Your dedication to preserving the original heart pine is commendable. In our historic Oakwood homes, the quality of the slow-growth timber used for window casings is irreplaceable. Modern materials simply do not possess the same density or tight grain.

When you are working near the plaster walls, please be exceptionally careful with your scraping tools. The lime mortar plaster of that era is keyed behind wooden lath, and heavy vibrations or prying can break those delicate keys, leading to structural sagging of the plaster. Take your time, focus on the sash weights if they are still present, and enjoy the process.

I watched the previous owners of that house paint over those very window casings back in the late nineteen-seventies. It was the fashion back then to cover up the dark wood with bright white semi-gloss.

We did the same to our place in Mordecai. It is wonderful to see someone putting in the manual labor to restore the original character of the neighborhood. So many of these new developments down near downtown are just tearing out the history entirely.

This is exactly why I tell people to look closely at the budget before they buy a historic fixer-upper. The labor costs alone would kill a professional project, so doing it yourself is the only way it makes sense.

Just be glad you are only dealing with paint. Once you pull those baseboards off, you are almost guaranteed to find some active termite tunnels or old knob and tube wiring hiding in the wall cavity. That is when the real expenses start.

Nate makes a very good point about the hidden wiring. If you do find old knob and tube while you are working on those windows and decide to replace it, that will require an electrical permit from the city.

The inspectors are very familiar with our historic districts, and they will walk you through the process step by step to ensure your home is both historic and safe.

Dale, thank you for the warning about the plaster keys. I am being very gentle near the edges. Bernice, it is wild to know the history of who put this paint on. I will keep scraping, one slow inch at a time.