As an experienced carpenter... you have a leak coming from the outside of the stone wall or above on the roof and that's coming in and traveling and it's settling on the floor, rotting everything the moisture comes into contact with. I wouldn't continue digging it anymore unless you want your wall or roof to collapse!!! PLEASE GET AN EXPERIENCED LICENSED CONTRACTOR TO HELP YOU LADIES!!! But on another note, been watching for years and wish i could come and help you gals tackle this huge project!!❤
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much Kim, you are so kind, you really didn’t have to do that! We will definitely will putting that towards the new door! 💗💗
As the widow of a general contractor, I would ask that you please consult with a stone mason or contractor, the damage seems extensive. Good luck to you ladies🌻
No moaning or whining two lovely ladies just getting on with the job and not being phased at all by it. I love your house and land regardless of the problems and jobs. It’s in a beautiful area and that makes up for any other inconvenience that comes along and all taken in your stride very calmly. As always Gail and Alex my greatest respect to you both. Keep safe and well.
I can't believe someone wallpapered over that rotten drywall. Old houses are full of surprises! Maybe you'll find treasure. Blessings to you sweet ladies.
As the owner of an old house myself, when you started the demo it gave me a knot in my stomach. It's always a can of worms when you start these projects. If your roofline comes down on that front side you may need gutters to direct rainwater away. I hope you gals can repair all the damage back to it's old glory. Best of luck.
Wow, ladies, you have so many projects running right now! The craft room, the kitchen, Alex' room, and now this wall and door....... and it looks like the wall under the window is also rotten. Living in an old house looks so beautiful, but the amount of work to retain it is enormous! Kudos to you two for tackling all these projects. 💪🏻🔥
Hubby says to make sure that the ground outside of the door/walls is graded away from the building. Also, agree with the previous comments from the carpenter. It will be worth the work. Keep up the great videos!!
Thank you, Susan, that's so very kind and generous of you! We will put it towards getting a builder to fix the floor and put a new door and frame in! xx
Don’t get overwhelmed. So many great channels to help you along: The Pethericks, Shawn’s world, doing it ourselves, etc. I look forward to seeing y’all bring your house back to life!
You women amaze me!! You work so hard, and care for rhe earth and animals. You have an envied attitude of "let's just do it!". Bravo! I'm catching up on your videos and thoroughly enjoy them! 🎉❤
Absolutely loved this one. Wish it were much, much longer. I love that you both just see a problem and set out to solve it. Roll your sleeves up and put on your respirators and go for it. Truly a great example for women and men alike!
Good progess..pretty tiles..nice colors. Here in Kentucky, America where hillbillies live we call those bugs Rolly Pollies(: always nice to see u girls all wholesome and sweet as usual
Wow. You ladies do know your stuff. I care tear apart anything But putting it back k together is another matter. I admire you greatly. Be safe. And Thank You.
You got some potatoes so you are on the right track. Place your buckets on pieces of lumber so that the bottom drains well. We have done the bucket method and it works really good. It looks like you put enough soil into the buckets to start...4 inches (10.5 cm). You should only put 2 potato seeds per bucket then cover them with 6-8 inches (@ 15.5-20.25 cm) of soil. Add additional soil as the plants grow. Stay below an inch of the top of the bucket lip...so water can collect there). Only water plants if when you put your middle finger down all the way into the soil, it is dry. You will also need to lightly fertilize. Harvest them after the plants start to die off. Our potato season here in western North Carolina begins in late March. And it usually takes about 90 days from planting to harvest. Potatoes can store well if you have a cellar. You can grow sweet potatoes in buckets as well but it is better to use a bush variety than one that has runners. Glad you were able to save some of the tiles.
I love the aesthetic of old homes but the restoration and upkeep is way more than I could handle. Good luck with all your projects ladies. You do excellent wrong and aren’t daunted by anything no matter how difficult. You two are an inspiration. Thanks.
Same here! We left an old 18th century old cottage for a new build because we couldn’t financially do the work it needed it was so bad. But it all worked out well because we are now living in the beautiful Scottish Highlands 😍
When I started to remove the wallpaper to decorate, I found some plaster must have fallen out, but rather than fixing that, to fill the hole, they'd put in a newspaper from 1974 and wallpapered over that with 7 layers of wallpaper. Yet rotten wood, they had put poly filler on and painted over that. My porch I thought had rotted floorboards, but found they'd put a old door down as the floor, so you will find some people will just cover problems, rather than fixing them properly
You can use the large plastic bags as planting pots. Always open them at the top, empty them, turn the edge inside out and roll them up. Fill in some stones, then soil, then the potatoes and soil again. Don't forget to make ventilation holes at the height of the stones. Whenever the green leaves start to peek out, fill in more soil and roll the edge up a bit. You will have a great harvest.
I think you have a leak on the roof or a drainage problem near the door. That would have allowed the wall to absorb the water. Or you have standing water near the area. Find that first before you repair anything or it will just come back. The stone work is beautiful!
Goodness me ladies. Well thats the way it goes. Start one job and end up doing many. I must say these jobs needed doing desperately. That wall looks suspiciously like a gutter has not been doing its job and water is running down the wall. Then its being soaked into all the wooden struts within the wall. That plaster was so damp. Ugh and the wood criss ccrossed inside was amazing. How much dust it had turned into. Big wood rot! That was better out than in. I was so with you on getting that soggy plaster down and out. What on earth is holding that wall up. Eek. So many gaps. Good luck with that ladies. Im sure you'll get it all sorted out just fine, in the end. I admire you both, for your hard work in tackling things in your home. Its an old girl and needs some tender loving care. Lets just say, sometimes you have to be crewl to be kind. Its all worth doing and you can both be very proud of your home and all your doing to fix it up. ♥ xx
I hope pulling all of that wood out from in between the stone won’t cause the outside to collapse. I know it was rotten anyway! I admire you two young ladies! You’re not afraid to try anything. And I think that’s great!!! And I can’t wait to see this old farm house when it’s all done! It’s absolutely beautiful there!
Yes, I agree that you should seek professional advice quickly on this one. It does seem that there is a leak(s) that need to be sealed, and that wall may be unsupported. I'm sure you could fix it yourself if you choose, but at least get the advice to see the limits of the problem. I reckon that this channel could outstrip your mudlarking channel eventually. Love you both!
I might suggest replacing the rotten wood strips with ground contact rated wood.( IMO, the wood strips do help provide some support for the stone work to keep the mortar from cracking.) Then the moisture should have minimal effect on it, plus it gives you nailers to attach backer board to. Too bad I am here in he U.S., as I'd volunteer to drop by and we could have that wall replaced in under a day. I have had lots of experience in replacing rotten wood in walls & bathrooms, both in my own home and in friends homes.. You can hang drywall over the replaced wood and it can be textured to very closely match the plaster, or put up lathe strips and actually replaster the wall. Always a "fun" project. There might also be a moisture barrier coating you can paint the inside of the stone with to keep out moisture.. Please double check your attic and soffit to see if you have water leaking in.
So just after watching the first few minutes. You see the new shoots that are coming out on the other half of the potatoes that you did not put in water, if you take the long shoots off allow the new shoots to develop to about two tiny leaves ( put in dark cupboard for this to happen, then move them into direct sunlight for the shoots to harden a little bit , then put somme manure in a pot with some soil and plant a one or two. I'd have them inside as the ground is going to be too cold shortly, you should have a few lovely potatoes within 2 and a half to 3 months ( after planting) There is something else you could try out with the ones you have in water. I remember years ago I did an experiment with potatoes ( but I'm not sure what I used) but they flowered and tiny seeds developed when the flowers died off. You can check it out yourself anyway. The work you do is always excellent.
Sorry about that. I should have watched the whole video. I thought you had just found them today. That was such a satisfying video. Pulling down the rotten plaster. 😂I wonder why they put wood underneath the stones in the first place?
I did the same potato experiment this year...but I planted the whole potato... and finally got enough for 2 meals...even the tiniest one had, cooked, a very good taste! 😊
There is something really therapeutic about watching two very capable ladies 'chatting' and 'demolishing'. Have you thought about 'Crowd Funding' to repair and replace your porch and door? 🤔 Thank you for another great video.
Way back when this home was constructed they didn't consider moisture barriers to preserve wood in the structure. I would definitely stop digging and consult a building expert because your house can crumble to nothing if it's not fixed correctly. Hopefully you don't find more problems with the house.
I am truly worried about your lungs. That did look like black mold. You are so brave to restore this home, but it will be a castle one day. Blessings on your endeavors!
You ladies never have a chance to stop working! I am so sorry you now have this huge problem. I know you will get it done, but it will be worth every penny you have to put into it. I truly wish I could send you more, but for now I hope it helps towards your new door. Until the next time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💜 see you soon 😊
Ok, with everything I’ve watched you girls do with your home…..I’m convinced you’re going to be able to build your own summer cottage from the ground up at the end of this!! SCORE! For women builders!! 😃😃❤️❤️❤️
Hi ladies 🙂 if you didn’t won’t to buy a new front door for now! You can unscrew your door handles and respray them as you can the door to make it look modern again and the glass can be easily replaced as well, 10min job for a double glazer to do! Paint from B&Q. Jiff and soapy water will clean up the plastic nicely as well! And like someone said earlier in comments YOU NEED TO CHECK OUTSIDE FOR LEAKS FIRST!!! I.E roof guttering on the porch! You could also buy some door anti jammer being that it’s an old door real easy to screw on and for that extra peace of mind, and maybe a door chain, I’m a ex window fitter of 45 years, All the best and good luck! 👍🙌💚
Those small potatoes will grow great next year. I used to grow in a barrel but fill slowly with hay or straw. I’ve been doing tile for over 36 years. Welcome to my world! 🤣 No vapor barrier behind the wall to stop the condensation from wetting the plaster. It desperately needs one before you close it up. 😊
The potatoes are not too far gone. We planted some in the spring and they grew well until we entered our season of drought. We are still in a drought. The lawn is so crispy and has been since midsummer
Maybe adding merchandise to your channels for northern mudlarking and lost tower diaries, maybe shirts and hats or something, to help with funds towards the renovations!?
The water seeping in under the door is what rotted the floor and sank it. Water damage is tricky. You have to find the source and fix that or any new wood will rot too.
Bury those in leaf deep, covering the leaf growth! They will produce, remember to bank them up when the leaves appear! Potatoes love room to grow their tuba’s in! Potatoes love the dark so they love being buried deeply.
I have to comment before watching the rest of the video, and you have probably already gotten advice on this but ... when we have potatoes that have started to grow, in the pantry, we cut them up, but cut them to have at least 2 nodules per piece. If the potato is small, and only has 2-3 growths on it, just plop the whole thing in the ground or bucket, the ground would be better, because they like A LOT OF ROOM. They will grow potatoes, if you just plant the potatoes. At least in the Nothern part of California. Your growing season may differ, but potatoes are usually pretty easy, and you are an EXCELLENT GARDENER!!! The propagating that you and Alex do is AMAZING to me. So potatoes will be a breeze.❤ Back to the video...
I pray that someone will sponsor repairing the entryway from the door, walls and restoring the original flagstone for you! Maybe your friend from the bridge replacement knows a contractor that will exchange the materials and labor for the advertised videos. I know you can do some of it on your own, but it would be a blessed gift to you both to be offered the help!
There must be an historical preservation group somewhere in your county or providence. . Your house should more than qualify for advice and perhaps some monetary help for this major renovation. You don’t want to lose your door or walls. Donna MIchigan USA
I'm guessing that they did, but just in case they had forgottwn as i tend to do, I'm sure that they can grab a screen shot from their film as it shows the whole thing :) @@howardwest1347
The wood that you are pulling out is like a shock absorber for the stone wall. It prevents, I believe the heaving of the stone from temperature change. And with it gone from the wall, you will need to replace it to prevent the stone from shifting downward.
I can tell you about potatoes. The places (dimples) that sprout are called 'eyes' in the U.S., the potatoes are left whole if small or in parts with an eye and are planted as one unit since the potato itself is food for the eyes. They're a warm weather crop. Sweet potatoes can be planted the same or placed in water to get plants from the growth. I've never seen plants done with regular potatoes. The old potatoes can be left somewhere that they won't freeze or rot over winter and planted when the soil has warmed up.
Ahhh... the thrills of owning an old house... 😁😉 I know the feeling all to well. Start in one place, leads to the next and so on and so forth... Feels like by the time you're finished, you've got a whole new house. Just to have to start over on the first part again... 😳😂 If I lived anywhere close to where you are located, I'd offer to buy that door. Gods know it's both "prettier" and more functional than my front door. Granted, I don't have windows in my door and like yours, but it "sings" when the wind is blowing. During the winters, I have a thick wool blanket that I hang on the inside of the door, screw it to the wall on one side, rolled up bath towels keeping the bottom of the blanket from blowing out into the hall and use the "cracks" on the other inside part of the door to shove some of the blanket in so that it doesn't blow out and create a draft... Why don't a just buy a new door? Money... I've tried these insulating strips etc. but, the whole door has shifted so, if I put these rubbery insulation strips in, I can't close the freakin thing... 😂 However, I wouldn't trade this haven of mine out in the country/forest for anything. You just learn to get used to the quirks and "issues" and fix them one by one, if you can't just get used to them... 😁 Great job ladies!!!
Plant all of the potatoes with the eyes ( green part up ) in hills . The ones you sprouted plant in hills as well . Potatoes don't grow on the leaves , they grow in the ground, and you have to carefully dig them up ( so as not to dig into your Potatoes ) once the leaves start dying back .
I had a bag of spuds that got kicked beneath a cupboard, & in 2 weeks they looked like yours. I took them down the garden cut them in half, & planted them. I later got a lovely crop of new potatoes!
In my 100 year old house in my laundry room when we did laundry there would be water under the washing machine so we just bought a new one and still the same thing after the wash was done water would be on the floor. So I pulled the machine away from the wall and watched and after the machine emptied the water some would seep from the baseboard so I pulled it off and the wall collapsed much like your wall. Turned out the drain pipe in the wall had rusted through and the whole wall was filling up with water. The plaster had long ago leached out and nothing was left but sand and many layers of paint and as long as nobody messed with it we did not know. Pulled down the wall and the lathes and let the whole thing dry out for months before fixing it as it had been soaked for years it seems.
🙋♀️❤️. Well, For what it's worth, I thought your howling door was very gothic and romantic! I admire you both so much! Take care of your hands, Alex!! Gloves!!
You can still plant them. Cover them with straw in a protected area through the winter. They'll still be OK. The seeds of the potatoe its eyes. 😊 from the shores of Lake Michigan USA. Home of Wisconsin Russets.
what a dusty mess. Hope the other walls aren't in the same shape. You ladies are tough workers, taking on any challenge that presents itself. Good job my friends. Tee
I watch another channel and they were having issues with damp walls. I thought of you ladies. The channel is Two men & their dog. The comments are full of great info. One thing was using a damp paint called Farrow and Ball's or Farrow and Bali's. I hope you see this and I hope it helps. It's a new channel and they talk about it in episode 4
You're doing a great job, getting rid of that rotten wood and plaster was definitely a good thing for your health....you'll figure out what to do next...rock walls like that are very strong and they've been there for a very long time already, nothing will collapse...
Might should get the water proofing paint we use in our basements . It bonds to the stone and sinks in so it becomes water proof and definitely need a water proof barrier.I cannot wait to see what you do with the tiles! Will you reuse the old or put some thing more suited to your style? You ladies are so hard working!
Y'all did a great job! My mom and i enjoy watching your channel from our little farm in east Texas and we love how you just get in there and tackle what needs to be done. God bless you both. We cant wait to see the new door. 🌷💜💜
You have water leaking in from up above. You need to fix the leak before you repoint the stone and try to rebuild the interior wall and door frame. Be sure to check the room above the front porch for water damage on it's walls, too.
i live in a home that was built in 19112 by a father for his daughter. everytime I open a wall, or have to fix something its another thousand dollars, we found dry rot under the floors, I had tiled 12 years ago or so and the tilers just didn't bother to check the flooring, so when everyrthing froze in Jaunary we had water under th e tiling, our kitchen is 291 square feet of tile, and olur insurance was bulking at paying for new tiling because we had to reetile it all, not just the damaged part or the kitchen would have looked like a patch work quilt. t hree of the cabinets had become warped and moldy. u gh. one time I ripped out a wall between the tinier kitchen into the breakfast nook, since the refrigerator only ift in the other room and we had to walk into another room to get things when we cooked. anyway, we found burned wood where the old wiring had gone crazy. its a mystery at every turn. I just wish I would find jewels or oil paiintings or pirate stash instead of bug and mold.
I was one of those girls that got power tools for Christmas in my teens and restored my first house in my 20's (many moons ago now) so I can relate. Getting a new door may be a blessing in disguise. Your front step seems to have been migrating away from the house for quite some time and that coupled with the damp is not a good sign. You've had water hidden behind those walls for a lot of years. Speaking of... PLEASE be careful working on the walls. You don't want to bring the porch down on yourselves. You have dry rot throughout the framing of your walls. That means the lath has become saturated and then dried repeatedly over a number of years. I can't see that being caused by the wood between the stonework wicking moisture. All I can say is that you're in for a ride so fasten your seat-belts. Small bites ladies. (how's that for mixing metaphors?)😛 One last thing if you're considering using concrete/cement. Sometimes using it on stone, depending on the type of stone, deteriorates the stonework itself and causes serious future problems. Just saying...
The potatoes cannot be shriveled and need eyes. If they’ve sprouted leaves that’s fine too, but just leave them on the potatoes. The buckets should have only had two or three starters and should be buried deep. Next year! They’re really fun to grow and a no fuss crop too!
I’m wondering is, when the stone was put with the wood between the stone layer, they didn’t actually burn the wood. That helps the wood last longer. People do it all the time. Just a thought.
Wow! What a beautiful tile floor! And such a big Job! You girls are Amazing!! And I’ve never seen a Slow Worm before!! I had to look it up!!! It’s a Lizard not a snake!! SO COOL!! Xoxox “Slow-worms are lizards, though they are often mistaken for snakes. Unlike snakes they have eyelids, a flat forked tongue and can drop their tail to escape from a predator.”👏🏼👏🏼☺️🤩
Potatoes griw however you do. I experimented last year by planting just overgrown sprouts...abd they came up and gave potatoes. I always cut potatoes in half, sometimes in three, if they have sprouts coming in more than one place. Works out well.
Have you ever watched the movie "The Money Pit"?? 💰 I'm afraid that's what you have gotten on your hands. The best part of the movie is that when it's finished it is unbelievably gorgeous.
