Source: Pat McCarthy
The Kalamazoo County Expo Center and Fairgound will be a one-stop information and product site Jan. 23 for owners, contractors, suppliers and just plain lovers of old houses.
The 5th annual Old House Expo will feature demonstrations, products and information sessions on everything from energy audits to repairing windows and replacing mortar.
The event is slated from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the expo center at 2900 Lake St.
Bob Yapp, author of the book "About Your House" and host of a public-television program of the same name that was co-underwritten by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will be the day's feature speaker.
President of a Missouri-based business that specializes in hands-on historic preservation skills, Yapp will do two programs. At 10 a.m., his topic is "Preservation Does Not Cost- - It Pays," and at 2 p.m. his presentation is "From the Foundation to the Roof - Planning and Financing an Affordable Old House Rehab."
According to Sharon Ferraro, the city of Kalamazoo's historic preservation director, Yapp began his career as a furniture maker and old-house rahabber. He also founded the Belvedere School for Hands-On Preservation that teaches restoration skills to the owners of old homes and contractors who specialize in their upkeep.
In addition to Yapp's shows, three different education presentations will rotate in the venue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m
The vendor's hall will feature a variety of contractors and suppliers, plus continuous demonstrations of paint-stripping techniques, including hand-stripping, chemicals, natural solvents and heat forms.
Other demonstrations will show how to replace sash rope in double-hung windows and the use of wood consolidants.
Other experts will focus on house paints and colors, repairing vintage windows, architects specializing in additions and rehabilitation of old houses, energy audits for historic structures, weatherstipping and Michigan Historic Preservation Income Tax Credits.
There will be a virtual tour of Kalamazoo's State Hospital Water Tower and a presentation on "Hard Facts about Old House Values."
Tickets, available at the door, will be $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. Children younger than 12 are free.
Profits from the Expo will go to Old House Network, a non-profit corporation that sponsors free workshops and outreach activities to the owners of old homes located across southwest Michigan.
Other event co-sponsors include the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, the State Historic Preservation Office, Old Home Rehab, Willson Insurance, the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission and Heritage Company.
For more information, contact Ferraro at (269) 337-8804 or Old House Network at (269) 349-2022.
1014 Davis • Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008 • Phone: (269) 349-2022 (Messages Only) • Fax: (269) 349-2022