Owning a historic house is a wonderful privilege, however, many homeowners claim they are not sure how to properly protect and preserve their old houses. Consultation provides the homeowner with a first-hand opportunity to learn more about the building’s style, character, defining features, and evolution.
COMPLETE MAINTENANCE OJN A REGULAR BASIS
Routine maintenance, such as cleaning and painting—especially on your building’s exterior—will help minimize rot and the need for costly repairs. Maintenance on Nantucket is especially important because of the sea air and damp winters. Consider developing a maintenance schedule and set goals and priorities.
LIMIT THE SCOPE OF REPAIRS AND KEEP THE ORIGINAL DETAILS
Some of the historic trim, around windows and doors and along the cornice or roofline, may need to be replaced from time to time due to rot or infestation, but replace only the portion of the wood that is damaged. This saves wood and money as well as the historic fabric of the house. If an entire element needs replacing, be sure to take detailed photographs prior to removing, and duplicate the molding profile or shape to retain your building’s historic character.
MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC WINDOWS
Old windows (dating from the early twentieth century or earlier) were made to be repaired, not replaced. There is a lot that you can do to make old windows more energy-efficient and be green in the process.
KEEP HISTORIC INTERIOR FEATURES
The interior of your house can reveal a wealth of information about its past owners; owners have a responsibility to document and maintain this important part of history. Defining elements of the interior can include transoms (that small band of windowpanes above doorways); paneled doors; door hardware; moldings around doorways and windows and imbedded in the plaster, such as chair-rail and picture moldings.
ASK QUESTIONS
Owning an old house can be challenging because dozens of issues arise during your ownership. It is not always easy to find the correct material, method or person to work on your home, and sometimes the answers are hard to find. We suggest researching online and asking questions. Beware of the contractor who says that preservation is not an option or always costs more. Get another opinion.
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