Renovating an
Historic Home
Living in an historic home
can be a labor of love. The
history and the distinct
architecture of historic homes
draw buyers to such properties,
but what historic homes have in
regard to history they often lack
in the conveniences of modern
life, forcing many historic-home
owners to make renovations to
bring their homes into the 21st
century.
Historic-home renovations
differ from other types of
modifications. According to
the Victorian Preservation
Association, renovation is
getting a home back to where it
may have been when originally
built, but making concessions
for today’s lifestyle. Preservation
is the act of maintaining a
structure in its current historic
state, and restoration is
returning a home to its original
state. Unless a homeowner
plans to use an outhouse or live
without electricity, the majority
of work done on historic
vPaneling
continued from page 17
If you don’t want the grooves
showing between the panels,
fill them in with spackle and
sand down to create a smooth
surface before painting.
Cover the paneling
Covering up the paneling is another tactic. Rather than coating the wall in paint, consider
a wallpaper liner. Liners are
essentially a thick, plain wallpaper that is applied on top of the
paneling or used when dealing
with damaged walls. In lieu of
tearing down the walls and
putting up new drywall, the
liner will cover imperfections.
18 • TODAY’S HOME - Spring 2015
properties is likely to fall into
the category of a renovation.
Renovating an aging
structure can be fulfilling
and help to make a home
more functional. But make no
mistake, such a renovation is
a major undertaking. Before
beginning, it pays to hire
a professional consultant
with expertise in renovating
historic properties. He or she
can inspect the property to
determine which areas of
the home are safe and which
will need to be upgraded. A
professional inspection also can
determine if any deficiencies
lie hidden in the structure.
Potential concerns can be toxic
paints and other substances,
building code issues, rotting,
and structural settling.
Professionals will know what to
look for and guide homeowners
accordingly.
Homeowners also may want
to consult with a preservation
association, community
Many of these products can be
painted directly and may not require priming beforehand. This
can be great for homeowners
whose goal is to cover paneling
quickly and easily.
Those who prefer a patterned
look on the walls can opt to
cover paneling with a printed
wallpaper. However, depending
on the thickness of the wallpaper, this may be a two-step
process. You may need to fill in
the creases between the panels
first, or first use a thick wallpaper liner to create a seamless
surface.
Cut the paneling
If you desire a cottage or country look in a room, remove half
Historic-home renovations require additional planning
and a bigger budget than newer homes.
restoration group or general
owner-builder group. These
people can refer homeowners
to the craftspeople and
materials that will be needed
for a job. Homeowners can
request to see other historic
properties in the area and
learn what those owners did
to maintain the integrity of
a home when using newer
materials.
Before any work is started,
homeowners should find out
if their home is listed with the
National Register of Historic
Places. According to the
United States National Parks
Service, property owners can
do whatever they want with
their property so long as there
are no federal monies attached
to the property. However,
the property owner should
also contact his or her state’s
historic preservation office, or
SHPO. The SHPO is the state
agency that oversees historic
preservation efforts in each
state, and there may be state
or local preservation laws that
the owner should be aware of
before renovating a historic
property.
Craftspeople should have
experience with historic
homes and a sensitivity and
appreciation of renovating
older properties. Homeowners
always should see examples of
of the paneling, leaving the bottom portion intact. Then place
molding or a chair rail where
you made your cut, creating a
wainscoting effect. The top portion of the wall can be painted,
while the bottom portion can
be left as the wood color or
painted a complementary color.
paneling to the wall for a secure
installation. Glue will be much
more difficult to remove and
could further damage the walls
and paneling in the process. If
the paneling is too difficult to
remove, covering or painting it
may be a smarter option. Small
nails can be removed by pulling
at the panels. Spackle holes
before painting over the walls.
Paneling is an inexpensive
decorating option that was first
popularized 40 years ago.
Though less popular now,
paneling still shows up in
homes and can be remedied
with some relatively easy tips.
Remove the paneling
The most labor-intensive way to
give a paneled room a new look
is to remove the paneling. Pry at
a portion of the paneling in an
inconspicuous spot in the room
to determine which method
was used to install the paneling. Some people only tack it
into place with small, finishing
nails, while others glue the
v MetroCreative Connection