration, Condensation, and Insulation | |
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| Vapor Barriers and Air Barriers | |
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| Insulation Theory and Practice | |
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| Poured and Blown-in Insulation | |
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| Walls, Ceilings, and Floors | |
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| What to Do about Plaster? | |
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| Alternatives to Plaster | |
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| Drywall | |
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| Repairing Stairs | |
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| Wood Paneling | |
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| Ceiling Treatments | |
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| Stripping Trim | |
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| Finished at Last: The Floors | |
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| The Electrical System | |
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| Basic Electrical Theory | |
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| A Short History of Home Wiring | |
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| How It All Works | |
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| The Perils and Pitfalls of Old Wiring | |
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| Rewiring an Old House | |
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| Lightning Protection | |
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| Household Plumbing | |
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| How Plumbing Works | |
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| The Old-House Plumbing System | |
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| The Drainage System | |
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| Plumbing and Structural Changes | |
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| A Water-Pump Primer | |
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| Home Heating Systems | |
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| Hot-Air Systems | |
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| Steam Heating Systems | |
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| Hot-Water Heating Systems | |
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| Replacing Boilers and Furnaces | |
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| Cast-Iron Radiators | |
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| Cooling Old House | |
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| Repairing and Restoring Chimneys | |
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| Afterword | |
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| Readings | |
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| Index | |