Let's Talk Historic Trades
Another term I’m excited about, especially right now, is “historic trades”. In June 2023, the Campaign for Historic Trades, powered by the advocacy group Preservation Maryland, brought 100+ people together from all over the country (and Canada) for a two-day summit in Providence, RI. As someone who helps people buy, sell and take care of old houses (including my own), I eagerly joined. The Campaign defines historic trades as professionals who have “the skills needed to maintain, preserve, restore, rehabilitate, reconstruct, and deconstruct historic structures.” Now you know why I’m so excited – a whole room FULL of people who know how to fix old houses!
Assuming you’ve ever needed to hire a contractor knowledgeable about historic preservation, or fantasized about having a house that requires such expertise, you know how hard it can be to a) find the right people for the job, b) get on their busy schedules, and c) have confidence that they have not only the necessary experience and skills to work on old houses, but also the ethos to save rather than destroy, repair rather than replace, patiently problem-solve with what’s there rather than suggest starting over from scratch. If they tell you there’s no way to make historic windows energy efficient, back away slowly…
How to Find the Right Trades
To connect with skilled professionals, CIRCA’s directory of Trusted Pros is a great place to start. Finding the right contractor is probably among the most important personal decisions you’re ever likely to make, and it’s absolutely pivotal for the life of your building. Here’s some hiring advice based on my own experience:
- Be genuinely curious about their process and results – Ask to see samples of their work, either photos or, better yet, visit past projects in person. People who are truly passionate about old houses will revel in the opportunity to share not just the beautiful finished product but more importantly their stories about challenges faced along the way.
- References are key – You want to know from past customers whether they were satisfied in the quality of the work as well as the experience (was the professional reliable, communicative, friendly, organized, a team player?). Rehab projects take time, and you could be joined at the hip for a while, so don’t skip this step!
- Paperwork – While you may or may not have a formal written contract, you should always ask for proof of insurance and any necessary licenses to perform the work you need.
- Define the scope of work – The success of any project ultimately rests on your ability to communicate clearly what you want, including project objectives, timeline, budget and deliverables. You may need to enlist the aid of a preservation consultant, architect or interior designer to develop drawings and specifications.
- Educate yourself, even if you don’t DYI – You can maintain, and surely enhance, a healthy respect for professional expertise while learning as much as you can about preservation techniques and materials. Great resources include The Craftsman Blog and National Park Service Preservation Briefs.
The last thing I’ll say is, if you work with a great tradesperson, ask them about the future. My constant question to favorite preservation project partners is, “Have you cloned yourself yet?” The shortage of qualified experts to give historic buildings the special care and attention they need is real. It’s a looming crisis that The Campaign for Historic Trades was founded to address. Check out their resources! Who knows, you just might be inspired to become a mason or a carpenter or a window restoration specialist yourself…
AUTHOR KATE WOOD (@worthpreserving) grew up criss-crossing the country in the family’s Volkswagen Bus, visiting house museums, battlefields, Main Streets, and national parks. Today, she is an award-winning preservationist, real estate broker and principal of the full-service historic rehabilitation consulting firm, Worth Preserving. Kate believes in the essential value of old-building stewardship to sustain community character. For her, each property is a cause and each client a fellow advocate. She specializes in matching people with properties, skilled contractors, historic tax credits and other benefits to support top-tier rehabilitation projects.
