Top 10 Reasons My House is Falling Apart // 120 Years of NEGLECT 😩 (ep.4) 

Shannon, call your closest Habitat for Humanity Store and let them know what items you need. They can add your name to a list and when they know they are getting that item in they will call you. Big items like gutters are hard for them to store in the store thus they try to sell those items quickly. Definately, do merch it will be a great way to raise house funds! Also, there was Victorian duplexes but not many survived so you are a true hero to save that beautiful old home! I know most people probably are asking you 'Why???' but just ignore them. Your home is so happy to have you take care of it and that is all that matters.

People need to stop being keyboard warriors and just be uplifting and positive. Why people think that RU-vidrs have no idea what they are doing is beyond me . Great work so far Shannon and Phil and much love from Eastern Ontario 💞

A dry, stone-filled creek bed could be a useful landscaping feature at the bottom of your hill near the house. It could be placed and graded in such a way as to channel the runoff from the hill and house around the house and to the street. Pretty and useful!

That beautiful window frame shape would make a great logo for the defenestration theme.

When my husband and I got married I came with 2 boys hubby came with 2 girls and together there were 4 cats. Money was tight so we bought an old Victorian 100+ year old house. The basement was made of flagstone and brick when it rained it would wash in small snakes not poisonous. The first winter we froze the furnace was one that looked like a giant monster 👹 so most of the heat went up the chimney. I wish I could tell you everything we went through those went easy times but the memories the laughs, cries, frustrations, we restored the house we finished raising our family. We are now grandparents and great grandparents. Enjoy your adventure 🤹‍♀️

We once bought a Victorian house that had a huge oak tree growing right up against the house, like literally touching it.. Someone thought it was a good idea to let that acorn grow? And no one in 50 or 60 years thought it was a bad idea? You guys are smart, you will deal with it, it just takes time and money. I know someone who bought an old house and had it jacked up, foundation removed and poured a brand new concrete foundation and basement. Anything is possible with enough time and money. The YT channel Stories from the Cascina had an episode showing him rebuilding an old window. "Yard by yard life is hard. Inch by inch it's a cinch."

"Where there is a will, there's a way." It is fixable.

My Husband and I are really rooting for you. We bought a “as is” 160 year old Grist Mill. We thought we were crazy! Just have fun with it! Omg the basement, what an adventure! Really enjoying watching someone else go through it. Wish we were younger like you. It’s a lifestyle not a project.

Don't let your "backseat contractors" get you down. Fix-it guys gotta tell you how to fix it. The more comments you get, the better your channel will do, especially if you can avoid becoming defensive towards critics. They're not there with you doing the hard work, and they don't know how much time, energy, and money you have to devote to your project. To me, it's always great to see a younger person who is enthusiastic about working with older homes. If people really are being nasty, just block them. It's your show, manage it the way you want.

You have taken on quite a project, but you seem to have a handle on the priorities. I think the main constraint will be budget, because you're obviously not afraid of hard work.

Ugh, sorry people are up in your business assuming you didn’t cross your t’s and dot your i’s. Anyone who watches you knows how thorough & realistic you are. Not to mention your incredible work ethic. Keep rocking it- I love all of your videos. Rooting you on!

Honestly, It's a testament to the craftsmanship of this place that the roof is still in such good shape! I love watching these videos because it reminds me of summers spent working on those old houses and seeing all the history in them. Pencil marks on the studs, height marks on walls where kids' heights were recorded as they grew up, layers of wallpaper, little nicks and dings in the woodwork where furniture was moved. I'm two years into a debilitating autoimmune disorder and can't walk without a cane anymore, so no home improvement work for me, at least in the near future. I've missed it. This series is letting me live vicariously through you :)

I didn't think I would want to watch another house restoration as I have watched and continue to be inspired, motivated and entertained. The odder thing is I now follow 3 content creators from Nova Scotia. How random is that? I will see this on Fri afternoon after working on my furniture restore and new furniture finishing project I joyfully took on

Defenestrate is one of our family's favourite words. And yes, we're the kind of family that has favourite words.

“And yes, my friends, that is the hill I will be dying on” ….. I just took a sip of coffee and immediately spit it out laughing 😆 😂😢 I’ve been there…..only 7 months pregnant with 2 small boys, and ya know what? I’d do it all again……for the “love” of historic homes and yours is a beautiful home. Hang in there….. LOVE this house and it’s worth every minute of it! Thanks for letting us come on your journey. ❤❤❤

I think it's incredibly brave to take on such a large project and wanting to restore the house. Having just moved into a house built in 1930 that was empty for years and facing all the hidden problems here I can't even imagine what you guys are dealing with. Watching your videos has been very motivating for me though, I was feeling depressed with the mounting bills and work trying to save my house, watching you tackle you house with optimism has given me the will to keep going. I know my house is worth the effort, I just needed a reminder.

Your house was neglected for far longer than you thought. One by one you will mark things off your list. My house is not as old (it’s only 102 years), but I can share that I too had 20 trees that I had to remove, water leaking into the basement, missing gutters, rot, no insulation blah, blah, blah. You will get through it. Remember it’s a labor of LOVE. 😊

Totally not unsolicited advice 😆 we bought an old house 6 years ago and had the same foundation issues. We dug out the foundation and sill and graded the earth away from the house and installed a French drain all the way around the house and then replaced the sump in the basement. It's fixed *most* of the issues. I hope your plans work out for you too

On metal roofs…one more thing to consider. The sound of rain hitting the metal roof is one of my favorite sounds in the world. Nothing better than snuggling up under a quilt with a book and a pet while the rain comes down in my opinion. But some people find it annoying to hear. I think it’s wonderful that you are saving this house ❤

You won't believe this but someday you will look back on this as some of the best years of your life :) imo your dream house is beautiful so happy for you ...

It's a labour of love, thanks for sharing. New Ross Farms in lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, has local tradefolk who help keep the historic village alive. We have learned alot about the history and techniques of rebuilding and repairing older homes with contacts gained there. Also check for reclaimation yards, they often have hard to find items salvaged from older homes. For information on your home there are usually historical societies who collect pictures and information on homes and families in your area.

The crafsman told a story once on his channel that I remember hearing from family when I was young, too... If ever you get hopelessly lost in the woods, all you need to do is pull out your pocket knife, sit down to sharpen it, and start to carefully work the edge... keep working and working, do the very best you can, and before long, somebody will come up out of those woods to tell you that you're doing it wrong. You can't escape the critics. Keep an eye out for the one that might actually be saving your butt, and keep your head high as you stride on past the rest. ✨💖✨

My nephew needed to repair some Georgian sashcord windows but had no clue how to do it. They were in a similar state to yours. He did a lot of research before he started, on RU-vid, internet sites and even rang restorers for advice. They were surprisingly willing to share information. Needless to say, he did it, replacing rotten timber that matched up and re threading sashcords etc. once he’d painted them, they looked amazing and it was such a satisfaction for him to save what he knew to be original. You are a very resourceful person, I see no reason why you can’t succeed at this. In fact, do not be disheartened or take notice of the trolls. If you trust in yourself and trust in God, you will achieve everything you need to. I’m sure you’ll hit hard times, as everyone does, but just take a deep breath and shake yourself down and get on with it. I certainly have great faith in you. I think you are a very amazing human being. Good luck and God bless xxxx

Oh, Sweetheart, the work ahead of you!!! Wish I was young enough and strong enough to tackle that kind of project again. Or at least be in a position to help you. These nightmare problems are going to give you so much satisfaction as you fix them one by one. Maybe not in the moment, but in time it will. Water problems are the absolute worst. As you said it affects long lines of things. You are so blessed to be able to see beyond the present mess and envision the possibilities. That is a true gift. Having a partner that has that ability is crucial so you can tackle it as a team. I miss those days of transforming a bunch of ugly problems into a home. Ignoring the negative yammering from people that can’t see the end vision is as essential as finding pros that can help with good advice or do the work for you. Good luck! Cheering for you every step of the way.

"The Great Defenestration" with a chaise longue on its way out of a high window is the image that I can't get out of my brain! 😂

You got your work cut out for you! As someone who grew up in wetlands at the bottom of a hill, that is not a basement that can be finished. Your basement will probably be useful for storage and utilities but you'll need to make sure any storage is up off the floor by 8-9" depending on how much water usually comes in plus the exceptional flooding event. If you have the budget, a landscape architect can make up a plan for grading that hill and directing water around your house that will stand the test of time. Thank you for taking us on this journey!

Ok, when you were showing the backyard with the grading/ runoff issues all I could think about was how to harness this into a cool landscaping/ garden opportunity. I know that is waaaaaaaay down the line but could be cool to think about a seasonal diversionary creek, especially since you have an opportunity to reshape the lay of the land. I'm a gardener in Sonoma County, CA, where drought and wildfires are a major consideration. We have a way different climate but over here. It's all about slowing water when we get rain and helping it soak into the ground (and obv. away from the house) to recharge groundwater. A lot of people put in a dry creek bed that water will flow into when we have rain and they plant things that go seasonally dormant until rain. Then, these beautiful native grasses and wildflowers just come to life! Here in the states, there is a federal program called "Master Gardeners" who are trained in their region on the landscape and gardening advice. It is free. Wondering if there is something in Canada that is similar? Maybe there's a "too much water" version (I saw someone mention a French drain) of this that could be really beautiful and mitigate some of the water issues. This is not an area I am an expert in, but it might have some potential to stabilize the hill, depending on what plants you choose.

Have you ever thought about putting a French drain around your foundation. Would love to see more on the house. I love it and I love watching what you're going to do with it.

SO MUCH WORK! But you're saving a stunning historical home, so hooray.

I love watching restorations. You are better than THIS OLD HOUSE‼️ I love to see old homes restored and always wished that I could do one. TFS 😎 I knit while I watch you 🧶

The joys of the antique house! I know it seems endless now. Keep going. You will be so happy in the end.

It shows how well the house was made that its still standing, especially with all the Canadian weather when it gets really snowy or wet, like around this time of year

You are spot on regarding saving the old windows! YAY🎉

I love your approach of keeping as much of the old features as possible! No grey tiles on the whole floor and white big tiles on the walls and the rest in white, grey and beige without walls and structure (this is how I see a lot of people doing it). Maybe in the future you find a solution for the windows to keep the warmths in better. I am looking forward to see all the things from the attic! Wish you all the best!

I truly admire your fearlessness! You’ve got this, your home will not just be your castle, but an absolute treasure! ❤

I'm so glad you mentioned a frencih drain, it will definitely help. And it sounds like you two gave done a lot of research, good for you, i hate when people just jump in without a single clue and then realize they made a bigger problem. I will stand on that hill with you, that window is gorgeous and deserves to stand out proudly. Good luck, make sure you are getting enough sleep, and although you are used to working through aches and pains, take it easy when you pull something.

About the metal roof. They have different makes and models now that can maybe be what your looking for. We got a metal roof and it has been a huge blessing. Also when you do gutters make sure you get gutter guards ( mesh plate over the gutters) to keep debris off. It will save you headaches later on. Just suggestions. Cause I know you have a lot on your list. GOOD LUCK!!😅😊

I wonder if on the flat spot that is 6-ish ft above the back of your house if you could add a ditch next to the hillside to divert some of the water coming down from above before it gets down to your house level. Kind of a belt plus suspenders approach. Layers of protection.

When the roof is replaced i hope you'll be able to save that hand hewn decking. It's beautiful

Merch idea; Take pictures of the features you love most and put it in a calendar, or a collage on t-shirts, hoodies... I was hearing about you needing to replace your roof eventually. Two things that may help you make an educated decision 1) You spoke about a hurricane taking off a few shingles, compare each roof style with durability also ask the neighbors around the neighborhood how their roofs have held up. 2) We have lived in our 1914 home since 1986 and have had 3 different roofs put on; the first 2 were shingled roofs, a hail storm took out the second one. So with the 3rd roof we went with a steel roof. If you look at old barns most of them have steel roofs that look like they have been there many years and lasted through many storms.

You go girl, it all will take time. You and your boyfriend can do it. Just take your time. Great video love watching you.

Don’t lose heart, Shannon! You and Phil are so smart and capable! Sorry there are so many critics out there. I’m very inspired by the journey you are allowing us to follow!

Wow, I never imagined a house having six inches of layers of siding on it - it really explains the windows there. I couldn't put my finger on what looked weird about them but it was absolutely how recessed they are.

Houses cost money - even new ones. And home inspectors can’t see everything and don’t catch everything. There’s no one, right way to do what you’re doing. I’ve owned a couple of houses and I’m pretty pumped to learn with you guys as you tackle the issues. My own home is still a work in progress and I get satisfaction from learning as I’m doing. Keep with it and celebrate the victories along the way! You’ve got this!

They make window inserts that can be removed easily if you want open the windows. There are some RU-vidrs in France that have chateaus that have delt with old window wood that looked just like yours. One is Doing It Ourselves, and the other is Escape To The Dream, Restoring The Chateau. They kept the old wood and "restored" it. So if they could, you can 🙂

I lived in a 1910 Victorian on a tree-lined street with very mature trees. Our concern was always roots in the sewer lines (which were still cast iron).

My house faces a pretty steep downward slope too (and is also old--1917). A French drainage system (YAY!), and subsequent terracing of the slope, made our basement MUCH dryer and did our house tremendous good. Therefore, from what I've experienced, you are totally on the right track. Also...agree with you that the foundation is much more important than the roof right now. Adding the extra weight of a new roof, plywood or metal and all that, would be questionable when your foundation is so compromised. I'm really enjoying watching you save your beautiful old home. Try not to let the internet critics bug you. I've noticed some good advice here too, so it balances out. 🙂

Trees too close to your house can also mess with the plumbing and water lines. My neighbor is dealing with such an incident, and it’s turning into quite an expensive ordeal. They’ve lived in the house over 20 years, and just ignored the problem.

I like your attitude to things in general. There is no point in saying, you should have done this or that after the fact. Now is the time to build you up with praise for both your hard work, You are doing a great job. Any way I don't see you stopping till you get the house the way you want it, even if it's baby steps.

Those are pretty windows. I understand your desire to keep them, and best of luck in your journey. I remember my granddad putting up the storm windows in the fall and the screens in the summer. 😊

Your commenter heckling is 👩‍🍳 💋 also enjoying the walk-thru of house trauma

I live in a house that was built in 1926. It just 2 two of us working on it. We call it the project. When I saw the cleaning out the attic episode. I new you needed new roof, because of the lack of sheeting. Yes we have done the roof. My only advice is make sure the sheeting is part of the estimate. Some roofers think there is sheeting. Then go with replace any rotten sheets. Witch will cause an surprised extra $$. This will not matter if you are doing it yourself. This is fun and brings back memories. On some of what we had done to our house.

Merci Shannon de faire ce bilan si lucide de cette propriété 👍🏻 Je vous souhaite d’obtenir des partenariats pour aider à faire tous ces gros travaux ! Terrasser l’arrière de la maison, installer des gouttières et des drains, “rafraîchir” les façades, conserver cette belle fenêtre, l’isolation…. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Toujours très cool de voir ce corgi courir 😊 ! Vivement la prochaine vidéo 💪🏻👍🏻 🌸🌸🌸

Shannon… I would suggest considering planting to help retaining the water on the walls. Since you are crafty and resourceful, you can look at taking or getting cutting to help propagate to cut cost. Or buy one plant and take cutting. Plants can help stop the water . I know it is more stuff to add to your list! If you want, we can chat about what will grow in your area and we can help with starting baby plants that can ship to you. Working in my master gardener designation

Don’t worry Shannon, all these things are fixable! I’ve been restoring an old house myself and know how it feels when people are so scared and negative about the process. If you do majority of work yourself you can save a ton of money. It may just take a little longer. You seem totally capable of taking this on. So glad you are insisting on keeping those beautiful windows. Contractors always want to tear everything out and replace it with new stuff because it is the quickest and cheapest thing to do, but don’t listen to them. Take your time, enjoy the process, and in the end you will end up with a really unique and special home.

I absolutely love these house videos. Thank you so much for sharing!

The wildlife, and the lack of gutters on your roof, planted those trees. We call those trees Volunteers. Birds and squirrels through their waste on your gutter-less roof is how those seeds landed right next to your house. Absent landlords may not have inspected their property often enough and tenants usually don't care about their landlord's property. As a result no one stopped those trees from growing. 🤣🌱🌳

🤘🤘

I am so glad you're making this series- thank you so much!!

I know this may seem like a mess of problems, but as a problem, solver, and planner, I am dying to sit down and figure out which water issue to tackle first, lol. I am living this adventure vicariously through you. I love home renovations/ restorations.

The keyboard warriors have too much time on their hands!

House inspection? On an antique Victorian house? Ridiculous! Home inspections make perfect sense in more modern houses when the defects are less severe and obvious, but are not really informative in this situation. You know going in that there is (a) extensive water damage, complete with bad grading and missing gutters; (b) an unstable foundation (see point a); (c) no functional mechanical systems at all, and (d) at least one and a half million tiny defects that have added up over time. You didn't buy this house to get a "move-in-ready" living space! You bought your gorgeous house to save it from complete collapse and restore it to its original glory. You bought a project, not a home. Ignore the detractors - they don't understand the restoration aesthetic, the urge to save the beauty of the past, the willingness to work - and work hard - to complete a brighter better redemption chapter. The people complaining about home inspections do NOT view themselves as caretakers of history and beauty and can't imagine the psychology of someone who is a restorationist. You are very like Kevin and Laine of Restoration Nation. They bought and are currently restoring Hope, an antebellum plantation (the original core of the house dates from the 1700s) that burned down. They spent nearly a year just getting rid of the fire damage and getting a roof on it. A lot of people accuse them of being crazy, too. Or Second Empire Strikes back, where they are working to RESTORE - NOT renovate - an 1890's abandoned Victorian 2nd Empire Mansion. Ignore the idiots who only see a house as a utilitarian object - a roof over their head. They calculate the financial return and amortization of effort from a comfortable home and count your efforts as "ridiculous," and "not worth it." Those of us who love these buildings know this is an act of love - not a pragmatic purchase. Ignore the idiots who cannot imagine the thrill of restoring beauty to properly pride of place. The rest of us hear the siren song of beauty - and we support you 100%!

I would never wonder about your ability to buy a house. The thing is, how do we fix these problems. I am in awe of your Pollyanna outlook. ❤

I started watching your videos for sewing info, but I am enjoying watching you work on your home. Keep up the great work

I live in San Francisco with hills and LOTS of Victorian structures (and older). My apt was built in 1907 after the big earthquake and fire. The apts have various work done on them… all still have high ceilings and picture rails. I’m lucky I still have some built ins in the kitchen (most of the others have had them ripped out. My kitchen sink and cabinets around the sink were put in, in the 70’s. They are not wood and the sink was caving in so I finally got a new sink and counter top. I found a kitchen cabinet (1940’s?) at a reclaim place to hang above the sink and have more cabinets. It was raining and the price was hidden so the guy said $20 bucks and SOLD! Then he carried it out to my hatchback… $40 was written on the bottom! My manager (who was also rebuilding the kitchens as apts became vacant) put it up for me. My bathroom has a large claw tub (all the apts do!). Our windows are original and we now have a law that they can’t be replaced with cheap metal ones so the landlord is having them rebuilt. Alas the pipe that comes off the toilet was designed for those water wasteful toilets and not our water saving modern toilets. My “stack” have all been here 25+ years so the newish owner (15 years) hasn’t had a chance to change the pipes. Our toilets overflow a lot. I’ve got it down on how to handle it. My apt is drafty and cold when it’s cold outside (radiators only run about 4 hours in the am and 5 hours in the pm all year round as our summers are cold. My small radiator can not be turned off so when we have a heat wave it takes managing). My apt is cute and I prefer living with inconveniences than living in a modern motel looking apt!)

❤So glad you're going to keep the original windows!!! Thay are so unique and wonderful. Your positive attitude in the face of all the damage you all have to address is encouraging. I am looking forward to seeing your home restored and beautiful once again!!❤

I have to work tomorrow but I look forward to watching on my lunch break after the premiere.

The retaining wall(s) can actually turn into a really nice landscaping foundation for your backyard, you can make it nice and private while diverting water and soil.

Wow! What an undertaking! I’m just glad you’re a strong, persistent person and have all you need to tackle this challenge.

Wow, that's a big list! I'll be here cheering you on!

The mirror over the fireplace is the bomb. Love it. You just have to keep your heads up. The end result you will appreciate it very much. And the value will skyrocket. 😊 Nothing but blessings your way. 😊❤

Excellent corgi footage. What you've been able to tackle with just the two of you this far is amazing. Looking forward to all the future projects as you transform the house back into the gem it was.

I don’t usually purchase merch. I would purchase defenestration merch! 😂 Love your sewing content and am finally catching up on house content and loving it, too!

You are doing great on your house. I can only imagine how much you have to do and the money it will cost. I love the way you are prioritizing what needs to be done. I'm here for it all and cheering you on. ❤

Oh my goodness! I'm exited to see you tackle all of that! Thank you for saving this beauty!

We are praying for you both as you meet the many challenges. You can do this!

You two are amazing, giving that lovely old home the necessary TLC.

30 minutes fly by when I’m having fun like watching your vids!

Dont let people get you down. You are doing a great job of assessing the issues and i see you are working on a plan. This is an amazingly hard job but I am so glad you love this house enough to tackle it. Im glad to hear that you do at least have some storm windows to help make the old ones more efficient. I bought an old home 13 years ago and the windows in it were already replaced but I have to say I love them. When thinking about these problems dont forget to breath. Just tackle them one at a time and do some of the smaller pretty projects in your spare time to feed your soul and your love for the house. I am watching and praying all will go well for you.

I wait on the edge of my seat for each and every new house video to come out and every time I wish they were longer! I get so involved in the lists and the plans and the problem solving... suddenly the video is over and the next episode isn't ready yet. 😳 There are so many beautiful elements to this house just begging to be brought back to their true glory! It's going to be wonderful! ....a huge challenge to a sure....but absolutely wonderful! 🎉❤

Huge fan of Defenestration!!! You guys are doing great I really enjoy your videos. I feel like I have a lot to learn. Cheering you on!

27:38 this journey of yours, and you know so much. I would feel overwhelmed, but you look so cheerful and confident about everything. You can do it!❤

As I watch this my heart is pounding faster and faster with concern for Shannon and Phil! Bless their hearts for taking on this house and its enormous task list! I am worried for them, yes, but so incredibly proud of them!!👍💪🤓❤

Love this kind of planning Vid! looking forward to the next vid.

I`m just happy that I know you`re posting this from the future, so the house hasn`t crumbled around you guys :D

Shannon you won’t regret this journey! Hang in there! You got this

It's still beautiful with all the issues and I'm glad you are bringing her back to life.

Never thought I’d be looking forward to seeing a house sill repaired, great video! 😊

I love watching you two keep u the good work can't wait for next week 😊

Bless your heart..southern saying from Alabama. You and Phil can do this. Look at the love-equity you will have in this house! I dreamed of buying an old house when I was young..now at 67 with back problems, I am rooting for you.

Thank you so much for not sugar coating the issues too much - I'd love to restore(ish) an older house someday, and it's so nice to follow along with your candid & can-do approach!

Looking forward to see your journey! Good luck Shanon and Phil!!! ❤

Welcome to NS. Similar problems, especially the mould issue. Looking forward to your sewing projects. That's why I started following you.

Thanks, Shannon! You are making me feel much better about my own list of repairs for the house we just bought. You are a brave woman!!!

Such an interesting video. Looove your house renovation videos. And both of you are doing a fantastic job 💙🩵

You two are amazing The love yiu have for restoring the house is wonderful

Wow! You are so amazing to take on so many huge projects, but that beautiful home is so lucky to have you rescue it. With your grit, determination and creativity, I am sure that it will be a real showstopper when it is complete, and will easily last another 100 years. You are both fantastic, and very educational and entertaining! Thank You for sharing your journey!

I looked forward to your update throughout my work day and you did not disappoint . You have a huge job ahead but I love your pragmatic approach and look forward to your houses resurrection one small step at a time be sure to leave time for unrelated fun !

The wallpaper at the back of you when youre talking about the roof! Oh my goodness - so sweet! We once lived in a house that had a roof of corrugated iron straight over burned out wood shingles! It was freezing in the winter and constantly had rats in the roof. Eeooo! The house is a major project but its obvious this will be a labour of love to create a beautiful home. You are both so skilled and strong. The journey will be a blessed part of your story together.

I'm so glad you love this old beauty. I'm also glad you are young and can tackle all of the problems.