oddly enough i find the bureaucracy end of this series pretty fascinating as well. it's tempting to just show the fun/gory details of reshaping a house, but the realities of the paper work, permits, et al are really important to see and really show the lengths you have to go through to see this project through to fruition. thank you for sharing, really exciting to see your hard work with this series paying off!
Thanks for your comment! Yes, I feel like many people skip over the details of that part, and also I am surprised by how many reno channels don't really show architectural / engineering plans. All interesting stuff to me, and critical to the process. Glad you enjoy!
Think voice over B-roll, my friend! Hopefully, you are stocking up on lally columns, supporting and overhead brace plates to put into place when you discover those dangling columns. You keep chipping away at your reinforcing paint, and it all may come tumbling down.
Thanks for your sympathy. Not much has happened on the house yet, and I am already in 10K just in permits, plans, termite treatments and everything in between! No one said it would be cheap
I bought an old house, needing lots of work, when I was 32, so not much older than you...balloon framed as you described, and NOTHING level, plumb, or in plane! Everything required many attempts with custom cutting and fitting, really bogging down the process. Argh! I'm now 65, still own the house and still working on it! But I know every inch of that house and have great pride in that I did it all myself, except for the new roof. You will no doubt also have that sense of pride as each major component is completed. Rock on...
I live in an old barrack that was built in 1890. When I bought it there was no plumbing or electricity, when I tried to get insurance they say it's not a real building it's a shed so, no insurance. I have lived here for 30 years, as I get older I look around and think boy I'm glad I did that when I was young I sure wouldn't have the energy to do it today.
Stoked to hear that you are enjoying the series. I mention it in the video, but this month I made enough on youtube to pay my mortgage, so thank you for helping finance this endeavor!! I'll keep the videos coming if you keep watching (:
What brings me back to this series is how you actually read the comments, it's wholesome content, it's a transparent look into what this work takes in Philly, and you're a normal person. Keep up the awesome job and good luck navigating L&I
Indeed I do read and respond to everyone who takes the time to watch and comment! It is the best part of my week when I get to upload a new update, and knowing that people like yourself are watching helps keep me going. Good news, I got my zoning permit in just a day after I resubmitted, so I'll be resubmitting my building permit tomorrow, and maybe will get a contractor on the job the next week or two to really get this project rolling. Thank you for your support!!
One benefit of starting (and hopefully continuing) this RU-vid series is that you are creating a detailed record of reconstructing this historic building which not only has a lot of sentimental value but also probably increases its monetary value as well. Anyways, I'm really enjoying this series!
I have always had an appreciation for older houses, but after watching your videos, even if the work seems scary, I really have started appreciating the architecture, design, and styles of building more than ever. I live in florida though so many old houses, especially wood, aren't standing anymore or way past my fiscal ability lol. Just wanted to say thank you for filming everything and I really enjoy the videos!
Thanks for your comment. It is really interesting to understand the story of an old house, what changes have been made, how they used to build, what problems did previous owners try to solve. super cool!
Hey, a Brit and a Pole here living in a very old Victorian house in South Wales, UK here. Your videos have been an inspiration to watch. We’ve been doing this place up for two years, as well as paying for repairs from local builders, and it’s a scary thing to do what you’re doing. Your training has really paid off in watching you confidently smash holes in walls! I’m fortunate to have an architect Dad (now retired) to assist in plans and advice, and it’s still a huge stress, particularly with a small kid. We took a year ripping up the front rooms floorboards to install rock wool insulation in hanging baskets from the joists we created from chicken wire. The hoops you have to jump through as you discover various surprises the house presents… in our case, an entire wall and kitchen just tipped underneath the boards decades ago. Found some treasure (nothing like finding old newspapers from the space race and an entire packet of hamlet cigars) and then had to fix rotten supports and joists up, fix up damp entry points, get damp proofers in, replaster etc. it felt endless but we got there. Still got a couple more rooms to do that too but prepared! Part of the issue with insulating the properties, as I’m sure you know, is doing so while keeping them airy so they don’t rot. Now installing floating shelves and building cupboards from scratch. It’s a journey as you say but at the end of the day you get something that’s uniquely yours. And congrats on the ad sense! Good luck! We’ll pro watching! At least you don’t have to deal with old imperial measurements to metric, right?!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I can't wait to get to your place, where I can look back on this with just a few little things to wrap up. It will come soon enought! Cheers to restoring old homes.
@@ChrisHythawe’re not quite there yet but it’s mostly cosmetic now. Got a couple floors to pull up… who knows what exciting weird stuff we’ll find. Would love to replaster the bedrooms as the plaster is like a century old but that’s for another year…
You would be surprised if a small issue arose and you just told them no, I am not doing that. Just relating to my past experiences with local town governments. However I am a grumpy old man.
I'm not an architect, but I have experience with old houses, and I spotted that vestibule as a late addition instantly. People put those in to stop icy blasts of air blowing into the house every time you open the door - it's a method of conserving heat by avoiding massive heat loss and air transfer every time the door opens. What's bizarre in that house is that the door is on the wrong side - it should be aligned with the staircase. I'm now wondering if the original door WAS on the logical side and was switched when they decided to box in the entry. Perhaps they were experiencing cold air flowing right up the stairs and through the house, and decided to move the front door, thus diverting the cold air so it disperses across the living room instead of making a kind of 'air chute' effect up to the other floors made sense. Of course, it destroys the living room and makes it just a diagonal corridor to the stairs for everyone who comes in. Move the front door to the staircase side and create a period-sensitive baffle system to block cold air rushing in when you open the door in winter, so the living room is actually livable and your traffic flow entering the house is directly to the stairs, not across the living room. Then you can tile the entryway and keep the living room cleaner, especially in wet or snowy weather.
Thank you for your support! Glad to hear that you are enjoying the series. In a few weeks once permits come through I hope to be making some serious progress with a contractor on site, so things are about to get interesting.
As well as all the reasons you stated, restoring your Rowhome preserves a piece of the past history of architecture. It also means that this home will not be bulldozed and replaced with a modern monstrosity that isn't well-built. The simple fact that this home is 150 years old and still in pretty good nick, despite shoddy work done in changing direction of the stairs, is testament to the worth of preserving it. Documenting the process of undoing dodgy more recent work and shoring up what's left. With your architectural training, you have the inside track on what will work and what will not benefit the house in the long run i.e. diverting a staircase and ignoring the load-baring necessities. Every time you discover more termite damage, I cringe for you. I am very much enjoying your way of documenting this process. This is easy to digest. Congrats on being monetized.
@@ChrisHytha wow, that was a quick reply. Thanks. I neglected to say that I love the exposed brickwork. Just a thought regarding old wallpaper. You could frame a piece and if there are several different ones, they would look great together. Even if they are only scraps.
I'm reliving my renovation of a St. Louis 1926 two family flat conversion to a single family home some 25 years ago. I very much enjoyed putting in the sweat equity and living there for 40 years total. Now in retirement, I'm enjoying youtube and especially your channel because of your education and vision. I wish you the best.
I too am a 27 yr old w/ an architecture degree. I’ve always wanted to do something like this, now I’m doing it vicariously through this series Keep it up Chris. Inspiring work sir!
Its a nice place to be. Architecture school sets us up with a ton of soft skills like time management, graphic design, book design, general design process.... All of which can be channeled into any pursuit we choose! I hope you get a similar opportunity some day to dive in over your head to an old home reno. Thanks for following along!
@@ChrisHytha I totally agree. I think a proper 4yr architecture program, out of any other related degrees, will whip you into shape whether you like it or not and set you up to excel in a lot of different fields Can’t wait for your book to come in the mail. Keep on keepin’ on fellow creative!
I like your honesty in the video and telling us the thinking behind the process. I also love that the passion you have for the house shows though. I'm enjoying this so far.
Thanks for watching, and I'm happy to hear that the passion comes through. I cant wait for the day that this old place is brought back to life. Lots of exciting plans for when I get to the fun part of interior design, paint, finishes, etc.
You’re doing a great job explaining the processes involved in your renovation and at the same time entertaining us couch potatoes who think recaulking a tub is a major home improvement project. Keep posting and spreading your enthusiasm to all your viewers! 👏🤗👍🏻
You’re absolutely correct about the satisfaction of living with your own work. I’m currently renovating an Arts and Craft home in South Australia that had been updated over the years by previous owners. I’ve made the windows, wall panelling, panelled ceilings, some of the doors, custom architraves, ceiling roses etc, etc. It’s been a bit of a slog as I also run a small joinery business, but from the heritage research, build and installation through finally sitting back and enjoying a completed room, I’ve absolutely loved it. Admittedly, I’ve gone totally overboard on what was originally a plan to add a bit of value, but I’d never be able to to move now.
Thanks for sharing your experience, sounds like an awesome project. I do not enjoy moving, and have been at my current place nearly a decade. With all I'm putting into this new place, I feel like I will never want to leave!
Its really impressive to see that the house remains relativly stable even though it has drooped almost 2 inches in some places! Its in rough shape, but i believe that you will make this a nice home for you and your girlfriend that you can be proud of and make great memories along the way. Im happy to be a part of it!!
You got some passion Chris. Working through all the issues that come up while doing all this planning is pretty inspiring to see. Excited to see how this unfolds. What a journey you have on your hands.
Thank you for your support! Trying to take everything in stride, and keep my eye on the big picture. Its going to be an expensive project, but the lessons learned will be with me for a lifetime, and the joy of fixing up an old house is unmatched!
Coming from Seattle where our architectural history is being razed for density and replaced with giant boxes it's nice to see that you are keeping the character of the neighborhood.
Thats too bad. Philadelphia has it fair share of razing as well, but also lots of preservationists in this city that are fighting to keep these old houses!
This comment hit. I lived in an amazing neighborhood in Chicago a hot minute ago. It may be my favorite placed I've lived (secondary not only to the locale, but my experiences). I returned years later. After driving around for an hour, being unable to find my old neighborhood, I was hit by the realization that I was IN the neighborhood. It was gone. It hadn't just been "gentrified" - Everything had been replaced and built up. The skyline was unrecognizable and none of the landmarks remained. Everything that made the neighborhood so unique, amazing and alive was gone (including the people). It's now a generic sterile ghost town. I imagine many of the buildings are empty, owned by corporate investors. I saw no people or businesses - no signs of life. The neighborhood used to be filled with interesting architecture and the most diverse crowd I've seen (that lived in harmony and celebrated their differences). There were all sorts of green spaces and thriving artsy businesses. It was great. All gone. It's sad. What's there today has no soul. Greed isn't kosher. I've come to the conclusion that, using any euphemism in the book, it's behind the majority of negative things in the world.
I’m consistently impressed by the amazing attitude you have with every new hiccup in the remodel. You handle everything with so much grace and take it as just one more thing to learn about. I look forward to your videos every week now!
Thank you for your support and positivity! Everything is a learning experience. I just try to keep moving forward, and making little progress each week. That way I know eventually it will come together.
Home ownership - especially of an older or historic home! - is home stewardship. This house clearly needed you! I'm glad you're looking at this through the lens of investing in history rather than a quick flip ❤️
Loving this series still. I really admire your approach to all this. You stay so level headed despite what feels like consistent news of difficulties you hadn't anticipated. Also its inspiring seeing you do this just a couple years older than myself.
I appreciate your feedback. There is only one way to go, and that's forward, so sometimes I just feel like there is no point to stress in the setbacks. I know what I need to do, and I just try to make progress every week! Easier said than done, but that has kinda been my mindset.
Glad you're enjoying the videos! I have fun stepping up the editing each week, and learning new things, like the rotoscoping in the beginning title sequence. Hope you leave a like!
Love the work going into this project. Restoring old homes to their former glory has a certain sense dedication and pride to it. It's a delicate process with a rewarding end result. Time and patience will be key.
The experience you're getting from going through this process is way more valuable than the any potential profit from the project itself. Plus you'll end up with a lot of tools you can reuse in your next one.
this series is sick! i’ve watched all the episodes. i know the feeling of spending tons on a project and having to deal with the doubt coming and going - always worth it when you make it to the end though!
Indeed it is. Its funny how manual labor really makes you think. I was happy to be able to get some of those ideas that have been bouncing around in my head out. Thanks for watching!
Chris - I am really enjoying seeing your videos. You should be proud of not only the purchase of your 1st home but because of all the work you are doing. I will be looking forward to your journey.
Yes! Thank you for your support, and for following along with the process. It is a very fulfilling, and challenging time in my life, and I took a big leap on this project to test myself. It is great to be able to share the process with everyone, especially when so many folks like yourself are supportive!
I love that your mortgage is paid this month from ads. It’s a sort of validation for this series. It also means you can invest your pre-RU-vid money into the house, without having to use that money on a mortgage payment. You deserve it.
I so appreciate your taking us along on this journey. I love that you love this house, and plan to live in it. Also love the way you describe what needs to be done and why. Showing us the floor plan to help us locate you in the house is very useful. This is SO exciting and you do such a good job with your videos. Way to go!!
I love to hear that you are enjoying the process too! Thanks for following along. Many fun projects to come, and I can't wait for this place to start looking like home.
Yay another episode! I'm a fan of the vestibule. Even if it may not be original, it still fits the age and style of the house, and it's great looking. I love following your progress!
Amazing job! Your story telling is great and it's refreshing to see "mistakes" shown, you don't try to hide that you need help! My wife and I are remodeling our first house and seeing what other people did and how to fix it is the hardest part. I can't wait to see how yours shapes up.
An aging DIYer's advice: Watching you work on the wall, use power tools as much as you can. I gave myself a pretty bad case of tennis elbow from swinging hammers while I renovated my home. I think when you're not a contractor and used to doing it every day, it has a greater/worse impact on your joints. Anyways, just be careful. I love the series; great editing and filmmaking!
Thank you for your tip! I will end up having a contractor on the job to take care of most of the work, as it is a city requirement. Hopefully my joints will be able to take the misc. task here and there.
I cannot remember the last time I have ever commented on a single RU-vid video. I just wanted to say this series has been something I have been looking forward to every single week - the quality of your videos in my opinion is on par with a full time RU-vidr with an entire team. Keep up the great work 🎉
Thanks for breaking the ice with this comment! I really appreciate your feedback, and I love to hear that you are enjoying the process here. I'll keep doing these weekly videos as long as I can! So excited to share the whole process.
Love your Videos I,be being watching since day one of this serious and I can’t stop watching there such good videos. I’m still young and when I finish school I want to be come a architect and after watching what you do you made me want to be one even more and be just like you thank you so much and I hope things go well for you I can’t wait to see how the house looks finished . Good Luck 😁😎🤩🙃😌😊👍👍🤌
I appreciate the comment! I would highly recommend architecture school. It is grueling at times, but you learn such a diverse range of skillsets, that I think the knowledge can be applied to much more than just designing buildings. Like making youtube videos!
I have learn sooooo much even in this early part of the project. I would approach buying a home very differently now that I know what to look out for. When I bought this place I did know there was damage to the sill plate, and some settling, but I didn't expect to have to reinforce that whole wall.
There's a channel called Schoolhouse Homestead that are renovating an old school as their house and they have documented how they brought the brick back to life inside as they wanted to preserve it, a great watch if you want some tips on what to do further down the line :)
Thank you so much for this content--I've never felt so invested in a stranger's long-term project. What a pain the zoning permit is. I bet the original builders didn't have to deal with that...
@ChrisHytha Correct! I did a big grocery store remodel that was an ugly nightmare. The store was open the employees were not happy, but there came a day it all started coming together and it was amazing, they were very happy 😊
@ChrisHytha Also the best way to deal with the contractors is by explaining to them your questions are to understand the process you're not going to complain to just tell you what is needed from you to complete the work and it will go smoothly and efficiently! Sometimes it's best to just stay out of the way, there's an old saying, if you want to help it will cost more lol 😆 Putting your confidence in them to do it right not constantly looking over their shoulders but also checking in to see if they need anything offer them water or even buy lunch is a great motivator. I used to have over 100 employees as head of building operations for a major charity corporation ask me anything you ever need!
Thank you! Getting better with the editing each week! This was the first time I ever used rotoscoping, had to dip into aftereffects for it when I edited that title sequence in the beginning. Glad you appreciate the effort.
Agreed, planning on it. Especially for thermal reasons too. The other side of this wall is exterior, so need to make sure there is no air leakage through cracks or anything. Do you think it is enough to just add mortar where it has fallen out, or would you recommend scrapping it all out and repointing entirely?
@@ChrisHytha - if it’s a middle house in a row, are you sure that the vestibule wall is exterior? I wouldn’t think so unless your house is the end of the row. EDIT: just got to 13:47 where you explain the alley between the houses, and thus why you consider it exterior because it is unconditioned. My understanding is that alley was used to get coal into the houses for heating - although I might be quite wrong about that.
@@ChrisHytha I'd repoint entirely if you have the will to. At the VERY LEAST I'd take it halfway in the brick and do it from there. If that does go to the alleyway, you definitely want that as strong and water/wind/person proof as possible. I don't know if you can do a render of lime for the outside (breathability) but anything to make that stronger (yet still breathable) is good I would think.
oh i love watching house renovation videos but I don't love waiting for the end results 😭 i subscribed to not lose you and will come back when u finish the renovation. good luck!
We gotcha brother! I hope RU-vid can be a good profit for you! I personally love older buildings and want them to have a come back, so this is my muse.
Old buildings are all I've known! I've lived in 100 year old + houses all my life, excited to add this one to the list. Thanks for following the process!
I'm already following many channels similar to what you're doing, but I just had to subscribe with this first video of yours that I am seeing. You strike me as an incredibly smart person. Listening to you explain the reasons for why you're doing this project made so much sense to me. I think you're going to achieve great things and love your new house through all of it. Best of luck to you. I will be following!
I appreciate your support! Thanks for following the project. Doing all this work definitely comes with benefits and drawbacks, sometimes you just need to dive in to see what happens!
I have binged this series and was surprised to find the next episode was only 2 hours old. Yay I am caught up! This has been full of information and discovery!
Thanks for watching the series! Glad you found it. I'll put out a new video every Monday or Sunday, and the work in the video is essentially real time of the past weeks work.
Nice work, I 100% agree doing the work you can do to your own place has so many positives when your plan is to live in it. I did a complete gut on a 1952 Ranch/Bungalow, which I had to live in a full construction zone for 6 months but in the end it was worth the peace of mind knowing it was all done exactly the way I wanted. All new plumbing, seal plate, electrical wiring and panel updated, heating/cooling, windows and tankless DHW. Then you get into the aesthetics updates which is the fun part people see and also comes with its own set of challenges. I did sell that home in 2021 and now I am looking to buy another and do something similar which I am looking forward to watching you on your Row House. Long winded I know but your video brings back a lot of memories of long days and nights of working on things no-one else will ever see. Cheers.
@@Daltondoubledeuce Thank you! Now that I'm more comfortable with youtube, I wish I did a whole series over the past view years documenting that project too!
What a great project and presented in a way that tells the story even if you aren’t a structural engineer for that Thank You! Looking forward to following your restoration
I love all of the work that you do and find to do next. I love the brick. I’m happy you’re exposing it. The house has really settled, or been eaten by termites. Looking forward to the next steps.
@@ChrisHytha from your vantage point --deep in it--I can see that, but you have a nice advantage of your architectural know-how, and this “I don’t give a f-k attitude” about this that you sort of need. I’d freak out a bit. Just keep your head down and be methodical and you will be so proud of yourself in a year or three!
Congratulations on your successes, both out there in The Real World, and here in the RU-vid World! I'm glad you're here, doing what you do, as I identify with you as if you are a younger version of myself! All the best!
RU-vid recommended your channel to me on the 4th video and I subscribed immediately. I'm glad to see that youtube is helping to pay the way for you and it gives us more content!
Thanks for another great video! This is so fun watching your journey. I love old homes- I live in an old apartment building myself- and to see someone taking care to restore a house that might have ended up a tear down is really rewarding. I'm a hairstylist and I've mentioned your channel to some of my clients, I hope they are watching, too :)
Hey glad youtube is workin' out for you financially! Immediately set the bell on the first episode, between your explanations, graphics, and the house itself, I just love it. Can't wait to see the progress!
