Get Free Checklists

Historic Home Restoration

  • Home
  • Historic Home Restoration

Quick answer:

Historic restoration means preserving original character while making the home safe and livable, repair original materials rather than replacing them, and match anything you must replace “in kind.” Check whether your home is in a historic district (which may require approval for exterior changes) and whether it qualifies for historic tax credits before you start.

Preserve first, replace last

The guiding principle of good historic work, reflected in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, is to keep and repair original features (windows, trim, plaster, flooring, masonry) wherever possible.

Original wood windows, for example, can usually be repaired and weather-stripped to perform well, rather than replaced. When a feature is beyond saving, replace it “in kind”: same material, profile, and detail.

Know the rules before you start:

  • Historic districts: if your home is in a local historic district or landmarked, exterior changes often need approval from a preservation board. Check first, undoing unapproved work is costly.
  • Tax credits & grants: historic properties may qualify for federal or state rehabilitation tax credits. These have rules, so confirm eligibility before work begins.

Balance character with modern needs

You can update systems and comfort without erasing history: discreet HVAC, updated wiring and plumbing, insulation that respects how old walls breathe.

The goal is a home that’s safe and comfortable but still unmistakably itself. Many older homes also carry the same hazards as any older property, test for lead and asbestos before disturbing original materials.

The restoration process, every time

Good restoration follows the same logic, whether it’s a flooded basement or a century-old farmhouse:

Make it safe

Handle immediate hazards first (electrical, structural, contamination).

Find the cause

Fix the source, not just the symptom, so the damage doesn't return.

Repair from the inside out

Structure and systems before surfaces.

Maintain

Protect the work you paid for.

See the Step-by-Step Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "repair in kind" mean?

Replacing a damaged feature with the same material, profile, and detail so the home’s character is preserved.
Often you don’t need to — original wood windows can usually be repaired and weather-stripped. In a historic district, replacement may need approval.
Federal and some state programs offer rehabilitation tax credits for qualifying historic properties. Confirm eligibility before starting.
If it’s in a historic district or landmarked, exterior changes usually require review. Check with your local preservation office first.