Repairing feather-edge paneling

[letty]

Our house underwent a serious "upgrade" sometime around 1870-80. During this time many of the doors and moldings were changed, and this wall was plastered over. We knew there was paneling behind the plaster because we cut a hole to check, but we weren't sure what condition it would be in. So clearly, we tore down the plaster.



We were amazed to discover the original feather-edge paneling with the ORIGINAL paint on it (c 1740?!) When the PO decided to renovate and plaster the room, he nailed the lath directly to the paneling, and in some places the panels were bowing into the room. This made the lath uneven, so to fix this he took a hatchet and planed the high spots down.







What should we do about this? I want to retain as many of the original panels as possible, but those gouges will need to be addressed if we aren't going to replace the damaged ones.

[melissakd]

Those hatchet marks are as old as my HOUSE !

First I'd ask: is there structural or system work that needs doing? Is the damage to the paneling so bad that the gouged panels are in danger of falling apart?

If neither of those is the case, then hooray, it's on to aesthetic (i.e. fun) decisions. At this point, old-house folk know, needing to be addressed is in the eye of the beholder.

I think the hatchet marks make a terrific story. I don't recommend un-bowing the panels, either. This is a handmade house and if anything about it even approaches square, level, or smooth, that's a tribute to the skill of the craftsmen who built it. So is the fact that it is still standing strong, even with its quirks. I think worrying about perfection takes the fun out of it.

I'd probably just gently brush a little brown onto the scraped-away areas, out of respect to the original (amazing is right!) finish. There are people on this forum who can tell you how to match the color, though I'm not one of them.

Thanks for sharing this fabulous find!

MelissaKD

[sooth]

I suppose you could simply smooth it down with a hand plane, no?

[gregV]

Personally I would rebuild the entire wall using the remaining good planks and then reconstruct new ones where needed. Hard to really see the details, but what was hatched away were the bevel on the panel and the quarter round grove on the other board. I don't see restoring the two destroyed panels, but one could be made out of the two good halfs of each, or two new halfs could be added be added to each.
Will you be removing the door on the right and re-paneling that area also? Doors need to go and to be replaced with board doors

Here is a pic of a good wall for anyone interested. It's what your room most likely looked just like. It looks like you are working in the original kitchen?

[gregV]

By the way, I see your exciting the past lives quite a bit doing this work. Lot's of orbs!

[gregV]

I am now officially excited about your house! Haaa.. Tell me, us, more! I saw the picture of the outside. I would 'guess' by what I see inside that your house was an original one over one. That at one point is was tripled in size. Most likely was evolved by several additions (not including all the ells and porches)

OK, what's in the attic!?

[gregV]

Looking more into this room. You say that the plaster was applied in the late 1800. I might think otherwise as it seems the lath is hand split, not sawn. I might think that the plaster was applied earlier, not much later then 1830-40. How are dating the original house? Also, what's going on on the other wall, on the right? Is that horizontal feather edge?

Looks like your ceiling may have been plastered the same time as the walls. I might bet you have some interesting beams up there that may not have been dressed to be exposed.

[letty]

Greg - you feel like I do about my house! Your enthusiasm is contagious, so I've been running around this morning taking pictures for you

So on that note...I'm starting a new thread for your requests (it will be very picture heavy)

[melissakd]

Hard to really see the details, but what was hatched away were the bevel on the panel and the quarter round grove on the other board.

Oh, now I get it. Thanks for that, Greg. I don't know from paneling, but I can comprehend that some details got sliced off.

MelissaKD