Identify, Retain and Preserve
-INTERIOR SPACES-
Identifying, retaining, and preserving a floor plan
or interior spaces from the restoration period. This
includes the size, configuration, proportion, and relationship
of rooms and corridors; the relationship of features
to spaces; and the spaces themselves such as lobbies,
reception halls, entrance halls, double parlors, theaters,
auditoriums, and important industrial or commercial
spaces.
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Many institutional buildings possess distinctive
spaces or floor plans that are important in conveying
the significance of the property. This grand hall,
which occupies the entire floor of the building,
would be retained and preserved in a Restoration work project. Photo: NPS files.
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Altering a floor plan or interior spaces--including
individual rooms--from the restoration period.
-INTERIOR FEATURES AND FINISHES-
Identifying, retaining, and preserving interior features
and finishes from the restoration period. These include
columns, cornices, baseboards, fireplaces and mantels,
panelling, light fixtures, hardware, and flooring; and
wallpaper, plaster, paint, and finishes such as stencilling,
marbling, and graining; and other decorative materials
that accent interior features and provide color, texture,
and patterning to walls, floors, and ceilings.
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Interior features are three-dimensional building
elements or architectural details that are an
integral part of the building as opposed to furniture.
Retention of this modest iron stairway from the
restoration period is crucial to preserving the
significant interior of the building. Photo: NPS
files
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Altering features or finishes from the restoration period.
Failing to properly document spaces, features, and
finishes from the restoration period which may result
in their loss.
Applying paint, plaster, or other finishes to surfaces
unless the work can be substantiated historical documentation.
Stripping paint to bare wood rather than repairing
or reapplying grained or marbled finishes from the restoration
period to features such as doors and panelling.
Changing the type of finish or its color, such as painting
a previously varnished wood feature, unless the work
can be substantiated by historical documentation.
Protect and Maintain
Protecting and maintaining masonry, wood, and architectural
metals that comprise restoration period interior features
through appropriate surface treatments such as cleaning,
rust removal, limited paint removal, and reapplication
of protective coating systems.
Protecting interior spaces, features and finishes
against arson and vandalism before project work begins,
erecting protective fencing, boarding-up windows, and
installing fire alarm systems that are keyed to local
protection agencies.
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Interior finishes from the restoration period
often include patterned or inlaid
designs in the wood flooring, decorative painting
such as stenciling,
imitation marble or wood grain, wallpapering,
tinwork, or tile floors. Shown here is a combination
of real marble at the base of the column and marbleized patterns on the plaster surface of the
column. Photo: NPS files.
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Protecting interior features such as a staircase,
mantel, or decorative finishes and wall coverings against
damage during project work by covering them with heavy
canvas or plastic sheets.Installing protective coverings
in areas of heavy pedestrian traffic to protect historic
features such as wall coverings, parquet flooring and
panelling.
Removing damaged or deteriorated paints and finishes
to the next sound layer using the gentlest method possible,
then repainting or refinishing using compatible paint
or other coating systems based on historical documentation.
Repainting with colors that are documented to the
building's restoration period.
Limiting abrasive cleaning methods to certain industrial
warehouse buildings where the interior masonry or plaster
features do not have distinguishing design, detailing,
tooling, or finishes; and where wood features are not
finished, molded, beaded, or worked by hand. Abrasive
cleaning should only be considered after other, gentler
methods have been proven ineffective.
Evaluating the existing condition of materials to
determine whether more than protection and maintenance
are required, that is, if repairs to interior features
and finishes will be necessary.
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This ceiling is being shored up from below with
toggle bolts to re-attach loose plaster prior
to re-plastering and restoring significant finishes.
Photo: NPS files.
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Failing to provide adequate protection to materials
on a cyclical basis so that deterioration of interior
features results.
Permitting entry into historic buildings through unsecured
or broken windows and doors so that the interior features
and finishes are damaged by exposure to weather or vandalism.
Stripping interiors of restoration period features
such as woodwork, doors, windows, light fixtures, copper
piping, radiators; or of decorative materials.
Failing to provide proper protection of interior features
and finishes during work so that they are gouged, scratched,
dented, or otherwise damaged.
Failing to take new use patterns into consideration
so that interior features and finishes are damaged.
Using destructive methods such as propane or butane
torches or sandblasting to remove paint or other coatings.
These methods can irreversibly damage the historic materials
that comprise interior features.
Using new paint colors that are inappropriate to the
building's restoration period.
Changing the texture and patina of features from the
restoration period through sandblasting or use of abrasive
methods to remove paint, discoloration or plaster. This
includes both exposed wood (including structural members)
and masonry.
Failing to undertake adequate measures to assure the
protection of interior features and finishes.
Repair
Repairing interior features and finishes from the
restoration period by reinforcing the historic materials.
Repair will also generally include the limited replacement
in kind--or with compatible substitute material--of
those extensively deteriorated or missing parts of repeated
features when there are surviving prototypes such as
stairs, balustrades, wood panelling, columns; or decorative
wall coverings or ornamental tin or plaster ceilings.
The new work should be unobtrusively dated to guide
future research and treatment.
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A complete paint investigation often needs to
be conducted during Restoration. Paint samples
are carefully collected onsite. (a) In the laboratory,
an ultra violet light is used to identify pigment
and binding media. Paint samples are then photographed.
(b) Physical evidence documented through laboratory
research provides a sound basis for an accurate
restoration of painted finishes, such as the complex
stencilling pictured here. Photo left: Courtesy,
Andrea Gilmore; Photo right: Courtesy, Alexis
Elza.
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Replacing an interior feature from the restoration period
such as a staircase, panelled wall, parquet floor, or
cornice; or finish such as a decorative wall covering
or ceiling when repair of materials and limited replacement
of such parts are appropriate.
Using a substitute material for the replacement part
that does not convey the visual appearance of the surviving
parts or portions of the interior feature or finish
or that is physically or chemically incompatible.
Replace
Replacing in kind an entire interior feature or finish
from the restoration period that is too deteriorated
to repair--if the overall form and detailing are still
evident--using the physical evidence as a model for
reproduction. Examples could include wainscoting, a
tin ceiling, or interior stairs. If using the same kind
of material is not technically or economically feasible,
then a compatible substitute material may be considered.
The new work should be unobtrusively dated to guide
future research and treatment.
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Ceiling medallions may need replacement. In
the case of this elliptical medallion from Rockland,
Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, an impression was
taken of the existing plaster, then new plaster
elements were cast. Photo: David Flaharty.
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Removing a feature or finish from the restoration period
that is unrepairable and not replacing it; or failing
to document the new work.
The following Restoration
work is highlighted to indicate that it involves
the removal or alteration of existing historic
interior spaces, features, and finishes that would
be retained in Preservation and Rehabilitation
treatments; and the replacement of missing interior
spaces, features, and finishes from the restoration
period using all new materials.
Removing Existing Features from Other Historic
Periods
Removing or altering interior spaces, features
and finishes from other historic periods such
as a later suspended ceiling or wood panelling.
Documenting materials and features dating
from other periods prior to their alteration or
removal. If possible, selected examples of these
features or materials should be stored to facilitate
future research.
Failing to remove or alter an interior space,
feature, or finish from another period, thus confusing
the depiction of the building's significance.
Failing to document interior spaces, features,
and finishes from other historic periods that
are removed from the building so that a valuable
portion of the historic record is lost.
Re-creating Missing Features
from the Restoration Period
Re-creating an interior space, or a missing
feature or finish from the restoration period
based on physical or documentary evidence; for
example, duplicating a marbleized mantel or a
staircase.
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Based on documentary and physical evidence,
missing composition ornament was re-created
within a larger restoration project. Photo:
Jonathan Thornton.
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Constructing an interior space, feature, or finish
that was part of the original design for the building
but was never actually built; or constructing
a feature which was thought to have existed during
the restoration period, but for which there is
insufficient documentation.
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