What’s building restoration?

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Building restoration is a process in the construction industry in which a listed building is restored to the appearance of its original quality. Meticulous attention to detail is given to the use of original building materials in most building restorations. The construction techniques and knowledge of the building’s past construction are also used to maintain its value as part of the local cultural heritage. To make the restoration as authentic as possible, researchers and historians familiar with the building are consulted by contractors and architects to ensure that the work done does indeed match the original design parameters.

The practice of building conservation is often sponsored by national governments who have an interest in preserving the historical culture of their people. This lends itself to tax breaks and government funding for the restoration process, which encourages architecture and construction contracting firms to get involved in the field. Grants and loans to further the process are often insufficient, however, as the historic restoration of a building usually has no commercial value to a business that does not have the right to sell the property once the restoration has been done. Matching funds are often sought, therefore, through fundraising campaigns in the local community who have a vested interest in seeing the building restored.

Structures intended for conservation are generally at least 50 years old and representative of an architectural era of significant historical significance, such as a Tudor or Victorian design in 15th and 19th century England. In the United States, restoration has special significance if a historical figure has lived in or frequented a building for some reason. This is often documented in historic records, and such buildings, regardless of their current physical state, may be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some nations have also established branches of government to deal with the restoration and preservation of historic buildings, such as the Center for Historic Buildings in the United States which operates under the guidance of the General Services Administration (GSA).

The building restoration process can generally be divided into four different categories, which help describe the intensity of the process from site to site. A historic building can be preserved, rehabilitated, restored or rebuilt. Preservation is most likely the least labor intensive of the four processes, as it involves an attempt to prevent physical deterioration of the building without removing the natural effects of age which have given it an added sense of character. No new materials are added to the building, it is not repainted, and efforts are simply made to ensure that it lasts longer than originally designed. This can include protecting against natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and fires in unobtrusive ways that do not alter its basic appearance.

The three Rs of building restoration – rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction – are all more labor intensive, but still distinct from one another. The rehabilitation allows the basic structure to be modified with current building materials so that it can continue to be useful for modern purposes. However, every attempt is made to preserve the building’s original appearance. Restoration is the pure process of maintaining a building in its original form with only original materials to do so, and may involve removing modern materials from the building that were previously added to strengthen it. Rebuilding involves repairing buildings that have collapsed or been damaged by storms and allows for the use of new building materials as long as they closely resemble the original ones used to build the structure.

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