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. Information on a range of old house maintenance and preservation topics can be located here. Membership in 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.
Historic Homeowner News & Events
Frequently Asked Questions
As a homeowner, you know that caring for a cherished home to retain its best and most distinctive features while still keeping it livable, affordable and practical requires commitment and insight. Find help here!
A-Z in Your Old House: A Primer for Historic Homeowners
Check out this alphabetical glossary of common building terms and conditions for a basic understanding of issues or questions that may arise at your old house. Let us know your suggestions for additional glossary entries that should be added to make this Primer a great first stop.
Homeowner Bibliography
Find a list of recommended sources for information on issues related to understanding, maintaining, and conserving the historic character of your old house.
Old-Time New England Articles
Browse these past articles published in Old-Time New England, selected for their particular interest for the historic homeowner.
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).
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 .
Coming Soon
Items below with a key icon will require a Historic Homeowner membership for access.
Historic Colors of America: An Expanded Guide to Color, Styles and Architectural Periods
Many Historic New England members will be familiar with the “Historic Colors of America” paint line produced by California Products Corporation in partnership with Historic New England. But have you wondered how to use all those great colors in your own home?
The Expanded Guide to Color, Styles and Architectural Periods gives you the information you need to focus in on the paint colors that are right for the style and period of your house. Colors are identified for use inside or out, for major or minor elements, and for accenting highlights, based on historical practices and the available paint technology of the period. Be sure to take advantage of the paint color consultation that is a benefit of your Historic Homeowner membership!
Suppliers
Find links to online information sources and suppliers related to a variety of old house topics. These links are offered with the intention of providing Historic Homeowner members with information to help the member make more informed decisions about the repair or renovation of an old house.
Historic Homeowner Newsletter
Link to past issues of the monthly Historic Homeowner member newsletter.
Paint Specifications
These detailed specifications for the preparation and painting of house exteriors follow the standards Historic New England requires for work completed on its museum properties. These guidelines will help guide you, whether you plan to do the work yourself, or hire a contractor.
Window Specifications
Repairing and maintaining historic wooden windows is a major preservation issue today. These detailed specifications are the same as those Historic New England requires of contractors completing work on its museum properties and they will help educate you so you can keep your historic windows in top condition.