Your Old or Historic Home
Historic New England wants you to know how to conserve and care for your old or historic home. With a century's worth of experience in historic preservation, Historic New England has the expertise to help you protect the unique character of your house, whether it was built in 1750 or 1950. Membership at Historic New England provides additional services tailored to the specific issues you encounter in your home, including the Historic Homeowner membership program and the Old House Maintenance Advisor service.
Feature Story
Current building codes and historic buildings
When embarking on a large renovation or restoration of a historic home it is likely you will not escape a visit from the local building inspector, whose first instinct may not be focused on preserving the historic integrity of your home. If you are concerned about preserving its historic features, the challenge to do so while meeting modern building codes (especially as they grow ever more stringent) may seem daunting. The first step is to talk to your local official. No matter the state or town you live in, it is vital to develop an open, honest relationship and keep communication flowing. The second step is to delve into your state’s current building code to see what avenues are available for negotiation and compromise.
Learn more about what the building code says about historic buildings on our Hot Topics page.
Links
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Common Sense Preservation Portal |
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Old House Maintenance Advisor
Historic New England members at the Household level and above can also access the Old House Maintenance Advisor service for answers to technical questions on old house care (not including paint consultations, design evaluations, or specialized contractor contacts). Learn more.
Historic Homeowner Membership
For detailed, ongoing advice for your old or historic home, consider Historic Homeowner membership. The Historic Homeowner program supports you with individualized technical support, including online consultation to select historically appropriate paint colors, evaluate design proposals, and locate specialized contracting. Learn more.
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