| Introduction | 2 |
| Why Buy an Old House? | 3 |
| Conscious Renovation: Philosophies Defined | 5 |
| A Manufacturer's Warning and Limited Warranty | 11 |
| 1 | Evaluating a House Before You Buy | 16 |
| Where to Begin | 17 |
| Inspecting the Exterior | 18 |
| Inspecting the Interior Structure | 36 |
| The Mechanical Systems | 46 |
| The Heating System | 53 |
| The Electrical System | 56 |
| Checking for Pollutants | 62 |
| Real-Estate Matters | 67 |
| 2 | Organizing Priorities | 70 |
| Structural or Cosmetic? | 71 |
| Developing the Design | 72 |
| Approaches to Renovation | 78 |
| Hiring a Contractor | 82 |
| Architects and Designers | 86 |
| 3 | Foundations | 87 |
| The Forces of Earth and Water | 88 |
| Solving Water-Infiltration Problems | 92 |
| Creating a Dry Cellar Floor | 98 |
| Exterior Drainage | 103 |
| Repairing Foundation Walls | 106 |
| Replacing Foundation Walls | 109 |
| Raising or Holding a House | 111 |
| Jacking the House | 122 |
| The New Foundation | 125 |
| 4 | The House Frame | 134 |
| The Evolution of American House Frames | 135 |
| Repairing or Replacing Rotted Sills | 138 |
| Replacing or Repairing Rotted Posts | 148 |
| Repairing Sagging Floors | 150 |
| Repairing Other Structural Elements | 155 |
| Epoxy Beam Repairs | 161 |
| Truing Up the House Frame | 165 |
| 5 | The Roof and Gutters | 172 |
| Wood Shingles | 173 |
| Slate | 174 |
| Cement-Asbestos Shingles | 181 |
| Metal Roofing | 182 |
| Asphalt Roofing | 187 |
| Valley Problems | 194 |
| Gutters | 195 |
| 6 | Siding, Trim, Windows, and Doors | 203 |
| Wood Siding | 204 |
| Getting under Your House's Skin | 207 |
| Repairing and Replacing Exterior Trim | 216 |
| Nonstructural Epoxy Wood Repairs | 219 |
| Windows | 220 |
| Doors | 232 |
| 7 | Porches, Verandas, and Additions | 236 |
| Repairing Porches and Verandas | 237 |
| Shed and Garage Additions | 246 |
| 8 | Insulation and Ventilation | 248 |
| Ventilation Fact and Fancy | 249 |
| Energy Audits, Caulking, and Weatherstripping | 251 |
| The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Infiltration, Condensation, and Insulation | 256 |
| Vapor Barriers and Air Barriers | 260 |
| Insulation Theory and Practice | 266 |
| Poured and Blown-in Insulation | 274 |
| 9 | Walls, Ceilings, and Floors | 278 |
| What to Do about Plaster? | 279 |
| Alternatives to Plaster | 294 |
| Drywall | 296 |
| Repairing Stairs | 299 |
| Wood Paneling | 301 |
| Ceiling Treatments | 303 |
| Stripping Trim | 309 |
| Finished at Last: The Floors | 310 |
| 10 | The Electrical System | 317 |
| Basic Electrical Theory | 318 |
| A Short History of Home Wiring | 320 |
| How It All Works | 322 |
| The Perils and Pitfalls of Old Wiring | 326 |
| Rewiring an Old House | 334 |
| Lightning Protection | 343 |
| 11 | Household Plumbing | 346 |
| How Plumbing Works | 348 |
| The Old-House Plumbing System | 350 |
| The Drainage System | 356 |
| Plumbing and Structural Changes | 366 |
| A Water-Pump Primer | 368 |
| 12 | Home Heating Systems | 373 |
| Hot-Air Systems | 374 |
| Steam Heating Systems | 375 |
| Hot-Water Heating Systems | 383 |
| Replacing Boilers and Furnaces | 388 |
| Cast-Iron Radiators | 390 |
| Cooling Old House | 394 |
| Repairing and Restoring Chimneys | 394 |
| Afterword | 402 |
| Readings | 403 |
| Index | 406 |
