These images taken during ther March 2009 Introduction to Historic Preservation course
Images copyright Al McLeese 2009

This course is an introduction to the practical preservation of an old building. When a home inspector looks at an old building their report will be on the scary side and can deter a purchaser. 

When an old home is viewed through the eyes of a preservationist you begin to see that some of the problems are easily solved when you understand the construction methods used to build the house. Similarly the historic value of a house can be preserved by not indulging in wholesale demolition and replacement with modern windows or doors. Old windows with storm windows can have a similar, if not better, insulating value than replacement windows.

Preserving an old house is a lot of work. This course is designed to help a home owner plan to preserve their house or the contractor looking to expand their services to include restoration work.

We also believe that this course can be of value to federal, state and municipal employees who work on the assessment, planning and repair of old buildings. We offer a discount on the full course to public officials - please contact us for details.

We are also offering this course in conjunction with the Veterans Conservation Corps. Please contact Mark Fischer at the DVA if you are interested in taking this course.

At the end of this course you will understand the principles of preservation and will have had some practical training in work that can be done easily by the homeowner. You will be able to work with a contractor and have a much better understanding of the challenges of your preservation project.

The practical sessions, in this course, will take place in various buildings at Fort Worden where there are problem windows, floors, doors and trim. We are grateful for the support and encouragement from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commision.

Course Description:

Day 1: General Introduction to Old Homes

An introduction to historic preservation with a look at various architectural styles. There will be discussions on researching historic properties along with compliance with laws regulations and the building codes. Day 1 will also include a field trip to several buildings from works in progress to completed projects.

Day 2: Construction Methods, Materials and Tools

An introduction to construction methods and materials from 1860-1939 including identification of different materials and wood species. We will visit several buildings, both at the Fort and around Port Townsend, to look at the different construction methods. What are the essential tools and publications for the preservationist.
How to use and obtain "Green" building materials and methods for historic preservation.  

Day 3: Windows

General overview of types of windows their construction and use in historic buildings. There will also be hands-on sessions on  re-roping window units, glazing and minor window repairs.   

Day 4: Doors, Moulding, Interior Trim, and Hardware  

An introduction to interior building material and finishes. There will be a look at wood moulding and details and their uses in different architectural styles. Other topics will include wood floors, lath and plaster, hardware and doors. There also will be a hands-on session of general door repairs and door hanging.

Day 5:  External Trim, Decorative Trim, and Working with Epoxy

An overview of exterior building details as they pertain to different architectural styles. There will be several workshops on basic exterior repairs including porch decking, stairs, handrails and exterior elements with an emphasis on repairs with epoxy. Also we will discuss basic prepping of buildings for paint.

Class size:     15
Cost:                $600

This course is offered once:

If we rerun this course we will offer access to individual days of the course at our standard daily rate of $120/day