Richard Laub, Director, Heritage Preservation Program
Department of History, Room 819
404-463-9206
hisrel@langate.gsu.edu

Tommy Jones
404-562-3117 x639
Tommy_Jones@NPS.gov

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Purpose

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the practice of conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of historic structures through discussions of principles and standards and an overview of typical problems with and appropriate treatment of historic building materials.

Course Requirements

The course will consist of lectures and discussion, including presentations by guests from the preservation community; a survey of available resources through a variety of assigned readings and research, including publications of the National Park Service, Association for Preservation Technology, American Association for State and Local History; and others. Site visits will be arranged to historic structures during at least two Saturday site visits, which will include exercises in building investigation and documentation. There will be a mid-term and a final exam which will cover assigned readings, class discussions, presentations, and field work. Exam format may be short answer, essay, and/or identification.

Required Reading

In addition to a photocopied reader available from the instructors, readings will also include the following texts:

• Fisher, Charles, and Miller, Hugh C., general editors. Caring for Your Historic House. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1998
• Jester, Thomas C. Twentieth-Century Building Materials. Washington, D. C.: National Park Service, 1995
• Lounsbury, Carl R., ed. An Illustrated Glossary of Early Southern Architecture and Landscape. Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1994, 2002
• National Park Service, Preservation Briefs and Secretary's Standards for Treatment of Historic Buildings (www.cr.nps.gov/buildings.htm)

Grading

Grades will be assigned on the following basis:

• Class participation: 10%
• Mid-term exam: 30%
• Final exam: 30%
• Special projects: 30%

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FALL SEMESTER 2002

Class Schedule and Required Reading

* indicates photocopied reader (see bibliography for complete publication information)

8/21	Introduction: Course requirements
8/28	Conservation, Restoration and Rehabilitation: Ancient and modern origins of preservation theory and practice, modern fundamentals and standards Fisher & Miller, pp. 1-19 *APT Bulletin: "Principles in Practice," Vol. XVII, no. 3 & 4, pp. 13-20, 26-50 *Ruskin, excerpts from "The Lamp of Memory" *Morris Manifesto, Venice Charter *Cox and Jandl, "Viewpoints," Preservation Forum, pp. 2-9 *McDonald, "Restoration, Re-restoration and Real History," Preservation Forum Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, NPS, Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines
9/4	Planning for Preservation: Historic Structure Reports, Preservation Plans, etc.: Purposes and ways of planning, research and documentation, history and existing conditions; treatment options; interested parties including developers and planners; architects and engineers; code officials and building inspectors; consultants, conservators, craftsmen and contractors; archaeologists and landscape architects; boards of directors and boards of review; and others. *APT Bulletin, XIV, pp. 19-22, 31-48; XVII, #3-4, pp. 57-60 *AASLH, Tech. Leaflets: #67 "Before Restoration Begins..."; #118 "The Eight Most Common Mistakes in Restoring..." *NJ SHPO, "Historic Structure Reports and Preservation Plans: A Preparation Guide" Documentation, Building Investigation, and Materials Analysis: Graphic standards, measured drawings; definitions and identification; building inspections, investigation and analysis Fisher & Miller, pp. 20-28 NPS Preservation Brief: #35 "Understanding Old Buildings" *Ken Thomas, "Documenting a Structure in Georgia" *APT Bulletin: Historic Structure Reports, XIV, "Architectural Investigation and Analysis for Historic Structure Reports," "Suggested Guidelines for the Structural Examination, etc.," and "Paint Analysis" *OHJ: "Evaluating the Exterior," (Mar 81); "Inspection Checklist," (Sep/Oct 87); "Crack Detective," (May 81); "Measuring Up," (Oct. 84) *AIA, "Historic Preservation," Architectural Graphic Standards, (pp. 760-785) *Building Ideas, "Here's What Your Blueprints Say"
9/11	Causes of Decay Nature-based decay; man-made decay; causes, treatment, prevention. Maintenance and Preservation: Preservation is maintenance; cyclical maintenance and maintenance schedules Fisher & Miller, pp. 20-28 NPS Preservation Brief #31 "Mothballing Historic Buildings"
9/18	Structural Systems, Roofs, & Foundations: Wood, masonry and metal structural systems; foundation systems, roof systems, gutters and drainage. Fisher & Miller, pp. 40-68 NPS Preservation Briefs: #4 "Roofing for Historic Buildings"; #19 "Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs"; #29 "Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs"; #30 "Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Roof Tiles" *Jandl, "Chicago Balloon Frame," "Inventing the I-Beam" *OHJ: "Basic Timber Framing Exposed," (Feb. 77); "Traditional House Framing," (Dec. 80); "Old Gutters," (Mar/Apr 87); "Dictionary of Roofing," "Inspection Checklist," "Traditional and Historic Roofs," (Apr 83); "Roofing: Repair or Replace," (Feb 81) Jester, Twentieth-Century Building Materials, pp.80-117 and 248-276.
9/25	Building Parts: weatherboard, veneers, and other wall claddings; trim and moldings; doors, windows, skylights, and other openings; louvers and blinds; joinery and fasteners. Fisher & Miller, pp. 80-95 NPS Preservation Briefs: #9 "The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows"; #13 "The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows" *AASLH Tech. Leaflets, #48: "Nail Chronology"
10/02	Midterm
10/05	Saturday field trip
10/9	Open Class
10/16	Masonry and Plaster: Stone--history, use, consolidation, repairs; brick--history, manufacture, repairs; cleaning; mortars and mortar analysis, repointing; fireplaces; terra cotta; ceramic tiles and mosaic; plaster and stucco, use and repair; concrete, use and repair; adobe and tabby Fisher & Miller, pp. 69-79, 106-115 NPS Preservation Briefs: #1 "The Cleaning and Waterproof Coating of Masonry Buildings"; #2 "Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Buildings"; #5 "Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings"; #6 "Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings"; #7 "The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra Cotta"; #15 "Preservation of Historic Concrete: Problems and General Approaches"; #21 Repairing Historic Flat Plaster--Walls and Ceilings"; #22 "Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco"; #23 "Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster"; #34 "Applied Decoration for Historic Interiors" *Grimmer, Keeping it Clean, pp. 1-12 Jester, Twentieth-Century Building Materials, pp. 150-179
10/19	Saturday Field Trip
10/23	Wood: Timber and wood frames; history and manufacture; clapboards, weatherboards, and shingles; exterior and interior trim; epoxy consolidation and repair; flooring Jester, pp. 120-125, 132-147 Fisher & Miller, pp. 80-86, 140-164 NPS Preservation Brief: #26 "Historic Log Buildings" *Vlach, "Building In Wood in the Eastern United States," pp. 159-218 *Phillips, Epoxies for Wood Repair, "Case Studies," pp. 37-62 Metals, Architectural Glass: History and manufacture of metals; cast and wrought iron; pressed metal trim, ceilings, etc.; copper, terne, and other metal roofs; glass, history and manufacture, repairs and replacement; stained and painted glass Jester, pp. 46-77, 182-211 NPS Preservation Briefs: #8 "Aluminum and Vinyl Siding"; #12 "The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass"; #16 "The Use of Substitute Materials..."; #27 "The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron"; #33 "The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass" *APT Bulletin XIII #3, "Conservation of Historic Window Glass" *OHJ, "Standing Seam Roofs," (Mar 85) *Jandl: "Decorative Metal Roofing...," pp. 153-188 *Waite, Metals in America's Historic Buildings, "Part II," pp. 90-100
10/30	Historic and Modern Utilities: Electrical systems; gas, water, and waste disposal; climate control, heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning; energy conservation Fisher & Miller, pp. 165-219 NPS, Preservation Briefs: #3 "Conserving Energy in Historic Buildings"; #24 "Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings: Problems and Recommended Approaches" *Ferro, Electric Wiring . . . , pp. 1-29
11/6	Twentieth-Century Building Materials: Plywood, concrete block, asbestos, asphalt composition, linoleum, gypsum board, fiberboards, vinyls and plastics Jester, pp. 34-43, 126-131, 214-245 *Simpson, Cheap, Quick, & Easy, pp. 2-8
11/13	Protective and Decorative Coatings: Historic paint materials and historic colors; exterior and interior paints; preparation and application; graining and other decorative finishes; varnishes, lacquers, and shellac Fisher & Miller, pp. 96-105, 116-139 NPS Preservation Briefs: #10 "Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork"; #28 "Painting Historic Interiors"; #37 "Appropriate Methods For Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing"; #38 "Removing Graffiti from Historic Masonry" *APT Bulletin: Decorative Finishes, XVI, #1, 1984, pp. 3-53 *AASLH Tech. Leaflets: #15. "Paint Color Research and Restoration"; #76. "Rescuing Historic Wallpaper..."
11/20	Main Street, Neighborhood Preservation, New Design, Modern Building Codes: Urban renewal; appropriate additions; Main Street storefront design; other design considerations; street scape; building, life safety, and handicapped-accessibility codes; compliance alternatives. Fisher & Miller, pp. 213-227 NPS Preservation Briefs: #11 "Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts"; #14 "New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns"; #17 "Architectural Character: Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving Their Character"; #25 "The Preservation of Historic Signs"; #32 "Making Historic Properties Accessible" *APT Bulletin: Historic Structure Reports, XIV: "Scrape, Anti-scrape..."
11/27	No Class: Thanksgiving Recess
12/4	Summary and Review