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Preservation Briefs

Preservation Briefs provide guidance on preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings. These NPS Publications help historic building owners recognize and resolve common problems prior to work. The briefs are especially useful to Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program applicants because they recommend methods and approaches for rehabilitating historic buildings that are consistent with their historic character.

Some of the web versions of the Preservation Briefs differ somewhat from the printed versions. Many illustrations are new and in color rather than black and white; Captions are simplified and some complex charts are omitted. To order hard copies of the Briefs, see Printed Publications.

  1. Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings
  2. Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings
  3. Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings
  4. Roofing for Historic Buildings
  5. The Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings
  6. Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings
  7. The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra-Cotta
  8. Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings: The Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings
  9. The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
  10. Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork
  11. Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts
  12. The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass (Vitrolite and Carrara Glass)
  13. The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows
  14. New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns
  15. Preservation of Historic Concrete
  16. The Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors
  17. Architectural Character—Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving their Character
  18. Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings—Identifying Character-Defining Elements
  19. The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs
  20. The Preservation of Historic Barns
  21. Repairing Historic Flat Plaster—Walls and Ceilings
  22. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco
  23. Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster
  24. Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings: Problems and Recommended Approaches
  1. The Preservation of Historic Signs
  2. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings
  3. The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron
  4. Painting Historic Interiors
  5. The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs
  6. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Tile Roofs
  7. Mothballing Historic Buildings
  8. Making Historic Properties Accessible
  9. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass
  10. Applied Decoration for Historic Interiors: Preserving Historic Composition Ornament
  11. Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation
  12. Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment and Management of Historic Landscapes
  13. Appropriate Methods of Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing
  14. Removing Graffiti from Historic Masonry
  15. Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings
  16. Preserving Historic Ceramic Tile Floors
  17. The Seismic Retrofit of Historic Buildings
  18. The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone
  19. The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports
  20. The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair, Replacement and New Design
  21. Preserving Historic Wooden Porches
  22. The Preservation and Reuse of Historic Gas Stations
  23. Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings
  24. Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries