Preservation Guidelines

Preserving Historic Log Homes

Old House Web — Inspecting old buildings throughout the Delaware Valley has given me the opportunity to see a variety of log buildings. The earliest were built closest to the Delaware Bay by Swedish and Finnish settlers as early as 1638. I've been in a couple ...More…

The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports

Old House Web — Guiding the Treatment of Significant Historic Properties »When to Prepare the Report »Commissioning the Report » How Much Will It Cost? » Report Preparation » Report Organization » Report Production and Availability » Summary »Taking it further A ...More…

The National Park Service's Preservation Briefs

Old House Web — These publications have been prepared pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, which directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop and make available information concerning historic properties. Technical ...More…

Additions to Historic Buildings

Old House Web — An attached exterior addition to a historic building expands its "outer limits" to create a new profile. In this photo, a compatible building has been added to the rear elevation of an historic building. Because such expansion has the capability ...More…

Part 4: Identify, Retain and Preserve

Old House Web — Under guidelines published by the National Park Service, historic rehabilitation is a three-step process of Actions that are most apt to diminish or destroy the buildings's historic character are not recommended. A word of caution, however. Loss ...More…

Part 3: Standards for Rehabilitation

Old House Web — General guidelines in applying the standards to projectsduring the planning stage. Pertainent to historic buildings of all sizes, materials, occupancy, and construction types; and applicable to interior and exterior work as well as new exterior ...More…

Part 2: The 10 Commandments

Old House Web — The Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, published by the Secretary of the Interior, comprise 10 rules. At left is an example of remodeling which diminishes the historical value of this storefront, and violates The new arched ...More…

Part 1: Defining the terms

Old House Web — Both preservation and rehabilitation standards focus on the historic materials and features, finishes, spaces, and spatial relationships that give a property its historic character. The Standards for Rehabilitation (codified in 36 CFR 67 for use ...More…

Intro: Rehabilitation vs. Remodeling

Old House Web — The U.S. Secretary of the Interior is responsible for establishing standards for all programs under his/her authority and for advising federal agencies on the preservation of historic properties listed in, or eligible for listing in the National ...More…

Inappropriate rooftop addition

Old House Web — Historic three-story building before rehab. National Park ServicePhotos. This three-story building is part of a historic district noted for late-19th centurycommercial buildings. It is prominently located on a corner site and flanked by ...More…

Subdividing a large significant interior space

Old House Web — This modest Gothic Revival church building, featuring twelve distinctive stained glasswindows, buttresses, and a gable roof, was built in 1858. It survived into the late 20thcentury virtually intact. The interior is further defined by its tray ...More…

Loss of a significant building site

Old House Web — An early 20th century Mediterranean villa style house, individually listed in theNational Register of Historic Places, had a formal garden, apparently conceived as anintegral part of the total landscape design. The house had been vacant for over ...More…

Preservation Guidelines

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