Notebook

The Importance of Climate Control to Protect Your Building

Climate control is an important consideration for historic building maintenance. We are all familiar with the large temperature swings experienced in the Northeast climate, and buildings experience temperatures ranging from -30° below freezing to 100° in the sun just like we do! Just as we desire cooling relief and the warmth of the furnace for our quality of life- buildings need these things just as much to preserve their quality. Significant fluctuations in building temperature directly (and possibly negatively) impact the longevity of your preservation efforts. As you consider your building maintenance plan, and before you invest in a preservation effort, consider the importance of climate control.

Large swings in temperature cause all surfaces to expand and contract accordingly. These changes in surface tensions cause considerable stress on all building materials, as well as the contents of the building. The unfortunate result of these changing surface tensions is eventual failure of plaster, paint, glue and nails. As the many surfaces move, interior paint begins to crack and alligator, plaster cracks and releases from its lath or base surface, nails bend or break, and glue cracks, flakes and withers away. In addition to the building itself, large temperature changes threaten the preservation of manuscripts and documents, furniture and fixtures, antiques, and other important building contents.

If you use the building during the colder months at all, it is more cost effective to maintain a minimum temperature and bring the building up to comfortable temperature than to attempt to bring the building from 10° to 68° on any regular basis.

It is our recommendation that the building heat be maintained throughout the colder months at 50°-55° Fahrenheit which is considered ‘Museum Temperature’, the minimum temperature preferred by museum curators, art historians and historic preservation professionals. This is a solid first-step toward protecting your important historic building and its contents.

5 Biggest Restoration Mistakes

1. Skipping the necessary research and investigation to determine the building’s history, what the period details were, where materials can be found, what modern methods are available, and what preservation experts can advise and assist.
2. Failing to develop a Preservation Plan including the project timeline and priorities, budget, and maintenance schedule.
3. Investing in improving cosmetic details before restoring the structural integrity of the building.
4. Performing projects in a sequence that undermines previous work ~ finishing floors before the walls are repaired, restoring plaster before foundation repairs are completed.
5. Short-term “cures” that lead to more serious problems in the future (using inferior quality products, performing cosmetic cover-ups, etc.).

Tips for Selecting a Specialty Contractor

We believe restoration is an art, and those of us working in the restoration trades have spent years developing special techniques and expertise to handle a restoration project with the sensitivity necessary to maintain historic integrity.

A contractor with experience in restoration has developed what we refer to as “Restoration Temperament.” Historic preservation demands both artistic ability and a great deal of patience for detail. Older homes and buildings have a great deal of character and unique aspects that make them as appealing as they are to many of us. Whenever possible, the goal is to retain or match the original aspects of the building as closely as possible. This is not always the quickest or easiest route to renovation. This often requires extra steps and may result in a slower production schedule than what you would experience in a new construction endeavor. Select someone whose experience tells them when to fix and when to replace, and can describe the different restoration methods to you clearly.

Of course, you have a distinct vision for how you want your project to turn out. Put your trust in a contractor who can offer you a cohesive look of quality in your project, providing a consistency of finish work that matches the quality in the original areas of the structure. Expect to be offered several options for your project ranging from using extensive reconstructive methods to more economical or modern techniques. Ask for clear descriptions of how the options differ, and the pros and cons of each. Select a contractor who can speak with both the technical expertise and an artistic ability regarding your restoration project.