by Nigel Costolloe | Feb 10, 2018 | Exterior Painting, Historic Restoration, Home Improvement, Interior Painting, Residential Interior Painting, Water Damage
Here in New England the reason most paint peels is because the paint coating has become too thick and inflexible. Old homes wearing their original siding and trim can have over 15 coats over them – as the wood expands and contracts with temperature and humidity...
by Nigel Costolloe | Feb 13, 2015 | IceDams, Water Damage
I won’t indulge my desire to moan about how much I’ve had to shovel this past month, nor the shoveling expected this weekend with the arrival of our next blizzard. Instead, in the spirit of camaraderie and New England stoicism, I offer you this image from...
by Nigel Costolloe | Jun 22, 2012 | Cambridge, Water Damage
Rod Serling in the Twilight Zone would use the phrase “submitted for your approval..” and then go on to describe the latest nightmare scenario. I have my own example to submit, captured in the photograph below. A hardwood deck in Cambridge, built flush to...
by Nigel Costolloe | Feb 3, 2012 | Boston Painters, Exterior Painting, Historic Restoration, Water Damage
I had no idea either, until I moved to New England from San Francisco and encountered a multitude of paint failures that are unique to old wood houses and Old Man Winter. The above photo is of an elevation on the Fitch Inn in Bedford, the start of Paul Revere’s famous...
by Brian | May 20, 2011 | Brookline, Exterior Painting, Water Damage, Winter, Wood Restoration
We have the privilege of tending to some of Boston’s grand old homes and we have learned that ongoing maintenance is the best approach to keep these buildings in top shape. The photograph below is taken from a gorgeous Federal house in Brookline, one that was...
by Nigel Costolloe | Apr 4, 2011 | Boston Painters, Exterior Painting, IceDams, Water Damage, Winter
It’s an appropriately wintry April 1st to write a blog about last winter’s remarkably damaging weather. This past month we have seen a significant rise in the number of projects related to ice dams. We were lucky enough to avoid such calamities at our home, but Mother...