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Old House RESTORATION Home The home was purchased because of its
historic character. True professionals will preserve and enhance that
character--not demolish your property. Preliminary Inspection. Budget. Demand a thorough inspection and firm
real estimates in order to accurately calculate the cost. Documentation Learn as much as you can through
historic documentation about your home. Program and Architectural Design How do you and your family live your
lives? How does the house need to work for you? How does modern living
integrate into an old house and still increase the value of your house. Construction and Restoration Drawings Accurate, detailed drawings are
essential for success. Building Permits There are numerous allowances or
exceptions in permitting rules if you have an old house, and it's essential
to have a good working relationship with your local building inspector to
know where the rules can be modified. Everyone needs to agree on what can be
done before you proceed. (See Massachusetts State Building Code 1 and 2
family, CMR-93.00 Existing Homes, 9309 Historic homes). |
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Selecting a Contractor |
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While the contractor's level of experience is
important, the number of years' experience is less important than a thorough
understanding of the preservation process and a willingness to participate in
it. Consider the scope of the project. Do you
need a general contractor, a subcontractor, or a small versatile company?
What trades will be involved? Is there masonry, carpentry, painting and
roofing? Do you need electrical, plumbing, or heat and air work? Ask your
contractor who his sub-contractors are. A company who did a good job last
year may have an entirely different crew this year. Any company is only as
good and reliable as its workmen. Make sure your workmen are covered by workers
compensation insurance. The homeowner can be held responsible for injuries on
your property if the workmen are not covered. Small contractors or subs are
not required by law to carry “comp” insurance, however that doesn't remove
the liability. You may want to inquire about the contractor's credit. The
ability of a contractor to finance his operation, and your project, is key to the construction business. If a contractor is less
than financially stable, you could end up paying him for materials delivered
to your site and then paying for them again if he doesn't pay his supplier. |
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Review these issues with your contractor before you begin: Are replacement materials "in-kind"? Efforts should be made to match existing
materials and more importantly, their dimensions and profiles. It is
reasonable to replace, for example, old wood with new wood rather than a
substitute material, while maintaining the dimensions and profile of the old
wooden component. It is usually acceptable to make replacement repairs by
repeating the original technology. Be careful, however, not to repeat a
previous unacceptable repair just because it was what was in place. Read up
on Historic Preservation Skills: Historic Preservation Books at the Library
(Courtesy of the Newburyport Preservation Trust) "The American Builders Companion,"
3rd and 6th editions by Asher Benjamin Consult with the Experts at the National Trust for Historic Places and the Newburyport Preservation Trust and checkout these Preservation Briefs which are designed to guide contractors and homeowners on how to rehabilitate an antique house: Also, know the guidelines and standards for historic preservation as established by the Secretaery of the Interior and followed uniformly across the nation. Also, learn techniques for applying these standards through practical advice via Preservation Briefs.
A series of lectures on the Internet on how to preserve your
home from architectural styles, preservation techniques, dealing with
masonry, windows and any other challenge your home may find for you!
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