Rescuing a 120 year old house - Season 1 Finale

[@fryeday]

I think a lot of people underestimate just how important getting ice cream is when tackling a long and difficult project like this.

[@damogranheart5521]

This is 👍 true! A nice ride to Stillwater to Nelson's Ice Cream Store! I can also recommend really excellent chocolate. Or 🍣 sushi! If you don't make the time for breaks your nerves get frazzled and you make some really Bad Mistakes!

[@tay13666]

So true. You have to give yourself time to process what just happened and formulate a plan to move forward. Almost every time I didn't take a small break to reassess a problem I either made things worse, or kept spinning my wheels wasting time and/or resources. Taking a break for ice cream ends up being a more efficient use of time, and gives better results in the long run.

[@Neb.333]

😂😅🤣

[@nriqueog]

It's all in the scoops, a regular problem = one scoop. A tough problem = Two scoops. A SERIOUS problem = THREE scoops. A WTF problem = a liter/gallon and a day off! ;)

[@Konzertheld]

They really do. Even in shorter projects, make sure to keep the spirit up. Be it a 14 hour move across the country or a 2 years house renovation.

[@blodpudding]

I think you doing the door was a good idea. When you take on huge projects like a house it's easy go get overwhelmed, so tackling smaller parts that you can get done quickly is important for morale. You see the progress. And you need a couple wins along the way. From a "business" point of view, yes it's totally unnecessary. But on a human level it can be the difference between getting it done and quitting. And no one here want you to quit!

[@stephupurlyf]

Gosh, I was thinking the exact same thing when she talked about the door. Couldn't agree more. I think Adam Savage did a whole video about this exact thing when he worked on his Velociraptor costume. If he hit a wall with one part, he would pivot to something more obtainable.

[@Saskajohn]

I thought the exact same thing. You subconsciously picked the perfect challenge to start with and the house feels like a home instantly every time you look at that door.

[@petertragardh4571]

Getting things done is all about getting started. What could be better to get started with something easy and quick (if 12 h is considered quick :-) ), where the friction to start is really low. Emotionally high reward (wanting to do it) equals high motivation. I think of it as warming up. Like an athlete warms up before a race.

[@Reman1975]

@Guilty Butler Yeah. The problem with a DIYer renovating an entire house in one go is nearly always one of motivation. You start with a reasonable but tired looking building, then you put in a shedload of work........ And it looks worse. Then you do a load more work, and it looks like you're going backwards ! It takes a huge amount of work before things start to take shape and you begin to get VISABLE progress. I've always found it's best to start a big project by pulling out an 8x4' sheet of some building material, painting a face white, and writing down EVERY job that needs doing. Any big jobs get broken down into smaller steps, and most steps want to be achievable in between 1 to 4 hours. You end up with an intimidatingly HUGE list, but as you finish each job you get to cross them out. Even when it looks like all your days work has achieved is mess and sweat, you get to cross things off the list. It really helps keep motivation up. It also helps because if one job turns into something big, you can ditch it as soon as you start getting stressed out doing it and do 3 or 4 of the quicker and easier jobs. Once you've had time to think about the bad job you can either break it down into smaller steps, or choose to only do a set amount of time on it each day until it's done.

[@stephupurlyf]

@Guilty Butler Tricking your brain is kind of the name of the game though. Because you are attempting to find motivation within a wholly overwhelming project. Sometimes you need that ego boost to push yourself towards the hard parts of the project to tackle. Of course that's not the case for everyone. Some of us might be better at lists and gauging importance of tasks. The important part is starting. Though I will say, the door will have to get done eventually. And what motivation to see your first accomplishment every time you enter the house.

[@bubblesculptor]

"I assumed previous owners did all the work perfectly" This has happened exactly zero times in the history of previous owners! Looks like you still made the most of it.. i look forward to your continuing adventures!

[@TheScottieMac]

I'm 4 years into a heritage listed 140 y/o house. It is hard but if it was easy everyone would do it. In the end you will have something uniquely yours. My advice is pick your fights. You don't need to accomplish everything at once. Keep it up, you might not believe me but you really are doing great.

[@Zalied]

Being a youtuber helps cus a lot of the inconveniences become good videos. While it doesn't counteract it at least it's something

[@bettywhite8407]

I remodeled an over 100 something y o farmhouse. Someone asked me, you just like hard work, with a smirk on their face! . My reply " not particularly, but l LOVE the RESULTS".

[@ginacirelli1581]

My house is only 83 years old, but yes, it is indeed a labor of love, and so worth it.

[@thomastepfer9861]

I went through quite similar experiences when I baught a 110 yrs old house.... :-) Its not easy and you have no chance, so take it! ;-)

[@Pikestnt]

My last house was about 500 years old. There were carpenters’ marks from the men (a fair bet that it was men) who crafted the beams in the early C16th. It was costly, draughty, dusty and the stairs were like the North face of the Eiger. I still miss it hugely. I currently live in a 30 yr old house which is as dull as ditchwater. I’d trade back in a heartbeat

[@kellilandry2825]

I think this is actually such an important series showing people the reality of remodeling an old house. But you and the crew know how to make it super entertaining. Happy vacation! Can’t wait to see the rest of the series.

[@kjfairchild9924]

Future Laura is right. Keep believing her. One day not too long from now, you will be living in a handmade home that has your art and your craft in every fiber! Your good energy keeps you on track.

[@IssieAngela]

This is beautiful editing work! Well done, Felix. Not saying that Laura's videos weren't beautiful before, because the definitely were, but this is a great example of why working with/in a team is great.

[@felixschelhasse]

Thanks! It was fun to edit! Love the Soundtrack! 🙌

[@larrysherman5254]

You rescued Smudo and have given him the best life, I'm extremely confident that you can do the very same for this old house. Enjoy your vacation, it's well deserved.

[@kindcreative1]

As someone who spent 2 years working full time and rehabbing a house part-time that wasn't nearly as old as yours, ENJOY your vacation...and thank you for taking us along on your interesting journey.

[@mariellecb1]

What an extraordinarily beautiful recap - I am pumped for Season 2! I do think it's funny that you say you have to learn how to work in a team. The only reason you could not work in a team before is because your true teammates were busy doing other things. Now, alles gut - you have your real team!

[@stephanlottgen4944]

Wow Marielle, what a beautiful conclusion! ☺️

[@KayleeKerin]

The right team makes all the difference!

[@jeromeermiloff7937]

Sorry for my bad english... How courageous you are! We started to rescuing a 250 years old house in south west of France since 2014. And as same as you, we discover some bad "surprises". But the worst is that in may 2020 our place and house were under a flood. 40cm of water in 200m². Because I didn't have time & talent like you, and maybe because we are quite older (we turned 60 at the end of the year) we gave up! Too much is too much. So we went to the bank, get a credit and payed a company to fix the house. I hope you will find every solutions you need. Keep the pressure Laura. And as we say in this part of France : La bise!

[@pitsnipe5559]

When people work on an “old house” they can easily get caught up in the idea that you must preserve everything. Interior wall finishes are not “historically significant “. The best approach is to strip the interior down to the framing, access needed repairs, take each one one at at a time. Modern infrastructure, electrical, plumbing, hvac, then finished walls. Having everything open will allow you to see all the actual and potential problems that need to be corrected. You’re not preserving an historically significant house, you’re fixing up and old building.

[@empressche333]

Yup. So much easier to get a clear vision, and to put in the much needed infrastructure. I redid my old mobile home..best thing ever to gut it completely before redoing it.

[@gwamhurt]

Yep if you wanna save the history of the home put all the old newspapers and hidden notes and photos of the deconstruction in a little archive cabinet in the wall.

[@christopherdahle9985]

I always remember a line I heard from Laura Kampf, "I want to live in a world where things are fixed one more time than they get broken". (You should put that line on a T-Shirt in your shop.) My house is not quite as old as yours, but it has the same sorts of problems. When I get discouraged, I remember how you repaired that bench by the river and I go back to work. But for today, I'm following your lead in another way. We are going out for ice cream.

[@goodlandwoodco]

This renovation is probably my all-time favorite video series on KZbin. Seriously, it’s amazing! I look forward to every episode and eventually, the finished product 😁 Thanks for sharing the ever challenging process with us!!!!

[@ProductDesignKF]

Oh my god that door handle, okay I'm a design student and somewhere along the way we learn about Bauhaus, so that door handle is actually quite famous, It's designed by Walter Gropius aka the Bauhaus founder in 1923 and it's one of the most sold products created from the Bauhaus, I hope you didn't get rid of that bc it could be an original. omg i can't believe this!!! a couple minutes into the video, loved that kept it!!!

[@tomim7187]

I know how it feels when you hit gut-wrenching problems with a project. You are handling it with such humor and grace that you WILL see it through and be so proud of yourselves on a home well saved. ❤🧡💛💚💜

[@ADVBear]

"Not skip our vacation" "Forge ahead and fix the house" I'm so proud of you, Laura!

[@bobd5119]

Fraulein Kampf, The battle is joined. The builders left hope in the house, and you are carrying it on. Every day there is progress. And don't forget, a hundred years from now, new people will live in the house, and marvel. They will shout "Laura was here!" Onward.

[@Francois_L_7933]

When you renovate a problematic house like that, you always learn so much stuff and invest so much time and effort that in the end, when everything is fixed, you simply end-up loving the house just so much more than you did initially. Both you and Nora are going to get so much enjoyment out if it when the project is close to completion! And yes, the vacation is definitely well deserved at this time. 😎🌞⛱

[@empressche333]

Absolutely true! Hard, frustrating, overwhelming..for sure. But when you get to some finished product and see the house come together…SO WORTH IT!

[@MakeThangs]

This series is better than any tv show!

[@thetalkingfly]

Great re-cap! and I know when it is all done it will be amazing!

[@augustedwards9042]

Dear Laura, My friend and I just finished our first home renovation here in Los Angeles. The house was built in 1937 and threw everything it could at us-fleas, water damage from leaks that had been happening for many years, FIRE damage that made us replace the entire back wall of the house, incorrect framing in places that left the roof unsupported and ready to fall, garage walls collapsing in...the list goes on. 3 years later and running on fumes mentally/physically and almost nothing in our bank accounts and we are DONE. We saved the house, leaned in to her unique style and made her beautiful again. The sense of accomplishment and feeling of catharsis is real. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. I'm (almost) ready for the next one already. Your videos are inspiring and your positivity contagious. Thanks and keep at it!

[@xyazzberryx]

Ich lieb deine Videos und deine Art, liebe Laura. "When people tell you it's gonna be a lot of work, that means there will be a lot of times you just want to quit and feel overwhelmed and want to go home. But most of the time it's good work and an investment in the future." Diese Aussage hat mich gerade voll erwischt - so vor meiner Masterarbeit sitzend. Irgendwie ein treffende Darstellung und ein guter Rat, der für mich dadrin steckt: Wenn du aufgeben willst, nimm dir die Zeit, atme durch, sammle deine Kräfte wieder und richte den Blick auf das Ziel und auf die guten Aspekte des Prozesses, die Erfahrung und Erinnerungen, die man sammelt. Das schreib ich mir jetzt mal hinter die Löffel. Deine Art ist wirklich was Inspirierendes und ganz egal, wo dich dein Weg mit dem Haus hin führt, es ist mir ein inneres Blumenpflücken dich auf dem Weg begleiten zu können. Einfach nur danke an dich und dein Team

[@wolfgollnitz899]

My goodness, this comment is inspiring. What a way with words you have!

[@lauraquigley6403]

I give you a lot of credit. My dads farm house is 110 yrs old. We always saw water damage down windows where your water damage was. My grandmother birthed 9 children in my dads home. My brother owns it now and knows nothing about construction. God Bless You for taking on this challenge 👍🏼! It will be beautiful 🤩!🙏🙏🙏Laura

[@Skyevans1]

I loved this week's video... you have given me such encouragement to persevere while renovating and adding onto my new home (I'm on my 7th month) . I made a cardboard "Laura List" to see me through the end of the project and was dismayed at the 46 items on it. BUT, yesterday, I checked off 10 and it felt so GOOD! Here's to checking off the boxes on your list! Enjoy your vacation. Breaks are a part of the job. Get to work on some REST.

[@Gerald_Hunker]

Laura, your best decision was NOT to skip the vacation! Now have a splendid time, get detached from all that house stuff, relax, and spend so much time with your beloved!

[@bikergirl2000]

Enjoy your vacation, and thank you for the compassion you show- forgiving the house her faults, forgiving yourself and your team when its disheartening, and making time for ice cream!

[@technicallyartistic]

You bought your first place around the same time we did. Ours is a more modern house and was easier to work on, but it was still 5 months of working on it, 4 of them while living in the place, and trying to do a full time job as well so only weekends and evenings a lot of the time. And yeah, it's more than you ever think it would be. The worst we had was needing to lay down flooring in one room, replace all the doors, and paint everything, along with some other contractor type jobs. Yours is definitely a bigger project. But the thing I have to say is I love watching you take on those challenges. This feels like the next level in your video making. Like everything before is like watching little bite sized bottle episodes. Interesting projects, but they just come and go in the experience. This is an epic project. It's long form. And we get to watch you grow into something bigger as you take on this multi-month project, tackle bigger problems, grow with a team and grow as a person. I find it so much interesting, rewarding and engaging to watch. It's a very different house from what I have, but I want to watch and learn lessons from you for my own house. I'm much more invested as it keeps going to see how the project turns out. Watching the videos go from just you to a team feels like watching family and friends come together, for the bad times and the good, to over come and be there for each other. To share in that horror of oh god, what did we find now, to share in the we are working till midnight and just loopy and nuts now, to share in the celebration in the little victories and wins. And I'm sure I'm not the only one but I'm here rooting for you, hoping you can overcome all the challenges. Make it through emotionally. Make it through financially. I want to see you out the other end of this having grown and being in such a better place. And I'm glad you guys know when to take time to rest and recover. I'm looking forward to seeing you back at it when you get back, hopefully rested, re-energized, re-focused and ready to go.

[@letticason8435]

House renovations are extremely time consuming and exhausting not to mention costly. Kudos to you and Nora for taking that time to recharge and come back with a well rested mind and body. I love the house too, and the yard with all it’s beautiful flowers in bloom. It’s worth it.

[@north61]

10/10. I am a retired Superintendent of Education in the Yukon. A lot of our schools and government Departments have hidden problems that often get "wall papered over". If I still worked with my school Principals I would show them this video, as an example of the power of a "growth mindset"... How to have the courage and moral character to 1) see a situation as it is, (warts and all)...2) Enlist a team to create a plan to address the problems and 3) Work the plan with positivity and integrity. You have an impressive spirit and demonstrate a great sense of humour and the power of resiliency. I loved this video series and have become a very big fan. Thank-you.

[@MurrayC]

Admitting when you're wrong (especially in public!) is a sign of strength, well done for fixing the beam

[@terricolala]

Laura, that house chose you!! because it knows that you are the only one who can bring it back to life and be happy in it!!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@outoftheburrough]

Congratulations you have graduated from first time buyer status! First time buyers (& some who have bought before) mostly look at all the pretty details and not the finer potentially dodgy points. It is a great thing that you are putting your heart into it, saving the importance and learning as you go

[@lb5368]

I cosign that "first time buyer" mentality statement! If only we'd been more experienced...we would have saved at least $50k and 10 years of troubles 🤦‍♀️

[@outoftheburrough]

@@lb5368 you learnt from it 🥰 even with general life stuff we can be offered advice from those with more experience and ignore it so it is destined to happen forever

[@gaiaocracy]

From a western Canadian old woman: I am very proud of you! Redoing the door was as important as taking a vacation. Both activities helped you reset your mind and heart and spirit. Cheers!

[@hydemuc]

I'm not really into the maker community, I'm practical but not much of a DIY-er and I seldom leave comments on KZbin. But I am transfixed by these videos and it's all because of you, Laura. Your personality, your positivity, your ability to smile and laugh in the face of adversity is so totally infectious. I love your attitude, I love the way you present. It's addictive, it's entertaining, it's motivating. Thank you! And by the way, outstanding videography and editing.

[@ausrineluksyte5982]

nicely said!

[@martinkonig9098]

Kopf hoch und immer auch mal zurück schauen was du schon geschafft hast und nicht nur die Arbeit sehen die noch vor dir liegt.ihr könnt stolz auf das sein was ihr euch selber schafft

[@navigatingthedestination]

Sometimes a small project like refinishing a door is what is needed while in the middle of a big renovation. It gives you motivation and reminds you about the whole reason you are doing the renovation in the first place. Taking breaks from a big renovation are very important. You guys are doing a great job. 👍 That's great your having a vacation. It's nice to see a older home being saved🙂

[@jimmccorison]

We spent several years working on a 50 year old wooden boat, much of the time while living on her. In many ways, it was like your house, with unexpected surprises. Taking time to sand and refinish the door was important. It is a small victory in the face of a monumental undertaking. It was those small victories that gave us the energy to persevere.

[@janasapu1]

Dear Laura! I greatly appreciate your sincerity, modesty and humility. I appreciate that you do not hide problems and unpleasant surprises. You are an optimistic nature and this is the greatest asset, along with the will not to give up and to work hard, in which the work succeeds. Your videos help me not to give up! That's why I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and that's why I'm grateful to you.

[@lootwijk]

Such a journey of work. Also, I love that little truck at 19:48.

[@mattwillis3219]

Well deserved rest Laura, and now you know all of Liza's secret's you can heal and reimagine what the house will be in your future with a clear vision. Such an incredible amount you have achieved already and with a positive attitude. There's no limit to how creative you can make your home From here. Lots of love from Australia 😍🥰😘 P.S Felix put in some mad love to the edit😍

[@tskns2197]

Without watching... YES!!!!! This is what makers are made for!! The house has fallen in the best hands for it's rescue! And now... let's watch the video 🙂

[@WalkingEng]

These videos have been such a treasure and a lesson to us all. What a great summary of the ups and downs of renovating an old house and the teamwork that goes into it. You do a fantastic job of picking up and dusting down after each new and more difficult challenge is thrown at you. If you don't try, fail, struggle and then keep trying, then you never grow.

[@mrvinnyviking]

Renovating a house takes a lot of time and effort but the reward afterwards is so much greater than just buying a modern one. Keep up the spirits

[@enriquegarciacota3914]

“It’s going to be so much work”, not knowing what that meant, and it being totally worth it, is what happened to me and my son. 6 difficult and amazing years so far.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

I’ve never met an old house that wasn’t hiding some ridiculous surprises under there somewhere. Your great attitude will be what saves you. As long as you can laugh at the situation, it’s a good day no matter what happens.🐝🤗❤️

[@nonameanonymos]

Es ist so Respekt einflößend, wie du den Kopf hochhältst und weiter kämpfst. Ich hab mir eine Wohnung gekauft, die auch nicht indem Zustand war, den ich beim Kauf erwartete und bin schon mehrmals daran verzweifelt. Du machst mir Mut. Danke, dass du uns so ein gutes Vorbild bist ❤️

[@ivan_valerian]

This has become one of my favorite series on KZbin so far. No sugarcoating, only the truths. Sweet and bitter truths. Thank you for keeping this series updated Laura!

[@TheNikababe]

You are a legend! Hats off to you for all you have done and for having done it while keeping your sense of humour and positivity. I wish you all the best for Season 2!

[@ProjectsandThings]

As someone who's also spent a crapton of time renovating a 95y old house I feel your pain, with every new discovery of A: bad moves by previous owners, B: dangerous choices by the original builders and C: moldy, wet, stinky, etc.. parts of the construction. But now. after the asbetos is gone, the woodbeetles have been relocated and the structure is safe, I am so glad that I did it and Laura, I applaud you for doing the same. I love the series., keep going!

[@nathanaelscheffler4759]

This series has been very encouraging! I've also been working on renovating an old house and every time I open something up just to find something that was done the wrong way during old renovations it really makes me want to quit. Seeing you guys go through it too helps take the edge off 😅 Enjoy the vacation!

[@empressche333]

Don’t give up! It’s so rewarding once you get it done right, and you will feel that insanely strong sense of satisfaction that you did it. Every time I look at progress photos, or talk about the process, I remember the victory I felt when I had it back together. That never gets old.

[@ga5743]

Enjoy your vacation, rest and refuel. Looking forward to the next “season”.

[@marleinvansambeek5470]

What an excellent job you did there Felix!!! So fun to watch, of course with the humor and fun storytelling of Laura and all the friends helping out! Looking forward to the next video's, have a great holiday

[@PeBoVision]

I SO understand the therapeutic nature of focus work, like sanding a door, when all other challenges are more vast and unknown.

[@watahyahknow]

someone i knew was working as a contractor for private homeowners , he was starting to tear out a wall in a row of homes when he noticed wallpaper on both sides of the brick , turned out there only was a single width wall in between homes and it took some explaining to the neighbours why there where bricks missing in their wall with the price of copper , rewiring the home will cost you a LOT , hope you saved / stripped and turned the copper in for cash

[@florianreclaire508]

But why would you want do remove an outside wall in the first place? These are usually load bearing. I understand that the house was was not to be demolished, right?

[@almostanengineer]

@@florianreclaire508 given wallpaper on both sides, I would say it was a party wall, perhaps they had to repair some loose bricks or something.

[@dalewest4967]

Many years ago, we built our own house, it took us eight years, both working full time, holidays along the way, otherwise you burn out, what a fabulous job your doing, keep going, you will get there in he end.

[@imagineme9233]

Have an amazing vacation! You deserve the time off to recharge. Renovating (or rescuing) a house is like a long hike rather than a sprint. You need to take breaks so you don't run out of steam! :)

[@nativestand1]

Good on ya. I am in Minnesota in Minneapolis shaking in my boots in a late 1800’s Victorian my loved one left me as he moved to greener pastures in the great beyond. Bless us all and the Old Trees our Earth has given.

[@DawidKellerman]

Small saying from Namibia.. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time ! Don't get overwhelmed you have much support!

[@jerrygaguru]

All home projects are like this, yours has gone better than lot I have seen and done. You will develop my house goggles. You’ll start to see the room if you expect it look finished to perfection. It may not be there but you will see it as that. You’re learning to love the imperfections as much as the perfections. It becomes part of the you and part of your family you will start referring to house or a he or she like a baby you are molding, caring for and raising. And the good things will always outweigh the bad things in the long run. Good luck have fun and realize there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[@williamtayor9530]

I love how open excited and capable ypu are to learning, mistakes and change. X

[@yodaiam1000]

I have been the structural engineer on hundreds of house renovations. Your story is a familiar one. Just keep at it and you will get through it. It will cost more and take longer than you imagined but that is true for anyone that renovates a house.

[@TheMaggieMia]

My house was built in 1900 to house employees of the ‘new’ lumber mill, I am now the 5th owner, the mill company in the early 1920’s sold the houses with employees living in them having the opportunity to buy their homes, and that’s where the 2nd owners bought the house and raised their children and then was where all the grandkids came. After both passed on a neighbor across the street bought the house for a rental, that income helped put their grandkids through college and then they sold it to the family renting it. And I bought it from them. It was well built but had very bad neglect and badly done repairs. But it’s mine and I’ve put over 18 years now into repairs, improvements and living here. And have never regretting buying this little old house.

[@kathrynschnaible]

I am 57. In 1996, my late wife and I bought a house built in 1941. We went through much of what you are going through. In the first 6 months we owned the house, we replaced the roof, poured a new asphalt driveway, shored up the foundation, and replaced the entire electrical system. We were able to save and reinstall the existing hardwood floors. The outer door to our cellar was eaten away by hornets and had to be replaced. Over the years we did many other things! Watching you brings back memories! I owned and lived in that house for 22 years. I loved every stick of it because I had put so much work into it. Enjoy your vacation and don't lose faith! You will get through this! And don't be ashamed to hire professionals when you need to!

[@lorimontcalm9086]

I hope you enjoy your vacation and time "off"!!! Yes it will be worth it in the long run!! The ants got to me, gross. But yes ice cream helps!! Your dog tearing the wall paper was priceless! Thank you. Hugs from 🇨🇦

[@annad3987]

Friend from Australia here. Loving watching you and all the work. Gives me courage to tackle my own older house.

[@avoirdupois1]

I am inspired by your positive attitude. It can definitely be overwhelming when working on an old house, but you have inspired me to tackle some projects on my own house and they turned out pretty good!

[@minischembri9893]

I still think that you are stronger than the house !! Und was uns nicht umbringt macht uns stärker. 💚😊👍

[@nickhounam3345]

It's so easy to get overwhelmed when one thing after another seems to be going wrong. Enjoy your vacation and when you return with your batteries recharged you'll soon overcome these difficulties. If anyone can do it you can Laura xxx

[@Ianmundo]

720k+ people cheering you along… it’s the PERFECT disaster house 🏠 you can do it! 💪

[@larseriksen8212]

Laura, du bist der Aufgabe so gewachsen. Und Du und dein Team sind so geschickt darin, jede Herausforderung zu meistern. Just love your channel.

[@MrModel--CAPTURED-ON-FILM]

I am seeing the finish line in renovating an older home. So many unexpected discoveries. Challenges that keep returning. As you've shared, now no one knows this house better than me - every inch. And yes, it was worth it. I 'think' you did this in Germany. I am 'German', and tried, when I was there, to make something nice for my niece who lived in Munich at the time. Just to get people to paint her room, install a cute ceiling lamp, make curtains was like pulling teeth. Germany is an amazing nation, but it was soooo hard to try to get even simple things done, just to make a young girl happy.

[@crinkle2649]

I think you probably did the door as one of the first things to give you a break from the wall and show everyone a sneak peek at how gorgeous the whole house will be🙂. Just tell everyone that what you were thinking😄

[@kristinkidd467]

Laura you beautiful woman! I was afraid to watch since the series began because I thought- “I can’t handle watching her get disappointed and face what might be lots of problems! I will cry!” But now I’m watching this and crying anyway. You are awesome and undefeatable! Thanks for being my hero when I have few left!

[@michaelcima5772]

Have a great vacation

[@barbarapoore3496]

Don't loose heart. You will look back on these videos and realize you did a lot of hard work, but it was worth it!

[@owenbergeron4212]

Thank you so much for the content and for sharing some vulnerable moments with us. Your positive attitude towards this whole thing even in some tough moments has been super encouraging and I really appreciate it so much

[@lifeingreece]

I love it that you are still laughing and that you can also tease yourself along the way!

[@garagedweller7159]

It is always good to take a step back and reflect on how far any project has come and re group. I enjoyed this video. Have a relaxing vacation,take a break and you will have renewed energy to dive back into it.Enjoy!

[@garryryan3654]

Enjoy the holiday! Admiring your optimism and adaptability.

[@steffengrossmann169]

Never loved a video of yours as much as this one 🙌 it is such a positive inspirational vibe … like more than ever!

[@luilu9167]

We bought a house from 1980. Less ants, less bugs, more water... We had to break down the bath and the storage used as bath. Never before I saw a toilet and a shower on the carpet with wooden walls and electrical distribution built with some nails in a wooden board... In some moments I am glad we didn't have the same problems like you, but for most of your problems, I feel with you because we had the same. Keep your head up and collect knowledge in fixing problems most people without a own house can't even imagine ;)

[@ambrosia8391]

That was such a great video. You looked back and saw all the struggles and discovered you are a team player! Well, good vacations and can't wait to see the season two!

[@wb8517]

Once upon a time, long long ago - I was 1/2 of a renovation of a then 180 yr old house. Similar issues. That was long ago and much much has dimmed my optimism since then ( and no longer own that home). It so great to see you being your happy self through all the surprises. A reminder to me to stay positive. Thanks for sharing.

[@LittleDergon]

This was great to hear your thoughts on the project so far, particularly when you're at the stage of discovery and not yet into the stage of solving. There is an art restorer on KZbin who always says he always starts with an easy win, then finishes with the most satisfying part. Think of the doors as your easy win, and the decorating and moving in as your satisfying finale 😊 you'll get to that stage one day, don't worry! I bet you'll have a great holiday and come back full of motivation to restore this wonderful property 👍

[@TinaDanielsson]

Is that art restorer Julian by any chance? ☺️ A Baumgartner video makes may day ❤️

[@raptornerd4213]

I know it's a lot of work but with your hard work and commitment, it's thanks to you that the house will last another century and more.

[@kimberlyokeeffe5360]

YEAH! Another house saved!!! Yes, it is and will be a lot of work BUT I'd like to make several points. That house has a history in that town that will be erased if it were demolished. It would be the same cost or more to replace the house. And you are learning valuable lessons about construction, building materials (past & present) and most important what you can do and not do yourself. I look forward to seeing the progress you will make and how you accomplish and overcome the obstacles you will encounter because I guarantee the pride you will have when it is complete will be in the top 3-5 on your list.

[@bennylloyd-willner9667]

One of the absolute top channels on KZbin, surely 1 million subs is not far away in time. Entertaining, educational, spirit-lifting, engaging - LOVE IT! ❤❤

[@rashidquali8657]

Youre the best Laura! Keep going in the exact same way. Its such a pleasure to watch your videos, especially because of your honest and humble way and your sense to find workarounds and solutions for every issue. 🚀

[@SpuTalks]

The first 90 seconds of this on it’s own would make a great series trailer.

[@iblisthemage]

having a similar experience, I have one key advice: do one room at a time. Do NOT have concurrent projects around the house. It took me two years to finish my house, with half of it looking like that most of the time. When I got this advice, I was already too deep in, tearing down etc. Select the easiest room to make exactly as you would like it, and finish it. Start using it, and move on to the next room. Make that one completely finished, etc etc rinse and repeat. it will not be wasted effort, and the quality of life will be so much larger. Also, if you run out of cash or have to get divorced, the house is sellable. That was not an issue for me, but sometimes you see a house for sale online that is just unsellable, with unfinished work in progress all over. having 2 perfect rooms, and 3 “old” rooms is easy to deal with as a potential buyer…

[@ginacirelli1581]

I'm also living in my house while I'm restoring it, and I couldn't agree more. Seeing a beautiful finished room gives you the emotional boost you need to keep going. I would also like to add that the first things that need to be done are any foundation, water management, and insulation work. Of course, after any electric, plumbing or heating necessities. I was lucky on the plumbing and heating front, and now I'm at the insulation stage. In between, I've started to refinish the flooring in one room and restore the window trim and moulding. Picking out window treatments, paint/wallpaper, furniture, and tile and cabinet finishes are what keep me going!

[@karincorbin2355]

She can not now approach it one room at a time, she has no choice but to gut the whole interior walls around the perimeter. She must at this point hire a professional licensed contractor to remove the exterior abestos siding and then she can begin the repair on all the structural damage before tackling the interior finishes. Winter is coming so the exterior has to get repaired before the cold weather arrives. The interior can be heated but not the exterior.

[@iblisthemage]

@@karincorbin2355 agreed, Laura’s house is now in a state where it is not livable, and from the video it might look like it was maybe too dangerous to live in to begin with. In Denmark we have a system in place where there is a building inspector’s repport on the house when sold, and an insurance policy for hidden damage. That means that the buyer has a list of things that needs to be fixed, and a backup insurance company that will cover hidden damages. If Laura was to rely on contractors to fix all in her house, I am cinvinced it would be cheaper to tear it down, but she can put her own hours in it, and also make content on the project, so there might be an economic upside in the project. There is a difference in house projects where the inside has to be renovated, or the siding, roof, foundation, has to be renovated.

[@rolfs2165]

Some steps, like replacing the electrical wiring or (lead) water pipes, you just have to do all at once, because otherwise it's just bodge after bodge after bodge to connect the new to the old systems, plus all the dangers that come from leaving the old stuff hooked up because the new stuff doesn't work otherwise. And if you completely finish an easy room only to _then_ find out that the room below has an ant problem and fixing that means you have to tear out half of the finished stuff again …

[@mugglemom9135]

I am not one of the 700 that commented on the mistake but I wanted to be one of the many who commented on how wonderfully you handled it. Love your videos! Enjoy your your well-deserved time off.

[@blodpudding]

Please, you need to add your *exterior drainage system* to your list! At least get a professional to look into it, because that's a ticking timb bomb too if it's not right!

[@ellenruths]

Over the years some changes may have been made in the surrounding area. Which can mean that exterior drainage that was okay isn't okay now. And water is behind so many of the issues you've uncovered!

[@kiwizate]

Thanks for the videos Laura. It's great that you are preserving the old House, having renovated a couple of houses i know how demoralising it can be But the feeling of saving an old classic and knowing you did it "properly" is a reward in it's self. Enjoy your vacation.

[@Liofa73]

Did you have a house survey done before you bought it? If so, it's interesting that all of this stuff wasn't caught by the inspector. Fair enough, some of it is behind walls, but some of it seems quite obvious, after all you could see it with your own eyes.

[@dukkieb]

Our family loves LOVES this! We get the show our daughters so much about hard work and persistence and continued positivity! And YOU are their teacher! We get to learn with you and walk with you. We support YOU! Thank you!

[@jukeboxjaime8795]

Sometimes we all just need to stop and polish a door.

[@КатеринаГаніна-ц5н]

Laura, you are doing a great job! And we believe in you and your house! Thank you for sharing your work with us :))🌻

[@DaHaiZhu]

I am kinda surprised at some of the things you discovered about the house that a building inspection would have uncovered before you bought it: asbestos, water damage, lead paint, etc. But maybe that's not an option there, IDK. With all the hidden problems you've found, you might consider tearing everything all the way back to its bones before restoring, just so you don't trip over another hidden problem halfway through the rebuild and then have to restart. Just a thought. But, yeah, this is why there are not a lot of old houses anymore - its just too expensive to fix rather than raise and build new. Good luck. Chin up. It's an adventure. And like any good adventure, its the journey that's important, not the end.

[@TinaDanielsson]

I've been wondering about building inspection too. Many of the things should have been common knowledge for an inspector 🤔

[@empressche333]

Many of the things discovered were inside walls, hidden by wallpaper. No inspector can open a wall to look at them. An experienced one may have suggested being careful of certain things, buts all they can do. There are rules on how much they can say or suggest.

[@TinaDanielsson]

​@@empressche333 When I bought a house it had a construction that is prone to a hidden issue. The building inspector told me about this common issue and suggested that I make a request to the then owner to be allowed to drill a couple of inspection holes to better investigate it. We actually got an ok right away and so the inspector was able to give his professional opinion on what he saw. And his official report contained a note on this common construction issue. So I was _aware_ that this might be a big issue later on.

[@empressche333]

@@TinaDanielsson which is awesome that you got that. Problem is, most sellers will not give that permission. And without it, the inspector cannot drill holes. Really savvy inspectors will point out indicators, but their hands are often tied by regulations.

[@TinaDanielsson]

@@empressche333 I've used 3 different companies to do building inspections and they all tell you about possible issues with different constructions. I live in Sweden and we often standardize things (formally or informally) so they all work pretty much the same way. The inspectors have an incredible amount of knowledge that they are very willing to share 🙂 It's then up to the buyer what they do with the information. Edit: I would have thought that inspections in Germany were pretty much the same as in Sweden. That was why I was wondering about it with this house.

[@LewHarriman]

Laura, you are very, very wise. Your acceptance of emerging reality and then constantly moving forward are so admirable, and so rare. If I can offer one piece of advice based on 40 years of Building Science plus 45 years of hands-on, personal experience rehabilitating our 250-year-old house it would be: take it easy, take it slow, take breaks, often for months and sometimes for years to let "normal life" continue. And by all means savor every sanded door, every improved lighting fixture, every well-painted wall, every well-placed drainage channel every day and every time you look at them. Appreciating and admiring the successes, small and large, are what keep us going... and it's a wonderful lifetime of learning, not a project that will be complete in a couple of years. The money is simply too much, the sweat and frustration are too much to expect your usual excellence in the short term. So think decades-not months-for house renovation.