Presto Restoration provides building restoration and historic preservation services that ensure your landmark structure beautifully maintains its notable appearance. People who live, work, or visit historic buildings know what outstanding examples of living history they can be. Their incredible appeal is one of the primary reasons owners and managers of historic structures work so hard to preserve and restore these architectural treasures.
Why Building Restoration & Historic Preservation Matters
Historic building restoration and historic preservation are both critical and necessary. Libraries, government buildings, universities, and other significant buildings are important to our history while also offering a lot to our well-being and economy. Millions of people visit historic sites every year, so it’s essential to keep these structures maintained and in good condition to carry on this tradition.
There are many reasons an historic building needs restoration or preservation work. Everything from normal age-related wear and tear to the effects of weather and pollution can diminish an older building’s appearance and structural integrity. Sadly, some historical structures are also purposely damaged and must be repaired to ensure their legacy lives on.
Let’s look at some of the most common historic building damage.
Age
New or old, buildings slowly deteriorate over time. Concrete gets dirty and dingy, stones work their way loose, and detailed facades fade. When the consequences of time are not prevented and managed, these beautiful buildings can become unsightly, uninhabitable, and unsafe.
Weather
One of the primary causes of damage to historical buildings, weather events like storms, hail, wind, and floods can take a toll on the structure’s building materials. While you might not be able to do much about the weather, fortunately, you can take steps to maintain and preserve your historic building.
Fire
Anyone who watched Notre Dame Cathedral burn in 2019 knows how devastating fire can be to an historic structure. That fire, of course, was catastrophic and nearly destroyed the cathedral. But even small fires can cause smoke damage to a building’s facade. Modern restoration techniques can work wonders and return an older structure to its original beauty.
Vandalism
Even historic structures aren’t free from acts of vandals, including graffiti. Although graffiti is easily removed from many new building materials, you must take great care when restoring an historic building to its former glory, being extra careful not to damage anything under the paint.
Neglect
Although many historic buildings have the resources to be properly looked after, some do not and have gone years without restoration or preservation work. People often think an historic building is supposed to look old, so they don’t worry as much about the dirt and grime buildup. What they don’t realize is that there are unseen elements such as pollutants working to damage and destroy the structure’s integrity.
Choosing an Appropriate Historic Structure Treatment
Most people agree there is immense value in preserving historic structures. Many buildings that need work, though, might be restricted by their listed building status. But every older building can be restored and preserved if the proper methods are used. Here’s how the two most popular techniques work:
- Historic Building Preservation requires an appreciation of art and a high level of craftsmanship. It focuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historical materials. The goal is to retain the structure’s form as it’s evolved.
- Restoration can include full surface protection, anchor and wall tie replacement, metal rust removal and polishing, painting, weatherproofing, and painting.
In both cases, the choice of treatment depends on a variety of factors. Presto is skilling in restoring and protecting historic structures while preserving their heritage value.
Presto’s Building Restoration & Historic Preservation Process
Historic building restoration and preservation is complicated work, and not just any restoration company can perform it correctly. Many people, including some restoration companies, aren’t aware of the challenges historic buildings present. Choosing the right building restoration and historic preservation contractor is vital to maintaining the property’s value and aesthetics.
For instance, many historic structures are built with sensitive materials like marble which can be easily damaged using high-pressure washers. The best way to restore the natural beauty of such a structure is with products and techniques developed to remove all biological staining without the use of high pressure.
We prefer low-pressure washing for historic structures. We use state-of-the-art equipment to clean older buildings and use products like our proprietary Stone Restore CB2 to clean and prepare older surfaces for a high-performance sealer that protects against water penetration.
Over time, moisture, age, pollutants, deferred maintenance, and neglect can damage an historic building. For more than 25 years, Presto Restoration’s historic building restoration and preservation services have preserved and protected various building materials, including mortar systems, wood, and stained glass window systems. No matter what age the historic building you wish to restore and protect, our services ensure history is preserved for years to come.
If you own a historic building and need exterior restoration services, call us at 1-800-785-9927 or Request a Quote.
