Heritage buildings have more historic value than its monetary value. It is therefore essential to take extra care and precaution during the restoration of heritage buildings and hire only certified professionals for the restoration job. You will need to have a proper plan to go ahead with the restoration process and before that, you will have to acquire required permits and certificates.
When It Comes to Planning for Restoration of Heritage Buildings You Must Follow the Following Steps:
First, call relevant authority or council to find out whether there are any restrictions or overlays. This will allow you to know the peripheries and stay within it to avoid any legal obligations.
Look at the history of the building such as its original use and the time it was built. This will help you to know about the construction methods as well as the architectural aesthetics of the time pertinent.
Make sure that you take a second opinion of the local heritage architect so that you know what is required for restoration of heritage buildings and get an understanding of the consultant reports.
Most importantly, never go ahead with your restoration work on assumptions and guesses. Ask, investigate and research a lot to lay down a proper, effective and efficient restoration plan.
The Process to Follow
When you start with the restoration job make sure that you start with the foundation of the building especially whether it is on your laid-out plan. This will help you to mend those weak areas of the foundation so that the new addition to the building or the structure is well supported.
Next, you should take care of the effects of weathering, environmental and other elements on the house. Like all house’s heritage buildings are also subject to deterioration due to different factors such as heat, rain, cold and others.
Also, make sure that you inspect the damages done by water and rectify the issue. Solve the water penetration problem from its root so that the problem does not take place again. This must be done before you complete the exterior work.
To ensure that the historical and cultural significance of your house is retained makes sure that you are aware with the challenges that you are going to face during the process and ways to overcome them as well during the restoration of heritage buildings. These are:
Preventing irreparable harm to the building with the use of the right tools and materials
Repairing more than replacing as that will retain the integrity of the building
Keeping it fully habitable and functional by making only historically inaccurate additions and
Meeting with the building regulations to ensure safety.
Make sure that you go through the review board if necessary because modern building regulations and that for heritage buildings may vary distinctively. Cooperate with the local authorities and inform them about your restoration work so that nothing comes within your work. This is required for the following reasons:
Sometimes your house may be subject to local design review`
You may require obtaining tax benefits for the project
The review board may need the design development drawings as well as the outline specifications to tally with yours, it may need to consider the site plan, existing houses in the neighborhood, new materials and paints to use and lots more.
If everything is in order and favorable, you will be given a "certificate of appropriateness" for the restoration of heritage buildings when you obtain the building permit.
Finally, you must create a contract document consisting of all the necessary blueprints and specifications. This is especially required if you want bids from different contractors who are experts in the restoration of heritage buildings. In some instances, the review board may also require you to submit such a contract document to make sure no major changes are made without their knowledge. So these were everything that you should know before going ahead with the restoration of heritage buildings.
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