May is preservation month the theme of this year is, “Old is the New Green!”. With most people looking for ways to minimize their impact on the environment in their corner of the world it is important to not do anything to a historic building that will damage the historic fabric of the structure. Historic …
Historic Properties We have Been Involved In Restoring For a printable version of this list, please click here. Public Projects Petersen House Perhaps our most famous project, the Petersen House is the 19th Century house across from Ford’s Theater that President Lincoln died in. We also repaired and replicated the interior and exterior woodwork, including structural …
KITCHENS – today, these rooms are so essential to what most people see in a desirable home, that they can be one of the main determinants of whether or not to buy a particular house. These rooms generally serve not only as showplaces, but also as a central socializing spot. However, this was not always …
Ahmed Zidan of Hollander Glass joined the Practical Preservation Podcast to discuss the company’s restoration/historic branch, Hollander Historic. We covered multiple topics, including: The company’s background and the history of glass-making The company’s services, primarily as specialty glass fabricators and distributors Hollander’s historic line of restoration window glass, including glass appropriate to periods over the …
Practical Preservation Podcast Featuring Ahmed Zidan of Hollander Glass Read More »
Rabbit Goody, owner, designer, and master weaver of Thistle Hill Weavers, joined the Practical Preservation podcast to discuss information about her background in weaving, and museum curation and consultation. We covered a multitude of topics including: Rabbit’s interwoven skill-sets and background, starting with her intuitive skills as a teen-aged weaver, and her academic backgrounds in …
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Choosing a contractor with the right mix of skills and experience to work on your historical building can be a daunting experience. Especially considering the potential for permanent damage to the historical fabric of your building, you need to select a contractor who: is well-versed in historical products and materials; can identify and replicate the …
Labor Shortages and How They Affect Your Project Read More »
Window repair, restoration, or replacement is an unavoidable topic of concern in historic buildings. Windows in your historic property are like the eyes of the home. They are an important piece of the historical fabric of the location, and also play an integral part in energy efficiency of the property. Simultaneously, they are one of …
PART 2 OF THIS SERIES of working on your old home explores replacement in-kind. Replacement in-kind refers to replicating the original in all respects except improved condition, when absolute preservation is not possible. This is a follow-up to Part 1’s general information about maintaining your home’s historical relevance and period style. Regarding replacement, it is …
Choosing a contractor with adequate skills and experience to complete a job is always important, but it is particularly important for restorations and renovations of a historical building. To avoid permanently damaging the historical fabric of your building, you need a contractor who is well-versed in historical products and materials, can identify and replicate the …
We recently completed a historic porch restoration at the Harris-Cameron mansion in Harrisburg, PA. Part of the project involved fabricating new wood columns to match a few existing column we were salvaging. For that work we turned to Somerset Door & Column Company. For over 100 years, Somerset Door & Column Company has manufactured architectural …
Preservation Spotlight: Somerset Door & Column Company Read More »
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