Greg, it is a pretty good deal indeed! Again, they haven't given me keys to the place yet but it's looking good so far. Also, there is another old building that I may try to get into. Heck, I could start a business reselling some of this... LOL.
I'll be sure to get pics! Hey, any other tips on what to look for?
Jackpot - and a rad question.
Moderators: oldhouse, TinaB, Don M, Schag
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stefanbolduc
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:49 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
My local architectural salvage place is in an old 3-story school and it still has a wall-mounted sink in nearly every room. They are definitely worth reusing. Also, beautiful solid oak doors, including the closet doors, and incredible rippled glass in the top half of the doors. Lots of transom windows too. Lots of treasures that should not be wasted in most old schools, I bet.
Can the guy let you look around before you start salvaging so you can get some measurements and more ideas? Has he said what he will gut?
Can the guy let you look around before you start salvaging so you can get some measurements and more ideas? Has he said what he will gut?
I completely replumbed my whole heating system. Most of the rads were fed by either 1" or 3/4" steel lines, I replaced them with 1/2" pex lines. The local boiler guy thought it wouldn't work - in fact he refused to work on the project because he didn't want to disappoint me - but it works great. The rads heat up very quickly and kick off a tonne of heat. The only issue I've found is that the rooms don't all heat up evenly, which I plan to rectify in the future by adding some adjustment valves.
I would say go for it for sure - the plumbing shouldn't be very challenging, though the in floor heat temperature might be lower and limit how much heat the rads give off (which isn't always a bad thing, especially if there are young kids who might touch them).
I've always thought old schools would make cool condos, but I've never seen it done. What is common here is turning old one room school houses into homes. I know of at least 4, and they all turned out beautifully.
I would say go for it for sure - the plumbing shouldn't be very challenging, though the in floor heat temperature might be lower and limit how much heat the rads give off (which isn't always a bad thing, especially if there are young kids who might touch them).
I've always thought old schools would make cool condos, but I've never seen it done. What is common here is turning old one room school houses into homes. I know of at least 4, and they all turned out beautifully.
And I thought I was the only crazy kid who sat in class thinking the big old school building would make neat apartments!
There have been a number of such conversions around here, dating back to the late 70's and early 80's. Last year we visited an elder housing project in a big old school building: very nicely done! One sweet lady showed us her apartment...it had been her classroom when she was teaching! One reason these buildings are good candidates for reuse as housing is that as schools they had to meet certain safety and fire codes, so they were built like fortresses! And those big window for natural light can't be beat. And anyone who sat by one of those windows on a sunny afternoon can testify to the solar heat gain potential. (Geography....the capital of....primary exports...getting very sleepy..very, very sleepy.......)
Ironically, the old building I went to school in is currently the subject of much debate, as the gentleman who left the city the land and money to build the school stipulated in his will that if it was no longer used as a school, it was to be converted to "housing for indigent men." The district wants to sell the building for redevelopment as offices, and are hoping to break that stipulation. The local housing non-profits are interested in redeveloping it as housing if the school district doesn't want it any more, but the school district wants the money it could get on the commercial market.
Good luck with your salvage project!
There have been a number of such conversions around here, dating back to the late 70's and early 80's. Last year we visited an elder housing project in a big old school building: very nicely done! One sweet lady showed us her apartment...it had been her classroom when she was teaching! One reason these buildings are good candidates for reuse as housing is that as schools they had to meet certain safety and fire codes, so they were built like fortresses! And those big window for natural light can't be beat. And anyone who sat by one of those windows on a sunny afternoon can testify to the solar heat gain potential. (Geography....the capital of....primary exports...getting very sleepy..very, very sleepy.......)
Ironically, the old building I went to school in is currently the subject of much debate, as the gentleman who left the city the land and money to build the school stipulated in his will that if it was no longer used as a school, it was to be converted to "housing for indigent men." The district wants to sell the building for redevelopment as offices, and are hoping to break that stipulation. The local housing non-profits are interested in redeveloping it as housing if the school district doesn't want it any more, but the school district wants the money it could get on the commercial market.
Good luck with your salvage project!
"Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!"
(H. Melville, Moby Dick, Ch. 32)
(H. Melville, Moby Dick, Ch. 32)
Do you need help?
stefanbolduc,
I am on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, outside of Liverpool. If you want help, let me know where you are (or the school is) and I will talk to the DH.
I am on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, outside of Liverpool. If you want help, let me know where you are (or the school is) and I will talk to the DH.
Moose Hill
Gothic Farmhouse
circa 1830- 1850's
Gothic Farmhouse
circa 1830- 1850's
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stefanbolduc
- Posts: 53
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:49 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Moose Hill, glad to see another bluenoser! Mind you I am a transplant from the Eastern Townships in Quebec. My wife an I purchased our first home in St Margarets Bay a few years ago and we've been working on it ever since.
I still have not gotten "the keys" to the school but I hope to know for sure shortly. I'll be sure to contact you should I need a little help!
RE. the rads, I don't have infloor heat, the hot water heats baseboard heaters - ie, hot water flows through them, in one end and out the other. Looks like 1/2'' copper pipe. It is a new system. We do not have a hot water tank, there is a small inline tank that is heated by the oil furnace on demand. That is why I figure I could hook these up fairly easily - and keep most of the existing baseboard heaters in place.
I'm not sure where I will keep whatever I salvage as most will likely be used for a future project... and I know my wife will lose it... LOL.
I still have not gotten "the keys" to the school but I hope to know for sure shortly. I'll be sure to contact you should I need a little help!
RE. the rads, I don't have infloor heat, the hot water heats baseboard heaters - ie, hot water flows through them, in one end and out the other. Looks like 1/2'' copper pipe. It is a new system. We do not have a hot water tank, there is a small inline tank that is heated by the oil furnace on demand. That is why I figure I could hook these up fairly easily - and keep most of the existing baseboard heaters in place.
I'm not sure where I will keep whatever I salvage as most will likely be used for a future project... and I know my wife will lose it... LOL.
Great! And in my hast to offer our help, I almost forgot to answer your question....you see, Architectural Salvage is a phrase that makes us old house people stand up and take notice!
In regards to what to look for, I would suggest anything unique, such as stained glass or similar windows, light fixtures, trim, wood floors, etc. And yes, old slate blackboards can be quite useful.
In regards to what to look for, I would suggest anything unique, such as stained glass or similar windows, light fixtures, trim, wood floors, etc. And yes, old slate blackboards can be quite useful.
Moose Hill
Gothic Farmhouse
circa 1830- 1850's
Gothic Farmhouse
circa 1830- 1850's
There are a couple issues that come to mind immmediately. One has already been talked about and thats the temperature. Not sure how hot the water is for the baseboards, but to get the proper radiation form the rads, you'll want ot be up around 150F (for two pipe system)
The other issue is clearances..specifically the pipe diamter in a baseboard. Radiators tend to be full of rust and some of that rust flakes off from time to time, especially when the rad is newly installed and fresh water is introduced. I would be a bit concenred that a large flake would plug itself in the baseboard heater if the pipe diameters are small. I know when I was looking at high efficiency boilers, that issue came up and that was the main reason I didn't go for a condensing unit,,,,the tolerances were too tight. Rust flakes form the rads could plug it up.....my plumber friend said he had that happen in an older home in town....and manufacturer recommended a filter in fron to fhte unit to prevent this from happening, but still warned me against even botheirng.....
Have never seen the insides of a hot water baseboard unit, so not sure if thats an issue or not..Just an FYI
The other issue is clearances..specifically the pipe diamter in a baseboard. Radiators tend to be full of rust and some of that rust flakes off from time to time, especially when the rad is newly installed and fresh water is introduced. I would be a bit concenred that a large flake would plug itself in the baseboard heater if the pipe diameters are small. I know when I was looking at high efficiency boilers, that issue came up and that was the main reason I didn't go for a condensing unit,,,,the tolerances were too tight. Rust flakes form the rads could plug it up.....my plumber friend said he had that happen in an older home in town....and manufacturer recommended a filter in fron to fhte unit to prevent this from happening, but still warned me against even botheirng.....
Have never seen the insides of a hot water baseboard unit, so not sure if thats an issue or not..Just an FYI
Darren
Enjoy yourself, It's later than you think
Enjoy yourself, It's later than you think