Batless in Bucks County

There we were, second story on a ladder leaning against a 150-year-old farmhouse. Just starting this full-exterior job, our first task was to remove the shutters. Now, this being daytime, and this being rural PA and home to the brown bat, we were hoping to see lots of them. And if not the bats themselves, then at least the guano, and lots of it. (If you, like my wife from New York City, don’t know what guano is, it’s poop.) But, as we expected, the shutters were all but bare. One by one, off came they came – close to 40 – and only two bats were rousted from sleep. The thing is, you either find lots of bats on a house…or none because the environment isn’t right for them – the spacing between shutter and structure might be too great, for instance. But still too early for hibernation, I was saddened to see evidence of the deadly white nose syndrome, which has nearly wiped out our little brown bat population, some estimates citing 98 percent of our most common flying mammal! According to some of my bat pals (experts in the “field”), while thousands of our local bats used to hibernate in the Durham Mine (the second largest hibernaculum in the U.S.), there were only a handful this past spring when they returned.

We also have three migratory species here in PA: reds, silver-haireds and hoarys, which go south; although reds might stick around and hibernate in leaf litter. But the march, or rather, flight back of the little brown bat will be very slow, with not enough bats to easily find each other and reproduce, which puts our crops – and us – in danger, as bats eat harmful insects.

Anyway, when I decided to write this blog, my former-city-dwelling wife – who had a bad bat “experience” when she was a kid – shuddered. “I was attacked by one,” she said. To which my bat friend replied, “They don’t attack people, but may come into contact with hair if an insect has landed on your head.” “Ich,” she said, and shuddered again. “And what kind of picture will you post? They look like vampires.”

Well, this isn't the most flattering angle. Most of these types of bat pictures of are them in flight, I explained, when their mouths are open in what’s called echolocating (using their sonar to “see”), but in repose, they are actually quite cute. See.

 And they love to be petted.

And they purr? "Like a cat?" my wife, who is a cat-lover, asked. Yep. And frankly, I think bats are way cuter than say...

So keep good thoughts about our little brown bats. And hope they get some better PR when they make their return.

The Church Walls Wept?

We initially thought the repair and painting of a few walls and apse (the vaulted recess in the sanctuary) of a 200-year-old former church would be routine. But as we were leaving that first day, the owner of the now-private home asked if we wouldn’t mind also touching up the area in the foyer that was peeling a bit.

This would be no touch-up; this would be an overhaul. 

Because inside the exterior stucco were rotted studs and wet insulation that had left the drywall anything but dry. Most of us think water gets into our homes when it falls from above. But what turned this church’s walls wet was not Heaven-sent. 

Water damage to first floors is often caused by moisture coming up from the ground. To avoid costly repairs, have well-positioned gutters that are clear (make sure to keep yours cleaned as the leaves start falling)...

...and pitch the ground by creating swales, so water routes away from your home. 

 These projects are definitely for DIYers, but if you're not up for the tasks, professional gutter-cleaners and landscapers provide these services.

Painting at the James Lorah House

We're wrapping up the week by sprucing up the ladies' restroom at the historic James Lorah House in downtown Doylestown.

Built in 1844, it's a beautiful building that continues to be hub of community activity. Take a moment to learn about the history of the James Lorah House.

5 Questions You Should Ask a House Painter

You want to paint your house. You hire the guy with the van your neighbor used 15 years ago. You pick the colors. Done. …Not so fast. Before signing a contract (and by the way, a contract is a must; it’s for your protection too), be sure to ask these 5 questions:

1. Do you have Worker’s Comp coverage?

We would be flirting with disaster – and so would a customer if something were to happen to a crewmember on a job. If a painter tells you your homeowner’s insurance is enough, it means the company doesn’t take itself – or your interests – seriously. If a worker falls, you could be facing a monster of a lawsuit. Real businesses carry this coverage.

2. Do you run a “real” business?

I am NOT just a “guy with a van.” I am not putting myself through college or making ends meet until the real-estate biz picks up again. Odell Painting has been operating since 1987. We are a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), and we are state-registered as a Home Improvement Contractor, HIC#PA044685. This registration should be renewed every two years, and this is a number you should ask for in addition to the price.

3. Who have you worked for in my area?

The Odell Painting logo, on the side of all our trucks, has been spotted throughout Bucks, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties, as well as Hunterdon County in New Jersey. Depending on your painting “needs,” I will refer you to a similar job we completed in your neighborhood.

4. Who are your employees?

Every member of my crew has years of experience with both interior and exterior work in some of the finest homes around. We all operate with a strong work ethic, which I call the three “Odell Painting P’s”: We are polite, precise, and prompt.

5. What do you do to protect floors and furniture?

What customers don’t know is if their home was built prior to 1978, a new law (the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule) mandates that we protect the indoor and outdoor environment during any work that requires disturbing lead-based paint.  We are certified in lead-safe practices, which means thoroughly covering both your indoor and outdoor areas during any washing and sanding. Generally, you can ask my wife, who’s “clean crazy” and the arbiter of all things tidy, if we are neat. We put in a lot of prep time (moving/taping/covering), and cleaning up with a HEPA-filtered vacuum each day before leaving.  

Next topic: What items should be covered in a painting contract?

A Ken Odell factoid:

“Houses are often ‘characters’ in my dreams. I can feel their personalities. This is sort of like ‘night training’ because I can walk into a house and almost hear what it wants. So I’d be happy to guide you in your decision-making.”

Restoring a Former Church Building to Its Original Beauty

Here are a few photos from a recent job we performed at a repurposed church building. It was amazing to find this beautiful artistry on the ceiling and to restore it to its original beauty.

Working on the ceiling.

Prepping the apse.