The Old House Journal is celebrating it’s 35th year and has compiled 35 Tips for Restoring Old Houses after drawing from their wealth of experience.

Here are the Woodworking tips by Robert Adam, Founder and Senior Advisor, Preservation Carpentry Department, North Bennet Street School

11. Use heartwood. Heartwood is always the most disease-resistant. Sapwood of most species should never be used.

12. Rift or quarter-grain cuts are best. These cuts are the most
stable. Flat grain often expands and contracts seasonally at twice the
rate of quartered stock.

13. Install plain sawn lumber with the heart side up. Flat lumber
will wear better with the heart facing up. If there’s cupping, the
edges will stay flat, and only the center will hump slightly.

14. Learn to use hand tools. Most historic woodwork was produced
by hand tools, and most machine-made millwork (late 19th century and
after) was installed with them. Historic woodwork finishes produced
with hand planes can’t be reproduced by modern machines like sanders.

15. Use traditional joinery. Component repairs should be made
using traditional joinery instead of non-historic methods like a
wholesale epoxy casting of a missing part.

Read the 6 signs you need to remodel your kitchen from the Bob Vila "On the Level Blog".

In recent months we have seen home values plummet across the area. Here is an article that may help increase your homes value.