This is my second time burning exterior paint from a house.
I swore that I would never do this again many years ago at the completion of the first paint burning project. You never say never! The paint build up on this house was so great,
there was no painting over anymore. Now what happens when you are doing this is constant question: "What color are you going to paint?"
In conservative Tuscaloosa, it was a shock to see actual colors going on a house that has been bland white forever. I have tried to explain that it was
not till the late teens and early 20's that white really took over for a total house color. This all happened with the "Colonial Revival" craze. I have
tried to stick with Craftsman colors. (when the 2nd coat goes on the green will be darker!) This is the worst side of the house to strip, that is why
I chose to start on it first. That way the job just gets easier! My schedule is to do a side every year. This is the southern exposure, where the dining room is.
Note the window that was uncovered! The bottom white foundation will be painted a brick red.
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Watch Your Step!Here is work on the installation of the front brick walk. The gate is from Rochester, N.Y. It has the casting date in bold relief, 1877 facing the street. The bricks for the walk were slavaged from an old train station. The heavy pavers lining the front holly hedge, and borders were pulled from a polluted creek. I moved these bricks in my little Dodge truck over a period of years, from Western New York, a distance of 950 miles. It is a miracle there was any suspension left in that old truck! Some of the distinctive features of this house are now: