Restoring and Maintaining Historic Homes
To our way of thinking, few things are more beautiful and fascinating than a well-kept historic home. Traditionally, historic homes are at least 50 years old, have maintained their architectural integrity, and are significant as they are shining examples and reminders of a bygone era. Many owners of historic homes go so far as to collect and decorate with furnishings exclusive to the home’s original era, though that is more a function of personal taste.
Common Aging Issues
Unfortunately, due to their advanced age, a common issue with historic homes is a failing exterior foundation. Brick and mortar can only withstand so much exposure to the elements before they eventually start to deteriorate and fail. Other common issues are over-spanned joist systems (built long before current building codes were in place) and frequent termite damage.
If you are fortunate enough to own a historic home, be aware of problem indicators, which can include:
Bouncy or spongy floors
Bricks falling out or missing from the exterior foundation
Large gaps or holes in the exterior foundation
Hardwoods that begin to cup or feel spongy to walk on
If the home starts to sink or fail due to deterioration or lack of proper foundation footers, it’s time to explore restoration options.
Restoration Process
As you can imagine, restoring a historic home is vastly different than restoring or repairing a traditional home. The basic construction of historic homes is often quite different from modern construction standards. Contractors unfamiliar with older homes and the methodology used decades ago are often confused about what to do or where to begin. It requires experience and often some creativity to bring these homes back to their original glory while still maintaining their historic character and integrity.
Historical homes are also often subject to the oversight of a local historical society. Repairs and modifications may have to be approved by the board of directors before construction can begin. Depending on the home’s location and approval from a historical society, special permits may be required that fall outside standard building permits, local building codes and engineering designs.
If not repaired, these remarkable structures can rapidly fall into such an advanced state of disrepair that it becomes no longer feasible to make the necessary changes. Of course, if done with the proper care and respect for the property, restoring a historic home’s foundation can bring back the original life and beauty that will help preserve it for many more generations to admire and enjoy.
It was once said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Beautiful, maintained historic homes help us understand where we came from and where we’re going.