ENVIRONMENT | ART RESTORATION

All materials will react in some way to their environment. Because structures are built to stay in one place, one has little control over their exterior environment. Exposure to water, sunlight, heat and cold weather deteriorates building materials.

Water is particularly damaging to building materials. Your building exterior needs inspection regularly for signs of water infiltration. Roof damage or missing shingles are common locations for water infiltration. Sometimes a water infiltration problem is related to the design of the building. If poor design is the culprit, skillful retrofitting of existing details can eliminate the water infiltration problem and preserve the historic appearance or delay the need for antique restoration.

Buildings are generally designed to protect interior spaces from the exterior environment so the environment at the interior of a structure is more easily controlled and therefore less damaging. Unfortunately, temperatures and humidity levels that are comfortable for people may not be best for building materials. An architectural conservator and antique restoration specialist knows how to maintain a balance between comfort for people and safety for building materials. Sometimes even simple steps like providing ventilation in areas where moisture accumulates, or installing vapor barriers to prevent moisture migration, can make significant differences. First, however, one must accurately identify problems.

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

A regular program of inspection and maintenance is the most critical step in preserving a structure. Tools to have on hand for conducting an inspection might include a ladder, binoculars, and powerful flashlights.

WHAT NEEDS INSPECTION

Places where water could infiltrate: Roofs, gutters, downspouts, subsurface drainage systems

Functional building elements: Doors, windows, fireplace flues

Exterior materials: Bricks, stone, mortars, wood sheathing

Interior materials: Wood framing, flooring, wood trim, plaster

Plumbing, heating, and cooling systems: Have a systems engineer inspect these

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Water damage: Stains, soft wood (rot), peeling paint, salt crystals

Signs of infestation: Droppings, dead insects, holes in wood (place glue traps to check for insects)

Anything unusual or different from your last inspection

You may find it cost effective to hire a conservator or art restoration specialist to conduct the inspection. Because of their training, art restoration specialists are skilled at catching problems early and can help prepare a prioritized preservation plan. Certainly they are the best qualified people to carry out the inspection of large, complex, abandoned or neglected structures.

A long-term maintenance strategy should include planning and budgeting for regular maintenance work (like exterior painting or roof replacement) and for capital improvements. The cost of maintenance will always be less than that of a major preservation effort after a period of long neglect.

HOUSEKEEPING

Careful housekeeping can greatly extend the life of building materials. Removing dirt from floors and other contact surfaces limits deterioration by abrasion. Keeping the building free of food waste reduces the likelihood of pest infestation. Use housekeeping and maintenance tools and equipment carefully to protect building materials. Avoid operations that might cause incidental damage. For example, a sharp metal tool used to remove ice can leave gouges in a stone step and metal parts on mops can easily scrape finishes.

RECORD KEEPING

Written and photographic records provide valuable information for scheduling maintenance and improvements and for long-range planning. Keep accurate, complete written records of inspections, maintenance work and repairs on site. Photographs are always desirable. Include in the site records the name and manufacturer of any cleaning or maintenance products used. This information may provide clues for unraveling future material deterioration problems.

ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS

When your main goal is building preservation, every proposed alteration or improvement must be considered carefully. Consult with an architectural conservator when planning alterations or improvements, especially if the changes are being considered to solve specific problems like a damp basement. The potential effect of a change on other elements and systems of the building must be fully understood. For example, installing central air conditioning will not only change the environment of different spaces within a building but may have a significant impact on the building materials. Any changes made should be easily reversible to return the building to its original condition.

DISASTERS

Disasters can have a devastating impact on a structure, sometimes even necessitating its demolition. Fire, flooding (from natural causes or plumbing failures), hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other disasters can all cause significant damage. Planning for a disaster can help lessen its impact.

At the very least, develop a plan to respond to fire. Early detection is critical. Heat and smoke detectors are available at hardware stores and more sophisticated systems can be purchased from specialized dealers. These systems must be tested regularly to be sure they work. Place appropriate fire extinguishers throughout the building, and inspect them regularly. More expensive suppression systems like sprinklers are also available and often required by code.

A more comprehensive disaster preparedness plan can minimize the extent of damage. Start by identifying potential disasters for the geographic area in which the building is located. Write the plan in great detail. Describe any procedures to be implemented when disasters threaten, such as boarding up or taping windows when high winds are forecast. Consider what effect the disaster might have on the community and its services.

If there are no drawings or photographs of the building, consider photographing it with a still camera or a video camera. Photographic documentation will provide a record to aid in disaster recovery. Copies of available documentation should be stored away from the building, preferably under archival conditions.

VANDALISM

Vandalism can be an ongoing problem. Use constant bright lighting in areas prone to vandalism. If constant lighting is problematic, use motion sensor lights instead. Planting prickly or thorny shrubs like holly, roses or evergreens beneath windows and along vulnerable walls can reduce the chance of vandalism or burglary.

Remove graffiti promptly, as quick removal has proven a good deterrent to future graffiti. A conservator can help develop a plan to deal with different types of graffiti so that maintenance staff will know how to remove it quickly and safely. The wrong treatment can damage building materials irreparably.

CONCLUSION

Buildings, and the materials from which they are made, are subject to a wide variety of problems and require constant attention. You can prevent many of these problems by careful planning, regular inspection, continuous maintenance and good housekeeping. An architectural conservator can not only work with you to resolve existing problems, but can also help with planning to prevent future problems.