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Stewardship
of
your
home
in
the
Elgin
Historic
Districts
Stewardship is the bottom line.
It seeks to minimize loss of historic
materials and to maintain historic character.
Information
concerning
historic
structures
is
often
brought
to
light
for
the
first
time
during
a
construction
project.,
the
framing
of
a
wall
system
is
exposed,
or
an
original
detail
is
discovered.
Valuable
information
is
gathered,
recorded,
and
put
into
a
field
notebook
or
folder.
Later,
when
the
project
is
completed,
the
information
is
filed
away
and
forgotten,
possibly
even
thrown
out,
by
the
homeowner,
or
their
heirs.
What happened to the structure during
the period you were responsible for its
well-being? The structure was in your
hands; you assisted in its treatment.
It is your responsibility to document
that work; not only what you did, but
how you did it, what you used, where
you got it, and the actual changes that
were made to the structure during your
tenure as its steward. It is your responsibility
to pass this information on to the next
steward of the property.
One
response
to
the
potential
loss
of
materials
and
character
is
the
mandate
for
improved
record
keeping.
A
more
common
term
used
in
the
professional
construction
industry
is
POST
CONSTRUCTION
DOCUMENTATION.
Any
contractor
who
has
followed
a
historic
project
for
many
years
is
familiar
with
this
phrase.
It
comes
after
the
punch
list
items
have
been
completed.
Usually
it
lingers
as
the
last
part
of
each
projects
close-out.
Often
it
is
not
given
the
attention
it
deserves.
Without
the
commitment
of
the
homeowner
and
the construction
team
to
get
this
documentation
completed,
valuable
information
regarding
the
project
can
be
lost
forever.
Typically,
the
Post-Construction
Documentation
package
includes
such
things
as
the
operations
and
maintance
manual,
construction
drawings,
measured
drawings,
field
sketches,
as-built
drawings,
and
possibly
the
project
files.
They include changes in construction
different from design drawings.
New materials and replacement features
should be recorded in place with photographs
or drawings that clearly show their extent.
Physical
evidence
of
the
development
history
of
a
structure
should
also
be
recorded
before
being
removed
or
covered
during
the
project.
These
things
and
more
are
required
to
put
together
the
package
of
information
that
is
called
the
RECORD
OF
TREATMENT.
Contracts
must
be
clearly
written
and
specific.
Any
changes
clearly
marked
and
included.
Pricing
documentation.
Specifications that were followed, All
changes made during a project are graphically
documented with cleanly marked drawings
and photographs.
Video tape including narrative is becoming
the new standard to the more progressive
field operatives.
Customer narrative, maintance updates.
The scope and complexity of the Record
of Treatment is directly related to the
complexity of the project. Records documenting
the replacement of a historically accurate
front porch will be more complex than
the records documenting the removal of
a non-supporting wall in the front bedroom.
All
this
information
should
be
clearly
dated,
and
marked
with
the
address
of
the
property
and
your
wished
that
it
remain
with
the
property
and
not
be
disposed
of.
No matter if you personally think your
home is not worth so much effort, beauty
and historic value is in the eye of the
beholder.
Every year your historic home becomes
even more beautiful to many of us.
Do
it Yourself Maintance, Like a
Pro.
The National Trust is a strong advocate
of maintenance planning, and frequently
offers educational sessions on this topic
at its national preservation conferences.
All building owners and managers recognize
the value of maintenance, but the value
of maintenance planning is often overlooked,
and it is a very important component
of good stewardship for a historic site.
The first objective of a maintenance
plan is to foster more planned and less
unpredicted maintenance. With good prediction,
action can precede system failure or
material loss. Long-term cyclical improvements
can be charted and scheduled, with the
advantage that both staff and finances
are budgeted in advance of the need.
Unpredicted maintenance, especially a
crisis or emergency, is undesirable because
it corresponds with loss of historic
fabric and authenticity, and ultimately
decreases the cultural value of the property.
A good maintenance plan also includes
two major benefits which can save time
and money- the task list and the schedule.
The task list breaks down the maintenance
into smaller tasks which are easier for
everyone to identify, prioritize, and
accomplish. The schedule allows tasks
to be purposefully spread out, gives
staff the opportunity to plan ahead to
perform similar tasks in one operation,
and helps control the frequency of tasks.
Consequently, economies of scale are
realized, staff time is effectively allocated,
and efforts are focused on the most important
items.
Basic
guide
for
walking
the
yellow
brick
road.
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/ten/tenways.htm
Excellent
article
on
Sustainability
http://crm.cr.nps.gov/archive/15-6/15-6-all.pdf
Heritage
Commission
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