Slowly replacing all of the doorknobs w/backing hardware when I can find them. Sure wish I could find 6 more all at one time. For some reason the originals were replaced with shiny, brass plated doorknobs that just don't work very well. The picture below shows one of the originals in my house.

Finally installed our new arts & crafts roller shades from The Handwerk Shade Shop and I have no complaints. The detail shot shows how it is installed inside the track. Up until now, I had been installing my shades incorrectly with the shade rolling toward the inside of the window and not out. Hope that makes sense.

Slate has been removed from the front and I've installed tar paper and rosin paper and copper valley. I used the angle from the original top bend of the valley to get the correct bend and worked great. Soldered in the attic and taken up and installed. Now it's time to mark my lines.

Uh oh. Not good. I'm intrigued.

At the roof getting ready for the copper gutter install. Wish it was a month earlier, it's a bit cold out here today.

Hurricane Sandy has made quite a mess, but we have power! This tree is leaning on our neighbors house. It hit scaffolding and stopped right at the top of the house. Talk about luck. I'm really curious to see how they will take this down. On the bright side, I wont ever have to worry about this tree again, once it's removed.

Removed siding up top and refinished the trim. Need to finish painting the storm windows and attach--then it's on to the roof.

Finished my painting on the front bay. As I was taking this picture, I was thinking the color scheme is a bit like the Subaru LL.Bean edition--but I'm ok with it.

Time to set up the scaffold and go up!

I'm working my way around the front. This part of the house originally had an enclosed porch, so I'm removing all of the clapboard and trim and re-installing it. The clapboards don't line up with the side of the house and some of the trim needs to be replaced (bevelled) so that the rain water will drain properly.
I will also build a slate roof over that bay window that will work into the roof of the main entrance, but I'll be doing the main roof up top 1st.

Found one board with writing on it from the original builders-wish he was here now to help me out!

And here it is complete with the roof installed. 

Lap joining copper seams for this small roof. I will have 3 sheets soldered, and all pre-tinned. Always open to suggestions if anyone has done copper, slate or carpentry work. 

Here is the roof with just the drip edge:

Getting ready for soldering

Adding crown moulding and copper roof above the 3 windows on the side of the house. 1st added the drip edge and checked for fit, then I'll take it out and install the copper sheets.

4" corrugated copper downspout installed. I'd like it to eventually empty into a rain barrel.

Installing clapboard today and finishing it off with a small copper roof above the windows by next weekend (weather permitting). Still trying to determine how far to project out from the house.

I just saw this on YouTube. Sure wish this was around before I bought my hand irons. It can be purchased at SolderWarehouse.com Phone: 814-786-9085.

According to the vid the tank lasts 1hr and each tank costs $10bucks.

We'll be replacing our roller shades with ones from thehandwerkshop.com

Worth checking out if you're looking to replace yours. Price isn't that bad either. You can always stencil yourself to save money, but I'd hate to mess one. up. I'll take a picture, once we have them up!

I like his passion.

When I finish putting in the downspout and clapboard on the side, I'll start the front. I need ideas for the front steps now that a new front porch is out of the question. The left pic is as it is now. Steps are falling apart since they were installed improperly before we bought the house. I was thinking of adding a dormer roof as shown to match the rest of the house. Please excuse the very poor photo editing. Did it fast, but you get the idea.

This section of house was so bad I decided to just rip off the old clapboard and replace with new. I'm using Tyvek and I have to say I really like the stuff over tar paper. It goes on easily and doesn't tear, and I like the tape as well. The stuffs not cheap though.

I bought some clapboard (clear 1/2x6x14) at a lumberyard close to my house and painted both sides with oil base paint. If the rain holds off, I'll be installing on Fri. There's a small roof that fits above the windows with a crown underneath. Should look nice when complete.

Azek beadboard is installed and very nice to work with. Crown was also replaced. Now I'll need to add a downspout. I'd like to do copper, but may think twice when I get it priced. I'll need 20' of it. Or I may go galvanized for the downspout and possibly add a leader head so the copper wont have any galvanic reaction to the galvanized-but the leader head may be pricey also. Hmmm. I'm going to order new storm windows for this side of the house-hoping they wont cost too much.