Texas has a rich history, and the state is proud to honor this tradition by preserving many historical monuments, sites, and buildings. Because there are so many, your building may be at a historical site. Renovating these areas can be challenging, because you want to update them without destroying their history. But even before you can move forward with this type of project, you need to make sure you understand the process that’s involved with renovating historic sites in the State of Texas.
Getting a Permit
Before they can restore or renovate a historical building or home, contractors must go through a rigorous permit application process (which is done through a federally-run program called the “National Register of Historic Places”). They must learn the story behind the building so they can understand its historical significance. This will give them an idea of how to renovate it in way that will maintain its historical origins.
These types of restoration projects must meet certain local codes related to safety, materials, and building standards. Because it’s an older building, it may not have been built according to today’s standards. If this is the case, the renovation project must meet certain requirements related to accessibility, fire, and safety.
Choosing the Right Treatment
When it comes to getting the work done, some tough decisions have to be made. Contractors have to decide how much of the property they want to fix or change. There are five main categories of work that are typically done on historical buildings, and deciding which one works best will depend on the amount of damage the building has sustained and the goal of the renovation project.
The five main categories of historic site restoration include the following:
- Preservation — This involves protecting and preserving the history of the building as it was used in the past.
- Restoration — This focuses on returning a historical building to the way it was during a specific time period.
- Rehabilitation — This process focuses on making the necessary repairs and alterations to keep the building in operation.
- Adaptive Reuse — this focuses on saving a historic site by modifying its original purpose.
- Move — This process involves moving the building to a new location in order to save it.
Historical building restorations have one goal, which is to preserve the beauty and history of the site. A good rule of thumb is to try to repair the issue before replacing it, because it will keep the original look and beauty of the building. Newer structures don’t have the same architecture as these historical sites, so contractors need to make sure they can preserve as much of the original structure as possible.
How to Find the Right Contractor for Historic Home Repair
You want to create a list of possible architects and contractors who may be a good fit for the project. If you have seen projects in your area that you like, find out who designed them. Some of the resources where you can find this information include the following:
- Your State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
- Statewide preservation organizations.
- Local historical societies.
- Other owners of historic homes.
- House museums in your area.
Most of these places should be able to tell which architects and contractors have been used on any previous renovation projects. If there’s a local preservation review board in your area, they might be able to give you a list of architects who have worked on historic properties. Your local chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) will have resources related to the preservation of historic properties, so they should be able to recommend a number of firms that specialize in historical projects.
Once you have put together a list, you want to do some preliminary research on each firm. They should have websites where you’ll be able to view the types of projects they have worked on in the past. Look at the scale and scope of work they typically do, and see if it’s consistent with what you want. You then want to contact the firms with the most potential. Give them a description of the project and the desired timeline to see if it’s within the scope of work that they do. If it isn’t, you can ask if they can recommend another firm.
If you’re looking for one of the best places for historic home repair in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Bayfront Roofing. We have an experienced team who would be happy to speak with you!
