I gained appreciation for my trades while working on historical dwellings throughout the United States. Dismantling a 200 year old window and installing new ropes or chains may not be the adrenaline junkie’s thing, but it’s my adrenaline rush. Nothing makes me lose more sleep in a good way than when a customer hands me a multi-color scheme project that requires attention to detail and a high level of skill.
I could literally spend six months on a historical dwelling using single edge and triangular load scrapers and a handful of chisels to remove 200 year old paint and would be smiling the entire time. There’s nothing more exciting than uncovering the past or opening a wall and discovering an artifact of the time period or trying to discern what part of the world the carpenter or wallpaper installer came from.
There are dangers and definitely health hazards and nothing about restoring an historical dwelling is easy. There is no YouTubing your way around a historical project. It takes time and patience, thick skin, and a passion to commit to such projects.