Age is not the only thing that makes a building historical. The traditional materials and craftsmanship in the original construction of your historical building are an essential part of its historical fabric. Preserving its architectural integrity can only be done by using the same traditional materials and craftsmanship that made your building what it is …
When most people think about the post-World War II era of the 1950’s, among the things they think about are iconic TV shows like “Howdy Doody” and “The Ed Sullivan Show,” presidents Truman and Eisenhower, Rock-n-Roll, the emergence of teen culture, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe movies, and the Cold War. But historical preservationists equate …
Historical buildings were built when neither advancements in technology nor construction technology was in abundant supply. Early designers made the most of building materials and design options to construct buildings with a powerful combination of harnessed natural resources and innovative design that worked together to maximize energy efficiency. Everything from exterior paint colors, locations of …
“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 »
There are a variety of tasks that can be done on a regular basis to extend the life of a porch. In addition, a visual inspection of the porch should be made every spring and fall to determine if more in-depth repairs are necessary. Fortunately, ongoing maintenance significantly reduces both the need and cost for …
Historically Sensitive Storm Windows A Product Recommendation from Chuck When storm windows first came into use to promote energy efficiency, they were installed on the outside of the house. Not only did this take away from the architectural integrity of the house by impeding the view of major architectural features in windows, they also …
Painting a historical home is about more than just going to the big box home improvement store and browsing the array of color choices available, picking a few you like, trying each of them out in test spots, and then making a final decision. While seemingly harmless, painting a historical home carries with it …
Preservation Pennsylvania has released their “Pennsylvania At-Risk: Twenty-Year Retrospective of Pennsylvania’s Endangered Historic Properties, Where Are They Now” edition. It’s a fascinating look at preservation in action and we’ll be posting a look at each property in a series of posts over the next several months. INTRODUCTION Preservation Pennsylvania established the annual Pennsylvania At Risk …
Preserving Pennsylvania: A Journey Through the Last 20 Years, Part 3 Read More »
HISTORIC PROPERTIES WE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN RESTORING (To see more pictures of a particular project, please click on the thumbnail.) 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 …
3. Replacing Original Wood Windows. Technology and architectural styles have shaped the design of windows throughout history. The windows are one of the few parts of a building that serves as both an interior and exterior feature, and they usually make up 20-30% of the surface area of a historic building. It is for these reasons …
Your House is a Money Pit more Common Mistakes.. Read More »
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