CalendarHistoric Home TourVolume 8, Issue 5 September 2008

The Heritage Society of Pacifi c Grove

Dedicated to Maintaining the Beauty and Individuality of Pacifi c GroveNEWSLETTER

Please join us as, as Pacifi c Grove showcases a collec-tion of its fi nest historic

homes during the 39th annual Historic Home Tour, Sunday, October 5. Visitors will have the opportunity to stroll much of the tour this year, enjoying several quaint homes and his-toric buildings within walking distance. Tours are ongoing between 10am and 4pm, with docents at each site. Tickets are $20 per person, available from the Pacifi c Grove Chamber of Commerce, 800-656-6650 or 831-3304 or visit www.pacifi cgrove.org.

Chautauqua Hall will again host the crowd pleasing events of: Artists In Chautauqua, where more than fi fteen local artists will display and sell their creations; and Heritage Houses for the Birds, where bird houses designed and built by members of the community will be on display or up for auction.

In addition, this year’s tours premiers a number of new and exciting events; this year’s tour is not to be missed! More details to come...

SEPTEMBERHERITAGE TOURISM

Lecture and Panel Discussion: “A Bright Future for a City’s Economy”

Monterey Maritime MuseumFriday, September 19

1 to 5pm

HERITAGE BIRDHOUSESPremiere Presentation and Bidding

Elmarie Dyke Park, next to Chautauqua Hall

Sunday, September 21, noon to 4pm

OCTOBERSWAN BOAT DEDICATION

Swan Boat at Lovers PointSaturday, October 4, 2pm

HISTORIC HOME TOURSunday, October 5

10am to 4pm

HERITAGE BIRDHOUSES FINAL AUCTION

Elmarie Dyke Park, next to Chautauqua Hall

Sunday, October 510am to 3pm

ARTISTS IN CHAUTAUQUAChautauqua Hall (Central and 16th)

Sunday, October 510am to 4pm

DECEMBERCHRISTMAS AT THE INNS

Tuesday and Wednesday,December 2 and 3, 6-9pm

Chautauqua Hall

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Heritage Tourism Forum

The Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists (AMAP) is hosting a forum

entitled, “A Bright Future for a City’s Economy.” One of the goals of the forum is to ‘boost a community’s economy by pre-serving and using its historic buildings to promote its unique character to visitors.’

Speakers include Donovan Rypkema, a nationally recognized expert in the economics of preservation; and Cheryl Hargrove, the National Trust’s Director of Heritage Tourism.

A panel discussion led by Alice Carey will include Kim Bui-Burton, Cultural Arts Director of Monterey; Kim Cole, Senior Planner, City of Monterey; Rick Johnson, Executive Director, Old Monterey Business Association; and Bill Sugaya, Specialist in Tourism for Carey & Co. Inc.

The seminar and panel presentation will take place on Friday, September 19, from 1 to 5pm, at the Maritime Museum. $50 per person; AMAP members $40.

In this installation, we will be reviewing solutions to heating and insulation.

Heating -- one solution is a forced air, gas-fi red, furnace. It has been the lowest cost and most predictable solution for many homes. The downside is the ductworks can leak air, and often do; the loss of heat through these hot air ducts is signifi cant. Air being pushed throughout a home can bring in and move lots of dust and pollen. There needs to be a place to put all the distribution ductwork, as well as an exhaust fl ue for the furnace.

Therefore, our solution is direct-vent, gas fi red, fi replaces, and electric and electric andresistance fl oor heating in the two bathrooms and the kitchen. The fi replaces are great to look at, have a sealed,

gallon tank with insulation jacket. Since the water heater is centrally located under the kitchen and bathrooms, this may be the most effi cient option. (Upon living in the house, we discovered that the centrally located water heater , directly under the two bathrooms was a great idea – no recirculation pump necessary.) We also plan on using solar hot water collectors. Since the tank is right in the middle of the house and in the basement, directly under all the points of use, we feel that hot water distribution will be very effective. Also we are using an insulation blanket, and insulating the pipes that leave the hot water heater. We are using a timer operated, hot water circulation pump, so water does not go down the drain while waiting for it to become hot. This is a great idea to save water, as you do not have to wait for hot water when you turn your shower on, the hot water is already there and continually circulating. The downside to this system is that it requires an electrical pump, which is continually running and circulating the water, even when you don’t need it to be running. At a recent seminar in San Francisco at the PG&Eenergy Center, we learned that the cost of operating a continuous electric pump for the recirculation system is excessive and to be avoided. Metlund company makes a demand only circulating system that operates when you push a button and is on timer.

An alternative: there has been a good deal of discussion about demand hot water heaters. They are gas fi red and do not have a tank. They heat the water only as it is needed.

burner system with a blower and a thermostat, and are very (86%) fuel effi cient. There is no ducting to deal with, and no duct leaks or heat loss. We have installed one downstairs in the old fi replace, and a second upstairs in the master bedroom. (www.fi replacex.com(www.fi replacex.com( ).

The tile fl oors in the bathrooms and the kitchen will be heated with thermostatically controlled, under-tile, electric heat pads called Nuheat (www.nuheat.com(www.nuheat.com( ). This heating is electric, but uses a very small amount of electricity, (which can later be produced with solar panels). The heating is uniform and comfortable. From your feet up, it heats a room, and no air needs to be moved.

Water heating is a conventional, gas fi red, 40

225 Congress

Renovation: Part Two

by Jeff Edmonds

In our last newsletter, we introduced Jeff and Carolee Edmonds’ house remodel at

225 Congress Ave. Last month, we focused on the green meth-ods that Jeff is employing as he restored the 100 year old win-dows, along with his philo-sophical approach to this old house remodel. The Edmonds’ home will be on the Historic Home Tour on October 5 – visit and see the fi nal results of going green.

Direct-vent, gas-fi red fi replaces are not only very effi cient, they are attractive.

Heritage Houses for the Birds

The Heritage Society’s larg-est, and most fun, fund-raiser is just around the

corner. Come and join the fes-tivities at Elmarie Dyke Park, next to Chautauqua Hall on Sunday, September 21, from noon to 4pm. This will be the kick-off event for the birdhouse auction. The final auction will take place on October 5, from 10am to 3pm.

Last year, the Society invited children to get involved by putting together their own kits and embellishing the birdhouses with their personal

flair. Pictured above is Elijah Taurke, as he hones his building skills with hammer and nail. Shannon Carnazzo, Elijah’s Mom, has been very active in getting more children involved in this creative fundraiser. Thanks, Shannon!

Finally, all exterior doors will be weather-stripped around the perimeter and at the sill to stop air movement. Unfortunately we have found no good way, yet, to weather-strip the antique double-hung, rope and pulley windows.

They cost a good deal more to install, had have a fairly loud “whooshing” sound when in operation. These have been shown to save energy in the long run, since you are not heating and storing water continually, but only heat the water when it is demanded. Since Pacifi c Grove is a relatively cool but temperate climate, these heating solutions will heat the house effi ciently and comfortably. Along with heating, of course, is a good insulation plan.

Insulation needed to be added to the home, as none was ever used. To accomplish the wall insulation, where the walls were not opened, we used blown-in fi berglass called Optima. Two-inch holes are drilled through the lath and plaster at the top and bottom of the stud bays, insulation is then blown in, and the holes plugged. Ceiling insulation in the attic is 12” thick, Optima, R-30, blown in for consistency. In areas where the 2x4 roof rafters are exposed, we installed 3” thick, Hi-R foil faced foam insulation. The material needs to be cut to size, and then glued and screwed into the bays. The entire fi rst fl oor frame will be insulated with R-21 batt insulation after all utility work is done. The house envelope will then be insulated to nearly current standards.

The seventh annual presentation of Artists in Chautauqua will be held on the same day, Sunday, October 5, as the Historic Home

Tour and the auction of Heritage Houses for the Birds, from 10am to 4pm.

Artwork will include watercolors, jewelry, fabric items, books and photographs. This is an opportunity to fi nd one-of-a-kind gifts for the holiday season. Go on the Heritage Home Tour,

make a bid on a birdhouse and visit the historic Chautauqua Hall where the artists are assembled.

The Swan Boat dedication will take place at Lovers Point on Saturday, October 4, at 2pm.

Thank you all for your generous donations!

There had been no insulation for 100 years; the next 100 should guarantee a cozier

home.

All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the offi cial positions of the Board of Directors, but

All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the offi cial positions of the Board of Directors, but

All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not

are meant to stimulate interest in and discussion of preservation necessarily refl ect the offi cial positions of the Board of Directors, but

are meant to stimulate interest in and discussion of preservation necessarily refl ect the offi cial positions of the Board of Directors, but

issues.issues.issues

NewMembers

Frank PennerDuane & Patricia Pellerno

Membership Count:1204

Newsletter StaffEditor

Maryanne SpradlingTypesettingA Volunteer

Contributing EditorsBill Burnett

Kevin BurnettJeff Edmonds

Send your submissions to: Maryanne SpradlingThe Heritage Society

of Pacifi c GroveP.O. Box 1007

Pacifi c Grove, CA 93950

When and How to Replace Vintage

Windows by Bill Burnett and Kevin Burnett

We’ve replaced many a We’ve replaced many a Wheavily painted dry-Wheavily painted dry-Wrotted sash over the Wrotted sash over the Wyears. It’s a job that a handy homeowner can easily tackle. The trickiest part is getting the right measurements for the replacement sashes.

Measure the length, width and thickness of the existing top and bottom sash. Also measure the angle at the base of the interior sash where the sash meets the

sashes, slip the knots of the sash cord into both sides of the top sash and push it against the exterior stops. Install the parting bead, install the bottom sash and replace the interior stops. We like to drive a small screw through the knot of the sash cord into the sash to ensure the knot doesn’t come undone over time.

E-mail the Burnett brothers at: sweatequity@sfchronicle.com.

Reprinted with permission from Bill Burnett of the San Francisco Chronicle

sill. Use a bevel tool to take this measurement. Then order up the new sashes from a company specializing in manufacturing wood replacement sashes.

To begin the installation process, use a sharp utility knife to score the joint where the stop holding the sash in the window meets the frame. Then, gently work a thin putty knife into the joint. Start at the bottom of the stop and loosen it. Once there is a large enough gap between the stop and the frame, insert a thin pry bar and work the putty knife up the jamb, further loosening the stop as you go until it can be removed. Go gently, because you’ll need to reuse the stop.

With the stop off, open the bottom sash slightly and pull it toward you out of the channel. If the windows have been painted shut, you’ll probably have to loosen the sash at the joint of the top and bottom sash with a putty knife. Once the bottom sash is out of the channel, remove the sash cord from the groove in the side of the sash. Firmly grasp the sash cord and slowly lower the weight until it bottoms out on the inside of the widow.

With the first sash cord out, pull the sash out of the opening

and remove the cord on the other side of the sash. Be careful to hang onto the sash cord.

Next, remove the parting beads, the narrow pieces of wood, set in a groove, that separate the upper sash from the lower sash in the frame. Often, parting beads are painted in place. We’ve had the most success removing them by scoring the joint where the bead enters the groove and gently working them out of the groove with a pair of pliers.

Finally, remove the upper sash in the same way as the lower sash. This is a good time to replace the sash cords. Older, double-hung windows are equipped with a small door in the side of the frame to access the window weights. Remove the door, fish out the weights and cut off the old cord. Fish a new piece of sash cord through the pulley at the top of the frame and tie it to the weight. Insert the weight into the hole and cut the cord to the same length as the old cord. With the old sashes out and new sash cord replaced, install the new sashes.

We’ve always felt it preferable to paint or stain and finish the replacement sashes prior to installation. To install the new

THE Heritage Society

of Pacific Grove

P.O. Box 1007Pacifi c Grove, CA 93950

Nonprofi t Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 30Pacifi c Grove,

CA 93950

Send your submissions to: Maryanne SpradlingThe Heritage Society

of Pacifi c GroveP.O. Box 1007

Pacifi c Grove, CA 93950 www.pacifi cgroveheritage.org

heritagesocietypg@montereybay.com