November 19, 2006 — In the name of progress, history is often destroyed. One of the biggest mistakes owners of older homes make is altering or removing original features in the name of home improvement.
New bathroom fixtures are brought in to replace badly stained originals. Old lighting that hasn’t been cleaned since the 1920s is taken down. Wood-frame windows painted shut for decades are ripped from their casings.
When doing any renovation to an old house, it is important to find designers and contractors familiar with historic homes who can advise on what parts should be left intact, experts say. Rare, quality materials often can’t be duplicated today and when restored will increase the value of a home more than modern-day replacement items.
Read the entire article here.