59 Broadway老房子翻新项目丨美国新泽西

Old House Renovation with YOUR Input

An Old House Renovation gives this Ugly Duckling House a 2nd Chance.

Most old house makeovers are done badly and actually make the house worse giving it bad curb appeal as you can see.

This house at 59 Broadway, Freehold, NJ is a victim of Bad Home Improvements and in desperate need of help.

Let’s rehabilitate this house together!

This old house renovation was performed live on OHG Facebook as members submitted their input. They were able to see this house made beautiful right before their eyes.

With so many of your Face Book comments and ideas you posted about this house, YOU can now help perform an old house renovation and you don’t have to leave your computer.

An ugly house before rehabilitation

I will make the changes graphically and post them here with explanations as the work is performed. Your input on the changes can be sent via the comments section below. You will see each step as I update this page.

The house may not be perfect but we can improve it together. From new windows to what type of curtains and landscaping.

This will be fun for those who understand the problems with this house and a good learning experience for those who are yet unable to recognize them.

You are invited to participate – bring your friends too!

The following shows changes that were made to this house based on comments through Face Book and email. Here is what we did......

1916 Sanborn map

To the right is a Sanborn Map. If you do not know what they are, here is a link that should help. See the outline of the historic house – #57. As you see in the current photo, a really bad looking one story addition was added on from the front of the rear section to where the original porch ended.

This map is from 1916. The dotted line shows the porch. The main section shows a “2” which means 2 floors, and the back section shows a “1” for 1 floor. That back section is currently 2 floors.

I don’t know how old the house is but I am guessing 1890 - 1910.

As you see there is a 1st floor addition which really distracts you by the ugly design.

We will NOT remove this addition even though removal will greatly improve curb appeal. The purpose is to show the impact of a more simple old house renovation. Old house makeovers do not have to be drastic to improve appearance.

Here is the house before they did their remuddling. It still looks bad although not as bad as it does after they remodeled it.

This is the house before the developer’s did their old house renovation and made it ugly. This addition is still a distraction. The original house must have looked nice at one time.

Let’s fix the awful 70’s style Mansard roof on the addition.

This roof could not look more out of place.

This roof style is a 1970’s version of a Mansard Roof used on Second Empire styled buildings most popular 1865-1880. This addition is bad and the roof which doesn’t belong just makes it worse.

The roof here should be much flatter. This is an addition so there was not an original roof. Options are a shed roof or hipped roof. I will construct a hipped roof. The problem with a roof here is that the addition goes back far and the roof when viewed from the side would have a very shallow slope.

Modified roof on addition.

Here is a new lower roof – not much better. Just not as noticeable. I also added a fascia and cove molding around the edge.

Next step – let’s remove vinyl siding.

Cheap looking Vinyl siding removed and replaced with wood. Real wood siding makes a big difference for an old house renovation.

REAL wood siding – looks better already!

Let’s keep the color the same as the plastic siding – it’s a nice green color and good for the period of the house.

Windows are most important for a good old house renovation. What type of windows 2-over-2 or 6-over 1?

The votes are in for 6 over 1 windows. Either would be correct for this house as would be 1-over-1. We really don’t know the year but I would guess it can be as old as 1890 ish and we know it’s on a 1916 map.

I will install true divided light six-over-one wood windows.

Notice on the original photo the monster sized window casings. Why would anyone install something like that? How can the developer that did this not realize that look so bad? This is where the old house makeover really makes an impact.

The new windows will have 4 1/4” casings and a simple drip edge on top.

Six-over-six wood true divided light windows with 4 1/4″ casings are added to give this old house makeover true historic character.

A note about the windows – they seem pushed to the side because of the angle the photo is taken.

A new period front door.

I need a new front door. If someone has a photo or can find a good one on the internet, please send me the link or email. The image should be good quality and be at a similar angle. Door knobs can be with the door or separately. Don’t forget a light fixture.

Curtains or roller shades, shutters and landscape to follow.

I changed the trim color from white to a light tan. Tan provides a softer feel to the house. There are many nice white colors – white does not have to be a bright harsh white. Unfortunately white is stigmatized for seeing white windows one would think they are plastic just because they are white.

A new door with casing.

Here it is with a new door and surround. The house looks vacant with those bare windows – time to add curtains.

Curtains are added to new wood windows. Here it is with curtains. Now it’s time for shutters.

I thought of red since the green is a bit drab. Black would also work nice. Any comments?

Real Wood Shutters are a must for an old house renovation. New wood shutters bring the house to life. Shutters are red.

What this house needs is a Frieze Board at the top and a Water Table at the bottom. Frieze board trim is added to gable. Water table trim is added at base of house. I did not continue this trim on the addition. For one reason, we don’t want to draw attention to it. Additionally the clapboard is lower along the foundation in that section and the water table should continue around the house at the same height. Above there is not enough space for a frieze board.

Door Canopy

It’s not nice to leave your guest outside in the rain. A canopy over the door will offer that protection.

Door canopy is added to keep guest dry.

Landscaping is the finishing touch for an old house makeover.

Here it is! Click to enlarge.

Landscaping adds the finishing touch. The landscaping directs your eyes to the front door.

The landscape should draw your eyes to the left so you don’t notice the bad addition.

I know – it’s April and the trees are bare but I have some trees with leaves. You get the idea. Once the other trees fill in the house will look better yet.

Click on this image so you can compare the changes side by side.

I hope you have enjoyed this old house renovation. If you feel your house can use some help, send me an email!

Ken – the Old House Guy

UPDATE: Update: In 2020 this house is for sale again but the realtor Christina Gelpi at Christi Keys Realty couldn’t bother getting back to me.