Old House RestorationPreservation Briefs Offer Technical Help The process of restoring an old house can be complex. To assist homeowners with old house restoration, the United States National Park Service prepares standards, guidelines, and educational materials. These "Preservation Briefs" are written by technical preservation experts from the Heritage Preservation Services Division.
This lengthy and detailed preservation brief introduces the investigative skills you'll need as you research your old house and seek answers to architectural problems.
Removing paints down to bare wood surfaces using harsh methods can permanently damage the wood. So how do you resolve problems of chipping, cracking, and flaking paint? This preservation brief offers detailed technical advice. If your house was built before 1978, chances are it contains lead paint, which can be toxic when paint chips or dust are ingested. This preservation brief provides the technical information you need to reduce the lead paint hazards in your old house. Should you attempt to restore the original siding of your old house? Or, are there times when using substitute materials such as vinyl or aluminum siding is the best solution? This technical paper provides guidelines. Up until the late 1800s, stucco, like mortar, was primarily lime-based. This preservation brief gives detailed technical information on restoring and preserving historic stucco, and includes recipes for historic stucco. | 
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