100 yr old walls exposed | How framing has changed

[@Cyanide300]

These houses survived because they were built of dense strong timber (hence the tight growth rings), and the lack of insulation and engineered wood means they have very high moisture tolerance. The more you insulate and air seal, and the more engineered wood (osb, plywood, etc) you use, the less tolerance for moisture your structure has. Engineered wood can't absorb as much moisture as real wood, and evaporation is an energy exchange process, so if you're super energy efficient, you're retarding the evaporation process. Those old houses could soak up and dry a ton of moisture without rotting, in part because they were not very energy efficient.

[@thomasjoseph9224]

What’s crazy to me is that every person who was inside that building in 1902, has died. They would have never imagined we would be sitting here today from our tablets, phones, computers, etc. doing a video on their work. Fantastic video, I really really enjoyed it.

[@davegordon6943]

Love old houses, random stairways, cool hidden compartments and rooms, history at it's finest

[@philipandlaurareed5731]

The old vs new growth rings was pretty cool

[@StallionFernando]

The matured wood is the reason alot of those old houses still remain since it's much denser, the houses built nowdays will not make it too 100 years unless it's very well maintained.

[@paulhawkins8872]

Thank you for not tearing it down. In St. Pete Florida where i live, they are tearing down many neat old houses from the late 1800s to 1950s and 60s that look awesome and replacing them with big ugly mcmansions.

[@AllAmericanDreamChaser]

That is really neat about the work you carpenters do. You build something that will be here for 100 years or more. That's something to be proud of!😀👍

[@maintenancebynathan2150]

Awesome again. I have been remodeling all my life. Started helping my dad and grand pap when I was 8 years old. Still love finding old relics and scribbled notes in the walls. Worked in a home last weekend. Built in 1888. The studs were all oak. 2x4 and greater. Would love to see more of this project. Thank you soooo much! I have left little time capsule in walls and chases for some other person to find 100 years from now.

[@chefsteven34]

MaintenanceBy Nathan - I worked on a house when I was in my early 20’s. That house had layer upon layer of wallpaper, when I reached the first layer, I found a rough layout sketch, & a math problem for the next wallpaper installment. The plaster looked like a Sheetrock prototype, applied directly to the vaulted ceiling timbers. I truly appreciated working on that home. Thank you for sharing this video, there’s just something special about old homes.

[@Naiemaa]

Such a wonderful project I’d certainly love to see more of that...

[@hugoakerlund5114]

Our family farmhouse was built sometime before 1892, and no one in my family has ever put on some new siding.

[@TheDasbull]

Old framing and building techniques have stood the test of time. I have worked on several older homes and sometimes l am shocked by the methods, but as others have stated, old lumber was structurally stronger. I recently dealt with a sagging roof - 24" on center two by fours for rafters?! A lot of jacking and sistering of new joists - had to do it slowly in order to not tear apart the old work... I enjoy this type of remodeling though, and the challenge 👍 Cheers!

[@BrianJonah88]

I used to think that these large scooped roof shapes were actually a complicated design feature of the old carpenters, lol. Now I've seen several from the inside and I still don't understand how the roof doesn't collapse. 20ft 2x4s simply nailed together to make longer boards.

[@ribbledean4111]

Hey at least u have lots of work if u have little time, very cool project Jamie, u two really know what your talking about an doing!!!

[@candis9693]

That old wood must be really hard. Great video. Do what you love and you will never be unhappy.

[@ronkenway3101]

The growth rings proves the older Lumber to be better quality IMHO. As a builder I've always noticed the older wood could tolerate more abuse from the elements vs new quick grown, quick produced lumber that warps and rots very quickly.

[@1pcfred]

I did some renovation work on a national landmark building that was constructed 150 years ago and it had clear pine boards on it 20 feet long and a foot wide. By clear I mean not even a pinhole knot in any of it. Grain was straight as a laser beam too. If I hadn't seen it I'd have never believed it. Was like wood from an alien planet or something. The old timers really did use the best of what was available to them. They left us nothing.

[@chrisgraham2904]

The old true dimensional lumber was pine rather than spruce. The natural resins of pine protect it from moisture and bugs.

[@1pcfred]

@@chrisgraham2904 SPF stands for, Spruce, Pine, Fir. Spruce is pine. Well, they're all conifers. Construction grade lumber is supposed to be SPF. Then there's the enduring mystery of what is white wood? That I don't know. I do know it is weak, light and softer than tissue paper though.

[@stephanieray6587]

Never really did understand what balloon framing was... thanks, guys!

[@edwardphillips7066]

118 yrs my friend. And at that time people think give it value to something

[@darliiingz03]

old constructions are so interesting and its my dream to work renovating and conserving old builds

[@rl.apprentice.electrician]

Fascination is guaranteed 👍👍

[@chatonlaveur]

"a little side job" I've worked on old buildings and that's definitely more than a little side job, good job for taking the time and effort to restore it!

[@SomeDumUsrName]

Right on man. Thanks for saving it. That's great!

[@beniamincolta709]

This is awesome 👏 I can’t wait to see more about this project.

[@electricalron]

Old houses... there's nothing like them. They have character and its always fascinating to see how to they used to build a century ago. For me, the term "they dont build them like they used to" is true. However, there were good builders and bad builders back then like there are today. #Facts. I'll be working in an old house this week in Millburn, NJ. House was built in 1910 and has (4) floors. I'm there to change some light fixtures and were wiring up a new mini-split system on the 4th floor. I have (2) panel changes to do too. Btw, lots of money to made in old houses too. Cool video.

[@jredp15]

You should do more video of this project and actual lengthen the videos to show everything. I would love to see how it’s finished.

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Noted… Thank you. I plan on doing that thanks

[@dcdci]

I did a kitchen renovation in a house built in 1653. The homeowner had a map of the area from 1656 which showed his house. It was post and beam construction. All the interior framing was 2x4 oak. Those studs were almost petrified wood. Had to pre-drill for every fastener used. One very interesting thing was the framing for door openings consisted of a 4x4 post on each side and (unlike your house) a 4x4 header toe nailed into the posts with a couple of 16d equivalent hand forged nails. No jack studs and after 300+ years those headers were still dead on level. It was really quite impressive how well the building had held up.

[@theonlyrealcdub]

That's awesome

[@stevekwaske4612]

FYI bowed roof joist, just cut em @ the midspan and then sister up your properly sized joist & fasten em. Your building inspector will approve it, been there and done it.

[@mikeadams2252]

We did a three story 1870’s farm house, a fire blocking nightmare 😊

[@markuslappalainen6847]

Very easily the charm of the old house is gone when it is renovated with new materials. Either it should be bulldozed down or repaired in old ways.

[@contax50mm]

Looking forward to more from this project!

[@Zach8264]

You can still find full 2x4's used in newer construction stuff as well. Renovated my friends house before they moved in that was built in the late 70's. It was built using true to dimension lumber. Depends on if you've got mills that still do it around you I guess. As for my basement that our house sits on, we have old timber framed joists for the floor that used to sit there. Everything is rotten and has to go, but man is that stuff still tough to tear out.

[@organichemone]

I believe a lot of homes with balloon framing would have heat in the basement, that would go up through the exterior walls to envelop the house with heat. This is also why when they caught fire there was no stopping it!

[@mydogsmells1733]

Another great video. The difference in 2x4s is amazing. I'm sure you're going to reclaim the old lumber from this project. BTW - Bryson City is a beautiful place!

[@1pcfred]

I guess you didn't notice the termite holes in the piece he held up? You want to burn wood like that.

[@MrTimequake]

@@1pcfred instead of burning old stuff like that, when I remodel, I think of how I can integrate it into a project. Maybe not reuse it for a wall, but a kitchen table or seat, or even using it for a brace on a shelf in the garage.

[@barringtonsmythe3464]

Loving your work from the UK 👍👍

[@QuarterZipBro]

Make MORE videos about this rehab project!

[@geraldhiwauli9594]

Thanks for that awesome video jaime

[@KalRandom]

My wife looked over and flipped out about the old 2x4 vs the new, I died laughing. Please tell me you saved the old sheathing, as that would be a sad loss. It makes great picture frames. Wish you had told if the old structure lumber was pine or oak (my bet oak).

[@Charlotte_TSilva]

Labor intensive but worth the effort. I agree, there’s something very special about an old house that can’t be matched by the new. Great job bringing up to specs.👍🏻

[@richardwall3879]

Really cool thanks for sharing keep us posted please

[@texascraftsman7215]

If you use closed cell foam it’ll add support to the ceiling... keep up the good work I love working on old buildings it’s like stepping back in time

[@madethehorsecry]

Very cool

[@GarwoodNick]

I believe the small size of the rooms back then had more to do with the difficulty of heating large spaces than the availability of long lumber, which, as demonstrated by the popularity of balloon framing, was actually very good.

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Nick Garwood I think you are correct… Rooms with big high ceilings are difficult to keep warm!

[@1pcfred]

They totally had long lumber back then. I've seen it. They were felling trees 150 feet tall. So yeah getting long boards was not a problem.

[@GarwoodNick]

@@PerkinsBuilderBrothers Especially difficult without forced air heating, which they didn't have

[@chrisgraham2904]

Rooms were also sized for their utilitarian function rather than for showing off. Do we really need a 24' X 24' kitchen to make a sandwich? Compared to the outhouse, those old indoor bathrooms were enormous. I don't think the old home rooms were small for heating purposes...wood and coal were cheap or free so you just stoked the stove or the fireplace until it roared.

[@357QueenBee]

Our house was built in 1987. We have done a lot of renovations and we re use the old wood. Doesn’t compare. It’s hard to cut. Solid wood.

[@stephensmith6660]

Old architecture like that had life. Modern stuff, looks like a mirrored girder factory threw up. I would love to know more about the old style of doing things though, I mean, look at that. Still standing after 118 years. BTW< Just started watching your show last week, and Love your stuff. entertaining, funny, and also I'm learning a lot.

[@rhondakennedy819]

Like I say, the older the better. Be kind to one another. Stay safe. Love to all

[@DavidSelover]

Nice, doing something similar at a house now

[@paulhendrickson5233]

The town that your project is located is where I went to high school. Bryson City NC, beautiful town with a lot old rich history! Great folks with southern hospitality, for sure! Now don’t be going to Cherokee and losing any money at the casino, lol

[@cmm170526]

Great video! Thank you very much for sharing!!

[@iuaislamf]

the older 2x4 looks like it has ~100 rings on it

[@stevenfoust3782]

I’ve reno’d a few houses from 1700’s to present. The techniques have changed dramatically. Never under stood why they notched everything prior to late 1800’s. Good thing the lumber was way stronger especially because the 2 x2 tongues on 2x6 floor joists were pretty sketchy. Although even with long cracks they held. Old definitely had “character but modern is stronger yet way more susceptible to decay.

[@adriaan7627]

Keep filming the progress :-)

[@stefanearlywine840]

Can you do siding on our house? Love the work you guys are doing! Keep it up.

[@brianwideman2342]

How many roof rafters did you fracture trying to straighten the bow.?

[@BrianJonah88]

lol, I'm working on a house where the lumber has so much crown that it took the kitchen wall out three inches from the floor over 100 years. Had to winch the wall back inside and anchor with modern hangers. A few more years and it would have collapsed the home.

[@johnearhart8811]

Cool...thanks 4 sharing!

[@florekj]

Do you do anything to better support those joists sitting on the 1x4 ledger?

[@hiphopanonymous9703]

in the north east, all the old structures were made from old growth douglas fir. i have a stockpile of 2x4s to 2x12s and more because i can't get myself to toss them. you'll never get old growth wood like that again.

[@BrianJonah88]

Worked a lumber yard for years and I used to take home all the clear dimensional stock. There were always a few perfect quarter sawn boards in every package. I couldn't bear to see them get used for framing.

[@fredhoy6697]

I was with you until I saw you had used OSB. Wouldn't have it on any of my projects.

[@SScogin]

I'm on a recent remodel where the building is a hybrid of post and beam, balloon framing, and some platform - - all original. The ledger boards in some of the spots that carry the joists are scary small...

[@1977jmad]

Can you show what it’s like to hammer nails into the old wood vs new? I have a home built in 1929 and that pine is hard.

[@tedmcnair9709]

Saul Rosas there is a reason they used cut nails. The cheap ones we have now won’t hardly drive in heart-pine lumber!

[@joetownsend-]

Ted McNair: This is for Saul- I rebuilt a barn for friend using rough sawn (true measurements) and existing Heart Pine Lumber- driving 20 penny nails- at one connection, my 24oz Framing Hammer 🔨 bounced back onto my Forehead, just above eyebrow, implanting in my skull! Yes, Old wood and sawmill rough wood don’t mix‼️ Brain injury changes Life🔨‼️ Went back to Stone Masonry & all Masonry, Concrete included‼️

[@MultiYlin]

the new 2x4 is more like a 1.5x3.5

[@palettetools6461]

100 + year old oak lumber from barn far and away the hardest lumber I've ever encountered. Much harder than ipe. Never encountered anything like it since whether old or exotic. Some of that old lumber was amazingly hard and strong, must have been hard to work with. Hard to work with modern tools. Barn was later 1800's. Great project. You get to be challenged, learn,, preserve history, and make the community better.

[@1pcfred]

We have some hard oak in Delaware. I read it has something to do with the climate here? Stuff is heavy too.

[@Nonsense62365]

Studs back then were 2x4 or 1 7/8 x 3 3/4” which were a lot stronger than current 2x4’a that are 1 1/2 x 3 1/2. This means that 1 7/8 x 3 3/4” could handle a much heavier load than current 2x4’s!

[@stephencarlisle3743]

You should try cutting and screwing into 300yr old oak we have in the uk when doing barn conversations. #iron(doh)conversions

[@GarwoodNick]

Do you enjoy conversations with barns?

[@stephencarlisle3743]

Nick Garwood 😂😂

[@hanzsanz1464]

Those growth rings prove why the house is over 100 years old

[@Natedoc808]

The thing survived because it was so drafty it was able to dry

[@LeeBMusic]

Whoa, if that's NC, I grew up in that Bryson City :o

[@LeeBMusic]

Holy crap, I just realized who you and your brother are! I've been subbed for a while and just realized we went to the same high school lol..

[@PortalFPV]

Is keeping such a structure strictly just for character? I would think having to restructure basically everything would cost more and take more time than just tearing it down and starting fresh.

[@terrymacleod6882]

118 yrs. nice.

[@xxxmikeyjock]

the lack of water proofing is why those walls are still there after 120 years. the wall could breathe

[@mauricebrown9094]

Tanalized Treated 4x2 in New Zealand is still 4in ( 100mm) x 2in ( 50mm). It wasn't that many years ago that all machined timber was ripped down a total of 3mm, so a 100x50, dressed 4 sides would be 97mm x 47mm, however since I have been home, it has changed to the American way, where again you pay for something you don't get... I have always said 4 x 2which confused a few people in Oregon where I spent the last 12yrs.. a bit of usless information for you..

[@1pcfred]

Thanks for pointing out that all we have to work with today is garbage wood. Really appreciate that.

[@BGTech1]

Will you be posting update videos on this build?

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

BG Tech Yes plan on it

[@BGTech1]

Perkins Builder Brothers awesome. Thanks for replying

[@rchrdschmidt]

​@@BGTech1thanks

[@arth.4196]

When you say, the rafters, you sister a 2"x8" on the side of the 2"×4" correct ?. I'm just asking to learn, please.

[@proficientbuilders3565]

Thats correct

[@KalRandom]

Those old 2x4's were more than likely oak, so you need a 2x8 to get anywhere near the same strength.

[@joetownsend-]

No, They were Heart Pine 🌲‼️ More Prevalent in NC Mountains‼️ Even back then, Oak was used for furniture‼️Been building and Stone Mason These Parts 50+years‼️

[@rchrdschmidt]

​@@joetownsend-😂

[@FreeWill-is-Love]

Lived in a old house with native lumber (2x4 was “Actual”). It was Difficult to screw into!!…extremely hard!!….”Commercial” lumber is very weak, yet much easier to work with. I remember, high school job 30 years ago, we tore a barn down for the lumber……the wood ate up our chainsaw blades, literally throwing sparks. Planing it was very hard to do…..fractions of an inch at a time. I find it fascinating how lumber has changed. Today, the argument could be made that we have Junk lumber compared to yesteryear. I suppose it is what we have become……all commercialized……heck, just look at our food….good luck finding any small hog farms. (Less quality, more quantity, all based upon profit) ……sad.

[@michaelmccloskey3341]

That's what we call a "true X 4" in northwest Ohio👍🏻

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Haha... I’ve actually never heard that one! I like it.

[@jamesmarks8099]

What about the foundation?

[@moonpie21012]

Does anyone know why modern 2x4 s are smaller?

[@iuaislamf]

I understood it had to do with once 1/2" dry wall is installed, the stud and wall board together = 4" or 2" depending what side of the wood gets covered.

[@moonpie21012]

@@iuaislamf thanks 😊

[@austinverbeek5822]

What’s a tuba for?

[@RICHat22]

I am rebuilding a 1940 country house. 2x4 rafter roof with 8" sag. I feel your pain. I am also going back with 2x8 sisters. Along with triangles at the peak and such.

[@KalRandom]

Do it slow, set braces, use a hydraulic jack to lift it, let it sit for a month or so then up a bit more. Work with the wood, it's in it's 80's and set in it's ways.

[@gsc9jmolt]

I'd love to work with you!

[@aviarior.j7962]

hermanos perkins 🇨🇱👍

[@MckyeB]

love the video so far, but I had to pause to say this. Be careful of your distance to the camera, when its too close you come across as a 'close talker' which is distracting.

[@stevesoukup3273]

The growth rings on the lumber also tell a story how the weather effected that trees growth in the 1800's before it was harvested, not much rain to help the cellular structure to grow and gain diameter between each year ring.

[@DennisinMA]

I owned a 1890’s balloon-framed 3-family house. Easy to run wire and plumbing. Awful to keep insulated. We even had knob-and-tube wiring in the basement! (Until we replaced it minutes after closing.)

[@Trump2024-p4h]

Nowadays the mills don’t take pride in their lumber it’s all production. You can still find grains like that you just have to mill your own

[@MrTooTechnical]

kick ass. remember more stabila and makita beam saws. woohoo.

[@DK-vx5co]

What character are you preserving? You say you pulled off the original siding and replaced it with chip board & tyvek. Spray foam is problematic, at best! Where is the vapor barrier? Tyvek is vapor-open and air-open and leaky around windows & doors with the standard origami used by most. I don't see much of the original home left. That leaves little argument for preserving the original character of the home. Did I miss something?

[@Gsxrnoob]

At 3:00 you say you run the timberlock into the rafter to straighten out the roof.. what are you driving the screw into? The original rafter? The new one into the old one? Could you explain that to me a little better?

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Good question… We were driving through the new 2x8 at a shallow angle into the bottom corner of the old 2x4 rafter. In order for this to work you have to leave a gap between the two as you start the screw into the old 2x4. This allows the new 2x8 to move up and over at the same time at the angle of the screw until it is tight in both directions. It takes some practice to get this to work perfectly. I will make a video

[@marcoot5040]

Where do I go to learn to build homes? Please respond

[@cabbyhubby]

Go get a job working for a house builder

[@heknows5418]

marco Ot or check and see if there is a carpenter's union nearby it's a 5 year apprenticeship before you make journeyman but get to work and get paid , and don't have student loan debt. Last 12 years before my retirement I worked in nuclear power plants they are BEGGING for young people to work nukes, best money I ever made. My son still works there and loves it.

[@josephdestaubin7426]

Not at least saving the siding will undoubtedly earn the guilty a special place in the innermost part of hell.

[@Nonsense62365]

2020- 1902 = 118 years old

[@ericbengtson3490]

I have driven in a few GRK 4inch structural screws to sister sagging beams. 60 volt batteries in my DeWalt atomic series impact. She gets HOT!!!

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Wow! That should get it done! 10 years ago I never could have imagined how awesome cordless tools were going to be

[@ericbengtson3490]

@@PerkinsBuilderBrothers we just need to have batteries charging ALL the time. Not so easy in the winter however.

[@philindeblanc]

My old studs are FAR denser than the new studs. I would use the old wood over OSB anyday...except molded. I'd use CDX plywood. Never blown in isulation, that stuff becomes trash after a decade or so.

[@odaineroberts2552]

I bet there's no sign of termites

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

You are correct… There was actually no sign of termites

[@odaineroberts2552]

@@PerkinsBuilderBrothers termites tend to consume every wood products today even when they say it's treated

[@bwrightaway2877]

Lots of rooms... it was a brothel. Lol

[@mauricebrown9094]

I live in a pretty old house and not in your part of the world. We have tongue and groove on each side of the studs. The old house is solid as a rock. We have had insulation pumped in since we got here. It sounds like you have put in the work, so you can ( or will you?? ) guarantee that house for another 100years.. In fact what is a house that you build guarantee 100 years ??????

[@timahern8670]

working 1811 post and beam conversion to vaulted ceilings now--- thank god its post and beam lol

[@cashcow9584]

Atleast that house was built with studs. I am in the deconstruction and reclaimed wood business, just finished up a job of a 1930s era house.. from outside to inside the walls were layered starting with lap siding, 1" boards, with an interior of 1.5" sheetrock/plaster. No insulation, similar to your situation. However there were about 6 chimneys spread throughout the structure. I'm curious as to if your project has a subfloor? My project had T&G pine nailed straight to 2x8 and 4x10 floor joists.

[@69A12SuperBee]

There were obviously more trees to harvest for lumber back then hence the exponential number of growth rings.

[@Craigmoney]

The every day life of living in New England.

[@chevelshepherdsuperfan8855]

Y'all from Tennessee?0

[@dash-4150]

The old wood is so dense you can hardly drive these straight barrel nails into them

[@proficientbuilders3565]

Almost need to pre drill Im not so sure a grk screw would go in without a snap

[@KalRandom]

Pre-drill and screw, is the only way. A nail gun turned up won't do it.

[@proficientbuilders3565]

Max framer at 400 psi would do it

[@KalRandom]

@@proficientbuilders3565 Pray you don't hit a knot.

[@stephfn]

Use the old square cut nails.

[@arth.4196]

Forget the last question I should of watched further, sorry.