Before you begin rehabilitation, the historic building and its site should be documented, evaluated, assessed, and the work carefully planned. This will provide a history of the property, its occupants, and its uses over time, but perhaps more important, it will help guide your decisions about what must be repaired and preserved during rehabilitation, and what may be altered, if necessary, for the ongoing or new use.
DOCUMENT the history and evolution of the building by researching
written and graphic documents found in libraries,
archives, and historical society collections, as well as
National Register of Historic Places listings. Then examine
the building itself, taking photographs of the interior,
exterior, and the site before you begin any work. |  Researching a building's history. NPS Photo. |
 Dating materials and features. NPS Photo. | EVALUATE
original materials, features, finishes, and spaces as
well as changes that have occurred with
different occupancies and uses. The changes
may or may not be an integral part of the historic
character so they need to be considered very carefully prior to work. |
ASSESS
the physical condition of historic materials,
features, finishes, and construction systems to determine
those that are sound, those that require repair, and
those that may need to be replaced. |  Examining existing conditions. NPS Photo. |
 Completing architectural drawings. NPS Photo. | PLAN a
rehabilitation project to decide how historic
materials, features, and finishes should be protected
during construction, as well as to establish a logical
sequence for the work. |
For a more detailed discussion of documenting, evaluating, assessing, and planning a rehabilitation project, please see our Check List for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. But if you leave Electronic Rehab, be sure to come right back!
What are the Key Steps? | Applying the Standards | Home