Credits for All Wet...
As background, an important event that took place in Washington, D.C. on May 6-8, 1996, gave rise to both a technical publication and to the essential content of this mini-web class, so that event is acknowledged first.

"The Diagnosing Moisture in Historic Buildings Symposium" proposal was funded by a grant from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training, National Park Service. The May, 1996, Symposium, co-sponsored by the National Park Service and Friends of Meridian Hill, brought together practitioners in the field of historic preservation to discuss the sources of unwanted moisture in historic buildings and how remedial actions could best be taken.

In October, 1996, Preservation Briefs 39: Holding the Line--Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings by Sharon C. Park, AIA, was published. The Brief dealt comprehensively with issues raised at the Symposium, including uncovering and analyzing moisture problems; the transport or movement of moisture; surveying and diagnosing moisture damage; and selecting an appropriate level of treatment that would meet the "Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties."

All Wet & How to Prevent It...Managing Moisture in Your Historic House, was created by Kay Weeks with Sharon C. Park, FAIA, and Anne E. Grimmer in January 2000, using established treatment methodology from Preservation Briefs 39, but presenting an entirely new product for a web audience in a long distance learning format. Kay Weeks serves as Standards, Outreach, and Education Coordinator for HPS, and designed this site as well. Sharon C. Park, FAIA, is Chief, Technical Preservation Services (TPS) Branch. Anne E.Grimmer is TPS' Senior Architectural Historian and a masonry expert.

Appreciation is extended to Fran Gale, Terry Childs, Vincent Reedy and Kathleen Madigan--all of NPS--who reviewed the content and provided comments or assisted final production.

Most of the photos were taken by Sharon C. Park, FAIA; others are from the TPS Tax Incentives program or preservation technology files. The photo showing repair of exterior woodwork (siding) is used by permission of John Leeke, Preservation Consultant, Historic HomeWorks. The insulated pipe illustration is from an article in Old House Journal Online, by Dan Holohan, entitled "Tuck in Your Steam Pipes." The animated gifs used throughout, such as the rain and lightning strike, are all from "free of charge" web sites.

This material is not copyrighted and can be reproduced without penalty; however, we would appreciate your crediting the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Heritage Preservation Services, the content providers and web author in your web site or printed matter.

 

Begin the Web Class!