Historic Renovation

Historic renovation and re-use are particularly delicate forms of architecture. They demand active research and a desire to understand a building's contribution yesterday as well as its potential contribution in the future.

The historic renovation of homes and buildings has become a very popular movement across North America. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (http://www.nationaltrust.org/) provides grants and guidance to organizations and individuals who are interested in renovating and/or preserving historical buildings.

The Victorian Lady

Hartford, Conn. / Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance, Inc.
The Victorian Lady was constructed in 1890 as a single-family home in the then-affluent neighborhood of Asylum Hill. The Queen Anne-style home drew the attention and admiration of its neighbors, among them Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Preservation Easements:

For property owners looking to permanently protect their historic properties, one of the most effective legal tools available is the preservation easement a private legal interest conveyed by a property owner to a preservation organization or to a government entity. Read more about preservation easements here...

Some Simple Guidelines to Follow when Restoring or Renovating Your House:

1. Try to retain the original character of the house - don't "over-restore" the building.
2. Pay attention to details.
   • Try to stick to materials that were used when your house was built.
   • Keep elements like color, flooring, within the same historical period as your house.
   • Understand and respect as far as possible the original uses of rooms.
   • If fencing your property, look at genuine old fences, observe the way they are designed and constructed.
   • Garden design will best complement your work on the building if you keep it in period with the house. Use plants and garden layouts of the time.
   • Additions and alterations should be in the manner and materials of the period in which your house was built.
3. Remember that it's a house, not a museum. Live in it and enjoy it and, at the right time, pass it on to someone else.

Additional Resources:

• NationalTrust.org
• Restore America Sites 2005-2006
• This Old House
• Ian Evan's World of Old Houses
• Offering home inspection services in Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Baxter, Boone, Boone Co., Boonville, Cambridge, Clide, Collins, Dallas Co., Des Moines, Dexter, Harvey, Huxley, Indianola, Jasper Co., Johnston, Kellogg, Knoxville, Lacona, Macksburg, Madison, Madison Co., Madrid, Marion Co., Martendale, Maxwell, McCallsburg, Melcher, Milo, Minburn, Mitchellville, Monroe, Nevada, New Virginia, Newton, Norwalk, Perry, Pilot Mound, Polk City, Polk Co., Prairie City, Saylorville, St Charles, Story City, Story Co., Sully, Truro, Urbandale, Warren, Warren Co., Wauke, West Des Moines, Winterset, Woodward in the state of Iowa.