Restoration and Preservation

An old building can undergo many facelifts, and the most historically significant period for the building may not be from the time it was built. Perhaps it was when it was occupied by an important historical figure or possibly from a period when a historical occurrence took place like a signing of a treaty.
Careers in Historic Preservation
baltimore city hall being reconstructed by the durable restoration company
An old building can undergo many facelifts, and the most historically significant period for the building may not be from the time it was built. Perhaps it was when it was occupied by an important historical figure or possibly from a period when a historical occurrence took place like a signing of a treaty. Therefore, the type of work most desired on an old building could be preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation.

In this, we strive to adhere as closely as feasible to the guidelines laid out in the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These Standards are particularly important to building owners who are seeking federal grants or tax credits or other similar assistance on their historic properties, since following the Standards is usually required to get approvals for these programs. The Secretary of Interior’s Standards provide guidelines for four treatments: preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

In historic preservation, one is protecting, stabilizing, and maintaining the existing materials and structure of a historic place while preserving its heritage value. As much of the original materials are left in place as possible, while maintaining and repairing the surrounding elements to match existing.
half way complete granite stair restoration
church spire with slate roof and copper ridges
Westminster Presbyterian structural stabilization as seen from the aisle in front of the stained glass
In historic restoration, one determines the building’s period of greatest significance and performs the actions and processes necessary to restore, recover, and/or reveal the architectural design and fabric of that particular period, while protecting its heritage value.

Historic Rehabilitation encompasses those actions and processes that make it possible to adapt a historical building for a compatible, contemporary use, while protecting its heritage value.

With reconstruction, one is rebuilding a non-surviving building, structure, site, or object with all new materials, for the purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific period of time in the history of the entity.

Durable Restoration personnel are experts in the preservation and restoration process, as exemplified by the award winning Frank Lloyd Wright Westcott project. We bring this same expertise, attention to detail and care to every project we do, no matter how modest or how extensive.
Because The Durable Restoration Company follows the Secretary of Interior Standards for Historic Preservation and ensures the correct preservation of the projects we work on, grants can typically be easily applied when awarded.

Below find the links to several national organizations that award grants on a yearly and bi-yearly basis. Also, your state historic preservation office can often be of great assistance in finding local grants, they are also listed below. 

If you have any general questions, The Durable Group's preservation director, Julie Butler, is happy to help; she can be reached at jbutler@durablerestoration.com

Featured Project:

Steeple Square, Dubuque, IA
close up of steeple square in dubuque, ia
john chan gary howes accepting IFD award for steeple square
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