How to Ensure Your Historic Home Restoration Is a Success

Historic property restoration is far more challenging than a typical whole-home remodel. For most restoration projects, the goal is to find a good balance between preserving the property’s history while making sure that it’s structurally sound. Here are some on how to make your historic home restoration a success.

Review Your Home’s History

History is a key element of an historic restoration project, especially if the property is older. The people who lived in it and the events that occurred in it are your points of reference, and may define your approach to restoration. For example, you may want to find out the house’s color palette, décor and furniture as it was during a particular period. This will define the materials to be used, the skills needed to replicate certain elements and the extent of restoration work required.

Know the Difference: Restoration vs. Rehabilitation

The terms “restoration” and “rehabilitation” are often used interchangeably, but are actually two different things. Knowing the difference can help keep you and your home remodeling contractors on the same page.

Restoration entails close attention to detail, replicating the interiors and exteriors from a particular period. Rehabilitation, on the other hand, makes use of an existing structure and converts it into something useful. Significant features may be kept to commemorate the property’s historical significance.

Decide on How Authentic You Want to Get

Restoration projects have a small margin for error depending on how close you want to replicate relevant historical details. For example, if the property had wood shake roofing, you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of using the same material vs. using a modern equivalent.

For example, wood shake roofing would be more faithful to the original, but it is also high maintenance, susceptible to damage caused by moisture and temperature changes and might not be offered by some roofing contractors. Modern “look-alike” roofing may offer better performance and have relatively lower maintenance requirements, but can be identified as a modern material at close scrutiny. Whatever you ultimately choose, you have to make sure that such changes are not going to remove or alter historically significant features.

Design Build Remodeling Group of Maryland is your leading provider of home restoration and kitchen remodeling services. Give us a call at (443) 300-2268. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Eldersburg, MD, and the surrounding communities.