Imagine your 100-year-old home needs paint, and it’s drafty in the winter.  Will some nice pale-blue vinyl siding solve your problems??  WAIT!!  Time after time, homeowners cover up old siding with vinyl, including beautiful details and trim which make the older homes so much more distinctive-looking than today’s tract houses.  Sometimes the siding traps moisture inside, doing further damage to the old siding.  House by house, our heritage is being covered up and even destroyed, in the name of convenience.  In Hamilton where I live, the older homes and commercial buildings define the beauty and character we long for from a bygone era.  We have many choices when it comes to maintenance and upkeep, which allow us to hold onto that beauty for future generations.  Remember, “they don’t build ’em like they used to”, so if we don’t save them now they’ll be gone forever.

 

Here are some guidelines taken from the SHPO website:

Roofs

 Roofs can be significant design features, notable for shape, pattern, or materials. The best thing for a roof is regular inspection and repair.

Masonry Cleaning

In general, cleaning of historic masonry is not recommended, as it can cause damage. Cleaning should be undertaken only when dirt may cause damage to masonry materials. Cleaning should not remove the patina which is evidence of a building or structure's history and age, and should never be performed to achieve a "new" appearance. High pressure blasting, using either water or abrasives, can be very damaging to historic materials and should not be used.

Cladding and Siding

Putting vinyl or metal siding over historic cladding, or replacing historic siding with vinyl or metal, is not appropriate. Substitute materials may dramatically alter the historic appearance and character of a building in many ways, and trim is frequently changed or removed at cornices, corners, windows, and doors. Historic decorative shingles or vergeboards, as well as other materials and patterns, may be completely obscured or destroyed. Moreover, substitute siding has the potential to cause serious long-term damage to a building by trapping moisture or by covering the early signs of deterioration that can lead to major repairs and structural problems.

Windows

 Historic windows are among the most important features in a building’s character.  Frequent maintenance now can prevent headaches later. A painted wood window relies on its paint for weather protection to prevent damage.  If inspection of a window reveals repairable damage or deterioration, existing window sash and frames should be retained and repaired, rather than replaced, whenever possible. Replacement of an entire window unit is appropriate only when it is deteriorated beyond repair. The new window should match the original in material, finish, configuration, setback, profiles and all other visual, physical and reflective qualities.

New Construction

A side or rear elevation is usually the best location for additions to historic buildings. Any addition should not change the general perception of the building's historic design. The addition should be designed to be compatible with the architectural character of the historic building, using materials that complement the historic.

Interiors

Wall, ceiling, and floor finishes, door and window trim, and leaded glass are all important features. Often interiors have a mix of styles periods. The addition of an early 20th century interior within a 19th century building, for example, is part of the building's history and worthy of preservation. All sound interior features should be retained and repaired. If damaged or deteriorated beyond repair, these features should be replaced in-kind.  Ceiling height also helps convey historic character. Ceilings should be maintained at original heights.

To summarize:

1.    Retain distinguishing qualities and characteristics.

2.    Repair existing features, materials and finishes. If deteriorated, replace in-kind.

3.    Be authentic: if a feature is missing, use historic documentation to guide replacement.

4.    New construction should not destroy historic features or materials, nor alter historic character. Additions and new work should be compatible with the historic property

 

If you want some professional guidance, call me at 824-1094.

Bruce Ward, Architect