Jo-Anne Peck's Blog – July 2009 Archive (4)

A recent forum post on an old house restoration and renovation website asked what they could do to hide the bright white vinyl replacement windows that the previous owners had installed. They didn't have the money to replace the windows, and the windows were still working fine, but were glaringly inappropriate for their historic home. For situations like this, an affordable solution is to install traditional wood window screens over the windows.…



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When historic wood windows are in need of repair, many homeowners automatically assume it is time for wholesale replacement of all the windows in the house. This is not only an expensive, disruptive project, but also begins a long term replacement cycle that can be easily avoided while saving money, energy and being environmentally friendly. However, many homeowners are not fully informed about the issues related to replacement windows and the options for repair. Below are some of the factors… Continue

From every media source we are challenged to find a way of living that will ensure the longevity and health of our environmental, economic, and social resources. We all want to do our part, but the plethora of information about "green" living, "green" technologies and "green" architecture can be overwhelming. Lucky for those of us with historic Florida homes, our houses are already built with many environmentally friendly assets that help us reduce energy consumption. Prior to the introduction… Continue

We are all seeking ways to reduce costs to help weather the current economic storm. This is particularly true for those of us in business for ourselves. One of the simplest ways to reduce significant overhead costs from many small business owners is to work from home. There are ample dollar-related reasons to work from home; working from home eliminates rent or mortgage payments on a separate office, eliminates commuting costs, and reduces electrical,… Continue