A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses I "We shape our buildings; thereafter, our buildings shape us. " - Sir Winston Churchill © 2008 by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, www.dhr.virginia.gov This edition of A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners ofVirginia's Historic Houses is revised from a text originally written by the author for the Alabama Historical Commission and copyrighted and published by that agency in 2001. The author is indebted to the AHC, the State Historic Preservation Office for the State ofAlabama, for funding the initial publication. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is also grateful to the AHC for permission to reproduce much of that original text herein. All photos are from the author or the Archives of the Department of Historic Resources, unless otherwise indicated. Photo, previous page: Saved from demolition by APVA Preservation Virginia, Wilton of Middlesex County remains a pristine record of its time (1754). Complete with original paint colors, stucco, stairway, flooring and brickwork in the house, the property is protected in perpetuity by easements and is currently being marketed through the APVA Revolving Fund to be restored by a sensitive buyer. Cover photos by David Edwards, John G. Lewis, Calder Loth, and Michael Pulice for DHR. This project was brought to publication in cooperation with APVA Preservation Virginia, 204 West Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23220; www.apva.org. The mission of APVA Preservation Virginia is to preserve, promote and serve as an advocate for the state's irreplaceable historic places for cultural, economic and educational benefits for everyone. Cover and layout design by Instinct Design LLC. Contents Chapter 1. Introduction and Basic Resources 7 Developing a Way of Thinking about Virginia's Historic Resources 8 Virginia's Historic Home Owners' # 1 Resource: The Virginia Department of Historic Resources 11 The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation 12 Resources Recommended Initial Contacts for Owners of Historic Homes 13 General Booklists 14 Highly Recommended Books for Owners of Historic Homes 15 Popular Periodicals 15 A Few Recommendations for the Technically Inclined 16 Organizations You May Find Helpful 16 Chapter 2. Preservation Planning Beyond the Historic House 17 Understanding Historic Preservation Issues, Laws, and Opportunities that Relate to Owners of Virginia's Historic Homes 17 A Brief Lesson in Virginia's Architectural History 18 Recognition: Virginia Landmarks Register, the National Register of Historic Places, and the Highway Marker Program 21 Controls: Architectural Review Boards and the Certified Local Government Program 23 Incentives, Assistance and Options for Historic Home Owners 26 Insurance and Appraisals 28 Mothballing Historic Houses 28 Moving Historic Houses 28 Archaeology 29 Resources Virginia's Architectural and Archaeological History 30 General Architectural History 30 A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses Table of Contents Chapter 3. Planning for the Preservation and Restoration of Your Historic House 31 The Importance of Planning Your Repairs or Restoration 31 Basic Guides for Approaching Repairs to Historic Homes 33 Where-to-Eind-Tedu1-icaLAssista-rrGe J...4est QuiGkly--- 35 The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation 35 Preservation Briefs 36 Trades Workshops 37 Maintenance is Preservation 38 Water Issues 38 Design of Roofs and Roof Systems 39 Roofing Materials 39 Gutters and Downspouts 40 Valleys 41 Flashing 41 Chimneys 42 Basements and Foundations 42 Parapet Walls 42 Masonry Issues: Know What You Have Before You Begin Work 43 What is Masonry? 43 Masonry Is Not as Tough as It Looks 45 Cleaning 45 Repairing and Repainting 46 Cracks 46 Sealers and Coatings 46 Wood Issues 47 Natural Material 47 Wood Repair Techniques 48 Historic Wooden Windows 49 Window Alternatives 50 Termites and Other Wood-Destroying Pests 50 Paints and Finishes 51 Historicai Paint Coiors 51 Hazardous Paint 51 Surface Preparation 52 Compatible Materials 52 Aluminum and Vinyl Siding 52 A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses Table of Contents Metals 53 Basic Considerations 53 Metal Roofing Materials 53 Hardware 54 Cast Iron Railings or Fencing 54 Additions to Historic Homes 54 Landscapes and Back Yards 55 Maintenance of Landscapes and Backyards 55 Ground Disturbance and Archaeology 55 Historical Plant Materials 56 Family Cemeteries 56 Interiors 57 Planning 57 Structural Systems 57 Insulation and HVAC Systems 58 Finishes 58 Interior Decoration 59 Fireplaces 59 Wood Floors 59 Resources 60 Inspection and Maintenance 60 Roofing 60 Masonry 61 Wood Repair and Restoration 61 Window Repair and Replacement 62 Painting and Finishes 62 Moving Buildings 63 Metals 63 Landscape and Archaeological Issues 63 Cemeteries 63 Interiors 64 A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses Table of Contents About the_Au1ho ____ _ Camille Agricola Bowman received her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Historic Preservation. Ms. Bowman has over 30 years' experience in the field of historic preservation, having worked in North Carolina, New York City, and Alabama. She is currently the Easement Technical Advisor, located in the Tidewater Regional Preservation Office (in Newport News) of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. As she is trained as an architectural conservator, her work in the field of historic preservation most often involves the understanding of building materials, how materials deteriorate, solutions for their preservation, and maintenance as a prescribed prevention technique. Acknowledgments The author is grateful to Hank Johnson, a summer intern from Sewanee who scanned slides and updated resources, and to Randy Turner, Ann Andrus, Randy Jones, and Pamela Schenian ofVDHR for their careful editing and proofing of the Virginia version of this publication. Thanks, too, to my other VDHR colleagues for their assistance in securing images for the book: David Edwards, Joanie Evans, Quatro Hubbard, Calder Loth, Wendy Musumeci, Michael Pulice, and Lisa Williams, as well as to Karen Hostettler for the map on page 13. A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses Introduction CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND BASIC RESOURCES he goal for this handbook is to questions that are repeatedly directed to the help owners of Virginia's historic staff at the Virginia Department of Historic T homes begin to understand their Resources. Not all questions will be houses and to learn where to find the answered in this publication, nor is it a com­ answers to protect, preserve, and maintain plete restoration manual of resources or them. This basic compilation of resources "how to" information. However, additional and explanations should help homeowners to topic-related resources follow at the end of understand, plan, investigate, evaluate, and each chapter or topic. All of these resources­ carry out the most sympathetic and cost­ whether contacted by telephone, letter, or the effective repairs to their historic homes. It is Internet-can lead the careful investigator to Richmond's Fan District remains a cohesive, intact meant to be a simple and readable technical more information and additional resources neighborhood due to excellent preservation planning and protection. manual, touching on recurring themes and not listed in the manual. "Preservation happens best when property owners, local governments, businesses, community leaders, and an educated citizenry want it to happen and when they know and understand both the enormous benefits of historic preservation and how to incorporate preservation into their community's economic, educational, and civic life." - Kathleen S. Kilpatrick. Director, Virginia Department ofHistoric Resources A Handbook and Resource Guide for Owners of Virginia's Historic Houses Chapter 1 "It is generally recognized that one of the most important duties of an enlightened society is the care and conservation of products of human genius." -Lawrence J ]ajewski, Preservation and Conservation, Principles and Practices Developing A Way of Thinking About Virginia's Historic Houses istoric homes offer a sense of and/ or plaster decoration, and the spacious sustainable approach to the environment. place that is otherwise fleeting in arrangement of rooms in historic houses are The reasons for being attracted to old H our fast-moving society. Not only added enticements to those of us seeking an houses may be as varied as the people who are the architectural styles hard to find in affordable home in which we will enjoy love them, but we become enchanted by construction today, but the superb crafts­ living. In addition, the "greenest" building these "products of human genius," and find manship and materials of yesterday's build­ is the one that is already standing. We, as ourselves wanting to live in them. In order to do so successfully, we must understand ings are unsurpassed in modern homes. The citizens, need to understand how to take them as historic resources, and we should high ceilings, the abundance of real wood care of what we have - which is the most be prepared to invest ourselves and our sweat equity, our financial assets, and the goodwill of our families wisely. Restoring and living in historic houses can be eco­ nomical, as long as we take the time to plan, research, and prepare the restoration and take advantage of the most up-to-date preservation methods available. For exam­ ple, repair of the original elements in build­ ings is much more economical than total replacement. Not only is it expensive to completely replace building elements (such as windows), but modern materials are often inferior in quality to those originally put into the house. We live in a "remodel­ ing" society where the quick fix from the big box store is the norm. However, in Most people know and understand the "human genius" that designed and built Monticello. Talented craftsmen also order to be a conscientious steward of your designed and built Virginia's historic houses.