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Restoring a derelict house to its former glory sometimes means just peeling back time.

Michael Tavares is constantly falling in love-with old beauties. He can't help it. He especially has a soft spot for those that have been neglected or abandoned. You see, he's a restoration artist with a passion for giving old homes a new lease on life. Michael says most old homes have "great bones," though peeling paint might be masking them. They shouldn't be labelled "worthless" too quickly. "She just needs the layers of time scraped off," he says. "Underneath you'll find a jewel."

Since 1982 Michael has turned 18 derelict buildings into ravishing beauties, including a recent project in Yarmouth, NS. Built in 1887 by Zebina Goudey for a son and a daughter, the Italianate Victorian Style home was originally built as a duplex or "sister house" with a double bayed façade, heavily bracketed roofline, long narrow symmetrical windows, hip roof and an elaborate widow's walk.

In the early '70s it was converted into four apartments. Eventually, the property was sold out of the family. This once stately home began a rapid decline. It was condemned in the early 1990s and sat vacant, becoming an eyesore with serious safety issues. When the town decided to demolish it, Michael and his partner Neil Hisgen approached the owners, negotiated to buy it, and spared what is now the MacKinnon-Cann Inn from the wrecking ball. Today she's a grand dame with a renewed spirit and an abundance of stories.

"It's really important for people not to be afraid of these houses," Michael says. "Everything can be fixed. It's just a matter of how much is it going to cost?"

Realistically, a decision needs to be made whether to buy a property or not. So first, Michael looks to see if the house has its architecture in place. "Windows are the soul of a building. Take that away and it loses its substance. All you have is a shell." So if the windows and doors are not original, think twice. Replacements may have compromised the quality and integrity of the home.

Is the foundation intact? Many old homes used granite blocks for the foundation. Great! If, however, parts of the foundation are parged (covered with mortar) it may be camouflaging a problem or two. Investigate further.

With a lithe step, Michael skips down to the basement, explaining en route that many old homes were built with lead pipes. "You want to be sure these have been replaced," he says. "If not, you will have to factor that into your renovation costs." And don't forget to check the source of water, especially if you're not hooked up to the town's water supply. Alas, in the old days, many wells in Atlantic Canada were built next to barns (or vice versa) so if this was the case, chances are the coliform bacteria count will be high, and you'll need a new well.

Next, investigate the wiring. If it has not been changed, you'll have to gut and replace the electrical system. You'll likely want 200 amps to cover multiple use. As for heating, Michael is not a fan of forced hot air. He says it makes the house drafty. "With the fluctuation in oil prices, it can sink a homeowner but with electricity you can work out a budget plan and make it manageable," he adds. He recommends hot water baseboards or radiators.

It's also worth checking fireplaces and chimneys if you plan to have fireplace inserts, as you'll need liners installed. And if there's an oil tank or two in the basement, be sure that they are up to code. "If not, that should be a requirement of the seller or you should negotiate the price," Michael advises. "Not only do you have to drain it, you have to remove it and get rid of it."

Another caution: old homes frequently had wrapped cast iron pipes in the basement with asbestos for insulation. "It's dangerous if it's broken. Hire an abatement company. They will encapsulate the space, remove the asbestos and wash everything down." It's a costly undertaking, so factor this into your budget. And, like the oil tanks, try to negotiate a better price on the house.

So, take a deep breath and imagine that you've found one of these great dames. You've done all the above, and worked out a price that you can live with. Now the real fun begins!

In finer homes of bygone eras, people built a double plaster wall. In between the 2x4s they spread a rich mixture of hard plaster, concrete and horsehair that sealed the wall. This combination has a high R (insulation) value, and makes the walls soundproof. Unfortunately, lots of people have drilled holes and blown in insulation from the outside. Moisture gets in; insulation sags and drops, resulting in zero insulation in the upper part of the walls.

Michael's blood pressure rises a notch just thinking about this. "Never blow insulation into the walls of an old house," he says. "If you've got a good solid exterior and a good solid plaster wall inside, you have a high R factor already." But, should you find sagging insulation, remove it all, plug all the holes, put in fibreglass to code along with a vapour barrier and you'll be back on track. Amen to pet peeves.

But he loves old windows. "Restoration is the gentle art of peeling back the layers of time, revealing the original intent of its architectural design," he says, recalling one of his favourite quotes. Yes, you may be looking at crusty old paint, but windows are relatively cheap to restore. Burn the paint off with a heat gun, remove any loose glazing and clean off the mullions with liquid stripper. Then send your windows out to be glazed.  "When they come back, prime them, paint them and put them back in. The only thing you'll have to do is replace the stops," he says.

Michael recently did 40 windows and 80 sashes this way, and his only cost-save time, stripper and elbow grease-was $238 for the glazing. "New windows today are tomorrow's landfill. If a house has its bones and it has its windows, save them. Your house will be worth more money both from an architectural standpoint and from a functionality standpoint." Next, tackle the floors, one at a time. Underneath layers of paint, linoleum or carpets, you'll likely find a stunning pine or inlaid floor. "Give it a good sanding and this floor is going to be gorgeous again!"

Need a staircase to replace what's missing in your new-to-you old home? Michael suggests you seek out salvage yards, second-hand stores or antique shops. "You can always get parts. We have enough stuff in this world, so don't go out and hire someone to build you a staircase. It won't look like it belongs." He tucks in a tip:  "Put an ad in the paper. Tell people what you are doing and what you are looking for.  Ask for pictures and stories!" Word gets around. People will come out of the woodwork with gems galore.

One gentleman showed up and offered to sell three chandeliers for $100 that came out of the old Grand Hotel in Yarmouth. And as Michael was trying to figure out how to replace the newel posts that were long gone, a gentleman by the name of Frank Campbell Sr. dropped in to say, "I am so glad you are going to save that building." Turns out he was there the day the newel posts were ripped out and tossed into a dumpster. Frank retrieved them and kept them all these years-then gave them to Michael!

And there's a wonderful story about the mayor of Lockeport, Darian Huskilson, calling Michael to say an old home in his town was about to be demolished. Would Michael be interested in salvaging anything? In lickety-split time the intrepid 46-year-old gathered a crew and headed to Lockeport. They took all the doors, all the hardware, and all the mantels. One of the mantels had numerous coats of paint, but underneath was a keystone made of Carrara marble and a slate front with faux emerald green marbleizing. It has since been restored and occupies a place of honour in the front parlour.

Aside from Michael's love affair with old homes and old windows, he's quite nutty about old doors. Last tip: upright or vertical, they make incredible bedroom headboards! Oh yes, and dem bones just keep on callin' -he's now restoring the monster house next door.

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