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Remodeling: restoring vs. reconstruction


Shenandoah Homes light       When homeowners discuss improvements to a historic home for occupation, often they are
    thinking of 'RECONSTRUCTION' when remodeling. Whether to improve the energy efficiency,
    opening up the home, moving interior walls, homeowners need to consider the personal and legal
    ramifications of reconstruction versus restoration. This page will help you understand the terms
    currently being used from a builder's and historic office's perspective:

 

RECONSTRUCTION IS DEFINED AS


Reconstruction: The act or process of depicting, by means of new construction, the form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving site, landscape, building, structure, or object for the purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific period of time and in its historic location.

A reconstruction is best described as a contemporary re-creation. A melding of contemporary lifestyle and ammenities, sustainable products and energy efficiency (esp. o the inside of the home) with older craftsmanship, architectural detail and sight lines.
It allows for additions and uses contemporary materials but respects the original design.

 

RESTORATION IS DEFINED AS

Restoration: The act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period. The limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a restoration project.

Materials and features from the restoration period will be retained and preserved. The removal of materials or alteration of features, spaces, and spatial relationships that characterize the period will not be undertaken.

Work needed to stabilize, consolidate and conserve materials and features from the restoration period will be physically and visually compatible, identifiable upon close inspection, and properly documented for future research. Deteriorated features from the restoration period will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials.

 

REHABILITATION IS DEFINED AS

Rehabilitation: The act or process of making possible a compatible use for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values.

A property will be used as it was historically or be given a new use that requires minimal change to its distinctive materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships. Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence.

New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.

 

PRESERVATION IS DEFINED AS

Preservation: The act or process of applying measures necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of an historic property. Work, including preliminary measures to protect and stabilize the property, generally focuses upon the ongoing maintenance and repair of historic materials and features rather than extensive replacement and new construction. New exterior additions are not within the scope of this treatment; however, the limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a preservation project.


Two other contemporary forms of rebuilding include:


Remodeling (without restrictions based on historic designations)
Tear-down and rebuild

While both are viable methods of increasing your home and property's value, and are being driven by sprawl, land value and location, neither should be seriously entertained when discussing historic districts.

 

For more about additions and other considerations regarding remodeling, go to:
ftp://phoenix.gov/pub/HISTORIC/designgu.pdf

Find out more about the official difference between restoration, reconstruction, preservation and rehabilitation at: http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/Standards/index.htm


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