Did you know that historical wood windows are one of the most vulnerable and at-risk elements of our architectural heritage? Preservation Virginia has proclaimed historical windows endangered, saying, “Historic wooden windows are destroyed daily in lieu of new, inferior windows. Salesman convince owners and architectural review boards members that replacement windows are superior to historic …
Fireplaces were essential in Early American homes, providing heat, light, and a hearth for cooking, as well as a family gathering place. In Colonial America, they were usually wide, deep “walk-ins” without much of a mantel. Those in the homes of Dutch settlers were often wider than tall, while the English settlers built them to …
A Hearthside History: Fireplaces, Mantles, and the Early American Home Read More »
Lauren Dillion of Master of Plaster joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss: Her introduction to plaster as an art form The different types of plaster (I really didn’t know there were so many) – lime (there are different types of lime!), gypsum, and clay Lauren answered all of my lime wash questions Plus you …
Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Lauren Dillion of Master of Plaster Read More »
At first glance, porches and doors may seem like no more than a way to get in or out of a home or business. But there is much more to these architectural gateways. They are frequently exemplary examples of carpentry that give us a peek into the artisanship of our architectural history and have …
Robert Young, PhD of the University of Utah’s College of Architecture + Planning joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss the intersection of sustainability and preservation. During our discussion we discussed how stewardship of existing buildings is the ultimate green building (plus it is large scale recycling). Some of the other topics we discussed are: …
Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Robert Young, PhD of University of Utah Read More »
Greg Huber from Eastern Barn Consultants and Past Perspectives joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss: How barn styles varied from region to region What makes barn construction unique The type of barn Danielle had never heard of We also discussed the services Greg offers documenting barns and researching house histories, the barn tours and …
Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Greg Huber of Eastern Barn Consultants Read More »
Alison Hardy from Window Woman of New England joins me to discuss the state of window restoration. If you’d ever wondered what preservationist discuss this episode is for you. We discuss: Can your windows be saved or are they really beyond repair? Repair vs. Replacement mindset The education process to combat the replacement window marketing …
Practical Preservation Podcast featuring Alison Hardy from Window Woman of New England Read More »
“We regret much of what we’ve built; we regret much of what we’ve torn down. But we’ve never regretted preserving anything.” -Daniel Sack Original windows serve a dual purpose of providing ventilation and light while being an important part of the buildings architectural design. These windows are constantly under attack from the marketing forces of …
Put Replacement Windows to Shame: What that Nice Salesperson Doesn't Want You to Know Read More »
This article is a part of a series from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s excellent field guide on the architectural styles found in Pennsylvania. In it, they’ve assigned key periods of development – from the Colonial period in the 18th Century to the Modern Movements of the 29th Century. This article focuses on an overview of the …
There is no architectural element in our historic architecture more nostalgic than the American porch. We remember playing on them as kids. We hung out on them with our friends as teenagers (probably stealing a kiss or two we weren’t supposed to have yet). We sat on them as adults sipping iced tea on hot …
Preservation Education: A History of the American Porch Read More »
© 2022 Practical Preservation | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Service