BrettRas wrote:
People coming to live in Ojika are not likely to be wealthy, and they certainly are not likely to get deathly while living here!
This should have been: certainly not likely to get WEALTHY... autocorrect
I don't seem to be able to edit the post any longer so I guess it will stay that way!
Zasso Nouka wrote:
I know you say in your blog you knew next to nothing when you first thought about starting a restoration have you learned all your skills along the way or did you already have some of the skills needed ? I must confess that I use Youtube or Google a lot when I'm unsure about doing something.
What have you used to stain/protect the interior and exterior wood and what was the material you used for plastering ?
I have always had a knack with fixing/building things, and growing up on a small farm I had the chance to help out with small things around the farm. Basically though, coming to Japan has given me my first opportunity to do this type of thing on this larger scale. The technology and techniques are quite different as well. In working with older houses I am trying to use techniques and materials that fit with the house, and these are certainly different than anything I was exposed to in America.
I do reference Youtube quite a bit myself, it has been invaluable in learning techniques for using the good old hand tools!
The stain/wood protection I use are all blends of 3 simple natural ingredients: astringent persimmon juice (kakishibu柿渋), pine soot (shouen松煙), and red iron oxide (benigara紅殻). The kakishibu is always the base, and I often use this alone. I mix the other two in varying amounts depending on the color/effect desired.
I will then often use a beeswax and plant oils mix for a finish.
Makichan wrote:
Did you find many interesting things when clearing the house out ? Any chests of old coins maybe ? The loft area looks like it might have been a treasure trove of antiques or was it mostly trash?
There have been a number of treasures found in the house! During the purchase negotiations I specified that I wanted everything inside left as it was. I knew that this included a major amount of garbage, but I didn't want the owner to think he was doing me a favor by throwing out all the "old" stuff, and accidentally toss the great finds! There are old coins, tools, pots, boxes, enough dishware for several families, hibachi, sashiko fishing coats, and fishing and diving related gear from long ago. I've still got quite a task ahead of me sorting through it more thoroughly.
Lazi wrote:
When one is looking at potential kominka to buy what sort of things should you be looking out for ?
Many things to pay attention to will depend on the specific type and age of house.
You really need to see the structural framework of the house. The most important parts are going to be under the floor, and the roof. Water damage and termites are two of the main things you'll want to look for. Just because one or the other exists does not mean the house is a lost cause, but you need to be aware of what you are dealing with and have a plan on how to handle it.
If you go to look fairly seriously at a potential kominka, you should go prepared to lift up the tatami mats and the floorboards beneath. You'll then want to crawl around with a good light beneath the floor inspecting all of the main beams and joists. You are looking for rotting, wet wood, and termite tubes. Many of these trouble spots are going to be located in areas where synthetic materials such as laminate flooring, plywood-like veneer walls, etc. have been used during remodels or repairs as they don't allow air to circulate properly among other problems.
You'll also want to get a good look at the roof, top and bottom. You are looking for signs of water infiltration and/or cracked or crumbling tiles (if applicable). Water infiltration from the roof is the root cause of many other problems, so you'll want to make sure of it's condition ahead of time. Go visit the place during heavy rain if at all possible.
Roof repair is inevitable of course, but it is one of the biggest expenses so it's important to know if you're going to need to tackle it right away or not.
gonbechan wrote:BrettRas, I read your blog with absolute interest. It was actually what made me look up shikui and find out if we could use it in our not so ancient house.
Shikkui, what a versatile and interesting substance! Plastering can be a relaxing way to spend a day!
Thanks everyone for your comments! Look forward to sharing more!