| Victoria Woodworking firm helps restore details that give 120-year-old home its charming character When Maureen Mackintosh bought her James Bay house three decades ago, the amount of restoration it needed was overwhelming, but thanks to a long-term strategic plan and some talented craftspeople, it was possible. "We learned that lesson the hard way. Local heritage consultant Jennifer Barr, former executive director of the Victoria Heritage Foundation, has seen Vintage's work in many renovation projects. "Since the 1980s, they have replicated pieces from the right varieties of wood and have religiously studied all the types of ornaments that appear on Victoria houses. Barr credits the firm for helping Victoria's heritage movement develop. "Our funding programs help, but it is very important to have artists who can do this stuff. Donald Luxton, who heads Western Canada's leading cultural and heritage resource-management company, agrees. "There are other woodworking shops in Victoria and Vancouver, but we specialize in heritage. "They were too much of a pain to try to fix," before Vintage came up with a solution, Luxton said. The invention of a double-hung window that opens top and bottom "was a revelation. "When it's done right, you don't need air conditioning," said Luxton, who is currently consulting on the Northern Junk building by the Johnson Street Bridge and the 1862 Faith Grant Antiques building. "My husband and I chose Vintage because they reproduced everything exactly, from our new doorframes and windows to high baseboards and picture rail. So if we rip it out, we are taking away a number of the historic value. Terrance Merx, who has been restoring his Fernwood home for 30 years, says he admires the work that comes out of Vintage's shop. ). He also encourages them to keep the glass: "People don't realize that back in the day, 120 years ago, the glass was the most expensive part of a window. Coley-Donohue says storm windows are the superior option for heritage. What concerns him most is continued access to highquality wood. Mackintosh was able to rescue just enough bits and pieces of window trim throughout the house to restore one triple-glass window in the master bedroom. The heritage millwork supplier is located in Victoria but does projects all over the province and is well known in local heritage circles. Being props manager for Pacific Opera Victoria, Mackintosh understands the effort it takes to re-create an era and the thought that goes into replicating key elements. People pop into the workshop every day to ask for help. Sometimes it's a small piece of moulding they want copied, a one-off window or door, maybe a piece of wooden eavestrough. As well as reproducing period woodwork, Vintage has come up with ways to avoid replacing heritage elements in a house. The homeowners once hired another firm to make some of the spindles for their porch. "A false ceiling had been added, all of the cornices had been sawed off, beautiful plaster details had been ripped out, newel posts sawed off. Of all the work done in the workshop, windows are clearly what he's most proud of. "They are really important from a heritage perspective and our company has a different mentality," he said. We say: 'How can we preserve something that has already lasted 120 years?' ". People may assume they need a new window when an old one fails, but Vintage urges them to take out the sash if required, but keep the jamb. In 1980, he founded Vintage Woodworks in 1980, which now operates out of a shop off Burnside Road. The trees grew slower, the growth rings are much tighter, so it lasts much longer. "I wish there was a mandate to make that fibre available for local use, not export. "Victoria is cutting edge in itssupport of preservation," said Coley-Donohue, who has overseen everything from stained-glass dome repairs to the complete restoration of a 1914 greenhouse at Hatley Park. , and a merit award from the Hallmark Society of Victoria. Victoria Woodworking firm helps restore details that give 120-year-old home its charming character |
Monday, 2 April 2012
Victoria Woodworking firm helps restore details that give 120-year-old home its charming character
