Various renovation questions, help!

Hi

I have a few renovation questions that are causing me to loose sleep, and thought maybe I could get some feedback.

Issue #1: stairs. all the stairs in the house i’m buying have to be completely replaced. We could maybe save bannisters, and 1 stair’s worth of spindles, as well as 1 newel post, but that’s it. Where do I go for nice, period appropriate stair stuff? Do I just have to haunt salvage places and hope, or is there somewhere to get new treads, risers, etc (not newels, for that I will haunt salvage places) that won’t break the bank or look too new/out of place? Thanks.

Issue 2: Floors. Where can I get reclaimed floors?!? Not old beams remilled into floors, but for-real old floors?

Issue 3: What about molding? House has no molding except in front parlor, and I don’t want to replicate it custom but I do want nice, hefty, again, period-appropriate moldings.

Issue 4: Plaster work. It’s all gone, long since sheetrocked. Anyone know anything about the fake plaster moldings (I think their rubber?) What do they look like? Where can I get them? Is there an example online I could look at?

If I had a million dollars to renovate, I’d put the plaster back up, but I just can’t, so I want some viable and budget appropriate options to deal with ugly sheetrocked ceilings. Thanks!

By RAR |