Alamo Hardwoods Blog: Alamo Hardwoods Wuz Here?

Alamo Hardwoods Wuz Here?

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | monte vista homes tour | historic district reproduction moldings millwork

The Willson House, Monte Vista Homes Tour

In architecture school so often we dream of making distinctive, impact statements with our projects. We want everyone to look at our designs and say "I know who did THAT piece of work!". The American culture is often centered around the concept of individual genius alone again the tide of mediocrity. We reward being different from the herd with attention and praise.

Then we graduate and enter the real world.

Those of us who work on historic restoration projects or remodeling often have to subjugate our own personal tastes to that of the existing work. People so often ask, "What's RIGHT for the house?". I always remind the client that it's their house and it should make them happy. When working in a declared historic district, like Monte Vista in San Antonio, sometimes a design committee comes into the picture. The Monte Vista Historic Society helps to keep watch over activities in the neighborhood.

Steven Willson

Steve Willson and his lovely wife Marcia took the plunge and bought a1928 house in Monte Vista, in addition to their Houston residence.While the house was in good shape, it did need attention in various areas. The neighborhood was built with quality materials and excellent designs, but after eighty years, even the best built house needs a little work

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | monte vista historic | reproduction restoration molding millwork

White Oak front door panels, pre-restoration

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | restoration reproduction millwork molding exterior

Window sill deterioration

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | door panel molding | reproduction restoration millwork

Door Panel Molding, interior

One of the advantages of being in business for so many decades, is that we start to see the same molding designs in various places. We had encountered this unusual door panel molding in another house. The other owner had paid for us to make the matching knives and set the molder to make what they had needed. For any custom molding order we always make extra stock just in case the carpenter has an "oops". This over-run lives in our bins, waiting for the oops, or the next person who needs it. In this case, the Willsons saved knife, set-up and running charges. Its a real joy to see someone's face light up when they find the obscure molding that they need from 1923 and realize they've saved hundreds of dollars in fees. Kind of like watching people realize they've won at bingo.

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | reproduction restoration moldings millwork

Warehouse with overrun moldings.

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | reproductuon restoration millwork molding exterior

Freshly restored White Oak front door the day of the Monte Vista Homes Tour

Our years of knowledge help us to guide the homeowner to the best material for the job. White Oak is rot resistant instead of Red Oak (for the same money) and should be used where the rain might hit the element. Of course, the right material for the job is only part of the equation.

Not every carpenter is qualified to work on older structures. Some older houses are more like large pieces of furniture for the quality and methods of construction that were used back then. We introduced the Willsons to Mandarin Studios and Darren Windell. Not only do they do high quality woodwork and finishing, but they also have blacksmiths on staff, perfect for reproducing the 1920's ironwork found in this house.

alamo hardwoods | san antonio | reproduction restoration millwork moldings | exterior window sills

The same window sill as above

So by the time of the Monte Vista Homes tour, for which the Willsons graciously opened their house, the home looked as beautiful as the day it was built. People touring assumed that the moldings and flooring and millwork from us and the ironwork from Mandarin studios was all original and had no idea of all the work and sweat that the Willsons put into the project.

Steven has a much better appreciation for the costs involved and he and his insurance company can protect you and your historic home from whatever might come. We can write reports for the insurance estimators of what materials were used in a house before there's ever a claim so that IF something happens you know that you're covered for the original excellent quality that made you crazy enough to buy that house in the first place.

Mike Daniels, realtor who also showed his own house on the tour can find you that special historic property.

And me....no one will know I was there.

But wait...is that a house in Monte Vista on "Top-Chef Texas"?! I know that house! We provided lots of reproduction moldings for that place! Charlize Theron?! and our baseboard and chairrail?..... This momentary brush with fame has suddenly given my life meaning.

and Charlize...if you're still in town....call me!

Posted by JR on 18th January, 2012 | Comments | Trackbacks
Tags: reproduction moldings, restoration millwork, monte vista homes tour

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