Project Planning Resources

Hi All! It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, but I wanted to put all of the links discussed in today’s Technical Tuesday video somewhere easy to find.

Today I talked about beginning the planning for your 2021 house projects now that spring is on the horizon. Here’s a super quick recap.

-Make a list of your projects, start to prioritize them looking at immediate needs, what is impacting something else (making it deteriorate too), and what you think you can financially tackle this year.

-Start getting some quotes to flesh out an accurate budget.

-Take a look at funding resources like tax credits, energy programs (good for storm windows and sometimes window repair), and ADCA’s home repair grants. See what you qualify for and get some applications in BEFORE you begin the work.

-Know what permits you need. Don’t ignore building permits thinking that you don’t need one and try to skate by. It can wind up biting you big time with stop work orders and trouble getting through regulatory boards like the Historic Resources Commission (for you historic district property owners) or Board of Zoning Appeals (everyone else). Get your applications in early so you don’t get held up at the end of construction season.

Links and Contacts
So now that you’ve got a plan, who do you call or how do you find the forms you need??

Need contractors?
HAF’s annual membership includes access to our list of preservation friendly contractors. Do you need this? Nope. Is it helpful? A lot of the time, it’s a good place to start. Know someone who has done great preservation friendly work in your neighborhood, send their info our way! We love to keep our list current!

Tax Credits
NYS Homeowners & Income Producing Properties Tax Credits: https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/tax-credit-programs/
Federal Tax Credit for Income Producing Properties: https://www.nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm

Energy Programs
Affordable Housing Partnership, http://ahphome.org/energy.html
Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP): https://www.albanycap.org/menus/energy-services.html
Cornell Cooperative Extension: http://albany.cce.cornell.edu/energy

Albany Community Development Agency
https://www.albanyny.gov/748/Home-Improvement-Programs

Buildings & Regulatory Compliance
Building Permit Applications can be emailed to codes@albanyny.gov. To drop off your applications in person, make an appointment by calling 518-434-5996. Don’t know what you need a building permit for? Check out our webinar from the 2020 Restoration Faire about permitting. https://www.facebook.com/124957917535671/videos/309256240258972

Building Permit & Certificate of Appropriateness Forms: https://www.albanyny.gov/687/BRC-Forms-Informationals

Historic Resource Overlay Ordinance (this is now a part of the USDO, go to page 67): https://www.albanyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3724/Unified-Sustainable-Development-Ordinance

USDO (check this before altering your porch or making major alterations to the exterior of your house even if you’r not in a historic district): https://www.albanyny.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3724/Unified-Sustainable-Development-Ordinance

Historic Resource Commission
Questions? We can help, but sometimes you do need to talk to the Planning Department staff. Email Erin Glennon at eglennon@albanyny.gov.

Replacing Replacements

A few weeks ago we talked about repairing historic wood windows. The sad truth is that a lot of original windows have already been replaced. Why are replacement windows called replacements? Because they always need replacing! I know, it’s a groaner! It is true though!  Replacements cannot be repaired. For years I have seen historic property owners go before the Historic Resources Commission looking to replace the windows in their home that were replaced 20, sometimes even 10 or less years ago.

So, you’ve got replacement windows and now they need replacing. You like the historic character of your home and don’t want to ruin it with bargain basement white vinyl windows that will require the window opening to be filed in with plywood or dimensional lumber. Don’t roll your eyes. We see it all the time, even when the homeowner spends thousands upon thousands of doing all sorts of beautiful restoration work on the interior.

What are your options, what should you look for? That’s the topic of today’s Technical Tuesday!

What to look for
Good quality materials

If you go with wood windows, avoid finger joints, get them factory finished for the best possible coating. Get the highest quality hard wood you can afford.

Here is where aluminum clad is not actually a bad thing. Wood windows are no longer made out of dense old growth wood. This being the case, they do not weather as well as historic windows do. Aluminum cladding on the exterior will extend the life of the window a bit longer.

Size does matter

Most historic windows are not the same size as a standard window is today. Be careful in measuring the opening of the entire window. You want the slenderest frame around the window you can to allow maximum amount of glass. This is not just around the framing. Different companies have different thicknesses to the stiles, rails, and muntins. You want a thin muntin profile (unless you have documentation that your windows had chunky muntins, hey, anything is possible.) Same with the stiles and rails.

Depending on how your windows were replaced, the pockets may still remain with the stops, or they may not. If they do, you can remove the stops and use a sash kit to have the most slender frame possible. If the pockets, weights, basically all of it, were removed, you can recess a window unit with a frame within the area where the pockets were so that the actual sash is in the same spot where they were historically, hiding the chunkiness of the frame.

It’s all in the details

Do take into consideration the style of your home when choosing a muntin pattern for your home. Most Italianate windows were two over two, two tall panes per sash with a slender muntin down the center. Greek Revivals, Federal, more vernacular architecture, and even some very early Victorian styles had six over six. Eight over eight or nine over nine were fairly rare. Craftsman and early 20th century styles often had three over one with three vertical panes in the top sash over one large pane in the bottom. Mid century sometimes had two over one where the top muntin was horizontal. Don’t be tempted to overly Victorianize your house. Ornate Victorian windows with small muntins surrounding one big pane are beautiful as are diamond paned or modified diamond pane windows. It is tempting to plop some in and make your house a higher style home than it was or make it look Victorian when it wasn't. This drastically alters the character of your home and takes away some of the authenticity. I entreat you, please don’t do it.

Also look at the muntins. I always recommend muntins applied to the interior and exterior of the sash, a simulated divided light. This gives the appearance of a traditional window with actual small panes (true divided light) without actually having small panes.

Options to think about

Sash Kits

Marvin: https://www.marvin.com/products/collections/signature/ultimate/tilt-pac-double-hung-sash-replacement-system

Andersen calls them conversion kits: https://parts.andersenwindows.com/items_w_dh_con.html

Framed replacements

Marvin https://www.marvin.com/products/collections/signature/ultimate
I typically recommend the signature ultimate windows

Pella https://www.pella.com/ideas/windows/double-hung/#reservetraditional
I recommend the traditional reserve or architect series

Replace in kind with traditionally made wood windows hung with weights

If your windows were carefully replaced, you still have the pockets, pullies, stops, etc. you can have sash made custom to fit your opening. We do have contractors who can make you sash and install them. I find this method can be a good fit when you have a very unique window opening or it is the only replacement window you have. Contact us for contractors or to discuss this option if you have questions.

The Wonderful World of Wood Windows

Hello again!

Hope you are enjoying all of that spring sunshine! Maybe you’re opening your windows wide every day to let in the refreshing spring breezes. The fresh air and vitamin D are helping us cope here. The four day weekend helped too.

Ahhhhh, windows. One of my favorite topics and one of the topics I get asked about most. Window repair can seem daunting to do it yourself. It’s not quick, it’s not the immediate gratification of having a big van pull up, do their thing, and leave with all new windows magically in place. That said, new windows are not reeeeally what they are cracked up to be.

Here are the resources I talked about in today’s Technical Tuesday to help answer your window questions, and teach you a bit more about window repair.

First, my PSA. Don’t want to DIY it? Historic Albany maintains a list of preservation friendly contractors with a sizable list of window repair and restoration experts. Many were trained through the preservation trades program at Hudson Valley. Access to the contractors list is a benefit of membership. For more info about that, contact our staff at info@historic-albany.org or cmacri@historic-albany.org

Resources
National Parks Service Preservation Brief No. 9: Wood Window Repair (starting to notice a trend here? these are great!)
https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/9-wooden-windows.htm

The Window Sash Bible
 http://www.painintheglass.us/pages/window-restoration-bible.php
You can also buy a copy on Amazon.

John Leeke’s Videos
 http://saveamericaswindows.com/videos/
John Leeke also has a marvelous book, Save America’s Windows, as displayed during the talk. You can get a copy through this link and Amazon.

Scott Sidler’s blog The Craftsman
https://thecraftsmanblog.com/topic/how-to/windows/

Landmark Consulting’s Window Repair Manual

Thank you to Jack and Kim Alvarez at Landmark Consulting for all of these great resources!

Last but absolutely not least! Some great resources to explain why window repair is worth it from an economic and energy standpoint.

Embracing Energy Efficiency, Old House Journal

What Replacement Windows Can’t Replace: The Cost of Removing Historic Windows, Walter Sedovic & Jill Gotthelf

The dirty "M" word: maintenance

Today we talked about how now is the time to get outside, take some deep breaths of spring air, and give your house a quick once over. Whether you are type A and have a running spread sheet of needs for your house with a schedule of when you’re planning to work on them or just have a sort of mental to do list in your head, now is a good time to take a look and update that list.

Here is a great resource for what to look at and how to organize your list, spreadsheet, notebook, or mental.
NPS Preservation Brief No. 47: Maintenance of the Exterior of Small and Medium Sized Buildings

Now get out there and get some vitamin D!

DIY Resources

Here is the information about the Hudson Valley and Columba Greene Community Colleges’ programs discussed in today’s Technical Tuesday as well as a few blogs, video resources, etc. for handy historic homeowners.

Hudson Valley Community College’s Historic Trades Program
https://www.hvcc.edu/programs/workforce-development/index.html

Courses to be offered this fall
Historic Wood Window Rehabilitation
https://www.hvcc.edu/programs/workforce-development/training/building-technologies-engineering.html#historic-wood-window-rehab
Historic Preservation Carpentry I
https://www.hvcc.edu/programs/workforce-development/training/building-technologies-engineering.html#Historic-Preservation-Carpentry-I
Historic Plaster Rehabilitation and Repair
https://www.hvcc.edu/programs/workforce-development/training/building-technologies-engineering.html#historic-plaster-rehabilitation

Other courses in the program
Historic Masonry- Treatment & Repair
https://www.hvcc.edu/programs/workforce-development/training/building-technologies-engineering.html#Historic-Masonry-Treatments-and-Repair

Columbia Greene Community College’s Construction Technology/Preservation Carpentry Program
https://www.sunycgcc.edu/academics/programs-of-study/construction-technology/

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Blogs, Forums, and Other Great Resources
National Parks Service Preservation Briefs
Good, short documents on the basics to give you better understanding of a variety of topics for historic building maintenance, repair, and restoration including wood window treatment, repointing basics, slate roofs, flat plaster repair, stucco repair, and so many more topics.
https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs.htm

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
National guidelines on how to maintain, repair, restore, rehabilitate, and preserve historic buildings. These Standards are the basis for most local historic district ordinances, including Albany’s Historic Resources Commission Overlay district ordinance.
https://www.nps.gov/tps/standards.htm

John Leeke’s Historic Homeworks
Great online forum to ask questions and get answers. Lots of information on wood window repair.
http://historichomeworks.com

Old House Journal’s Online DIY Center
Articles on period paint, hardware restoration and repair, reusing salvage, window, doors, just about everything….
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/repairs-and-how-to

This Old House Online
Videos, articles, and DIY tips.
https://www.thisoldhouse.com

Brighten Your Day with a Splash of Color

Today we chatted about historic paint palettes, (watch the video here) which colors are period appropriate for which architectural styles, answered questions about permitting for painting, and had a bit of fun looking a historic paint palettes.

Here are the links discussed in today’s talk.

General Painting References. Even if you’re a pro, refreshers never hurt! I love some of the descriptions of what causes crazing, cracking and other failures. It’s something you don’t always think about when you see failing paint, but is something to consider when getting ready to spiff it up.

National Parks Service Preservation Brief No. 10: Exterior Paint Problems
https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/10-paint-problems.htm

Color Palettes to the Rescue: Saving Buildings from Demolition. An interesting article and interview from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
https://www.ncptt.nps.gov/blog/color-palettes-to-the-rescue-saving-buildings-from-demolition-2/

Paint Companies with Historic/Heritage Palettes
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/repairs-and-how-to/guide-period-appropriate-paints

Historic Color Palettes

Book: Century of Color Roger Moss
https://www.amazon.com/Century-Color-Decoration-Buildings-1820-1920/dp/B002BR814M

Colonial Colors
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/gardens-and-exteriors/paint-palettes-colonial-colonial-revival-houses

Georgian - Craftsman Styles https://www.bostonbuildingresources.com/advice/paint-colors

Craftsman
https://modernbungalow.com/blogs/news/the-ultimate-guide-to-craftsman-color-palettes

Sears Kit Houses
https://www.oldhouseonline.com/gardens-and-exteriors/paint-colors-for-sears-houses

1950s Palettes
http://vintagegoodness.blogspot.com/2012/12/vintage-decorating-1950s-paint-color.html

1960s Palettes
https://retrorenovation.com/2010/03/28/exterior-colors-for-1960-houses/

Other Helpful Links:
Historic Resources Commission Certificate of Appropriateness Form (for those in local historic districts)
https://www.albanyny.gov/Libraries/Forms_-_Development_Review/USDO_Certificate_of_Appropriateness.sflb.ashx

Historic Districts Q & A

Here are the links discussed in today’s Technical Tuesday Q & A about historic districts. Catch up on the video here

The map of historic districts in Albany can be found on the Historic Resources Commission’s page:
https://www.albanyny.gov/Libraries/HRC/Historic_Districts_Registered_Sites_in_Albany.sflb.ashx

OR

The Preservation Plan also has wonderful maps and narratives about each local and National Register historic districts:
https://www.albanyny.gov/Libraries/HRC/Albany_Historic_Preservation_Plan_Sept_30_2019.sflb.ashx

Homeowner Tax Credits

Here are the NYS Homeowner Tax Credit links I talked about in today’s Technical Tuesday. To re-watch the video click here.

NYS Homeowner Tax Credit Webpage
This page has a brochure, FAQ, the application (full and in parts), and application instructions!
https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/tax-credit-programs/

Contact for the program: Frances Stern, Frances.Stern@parks.ny.gov
Right now all SHPO staff are working from home, so I would recommend emailing rather than calling.

Where to find “blue sheets” and historic district boundaries
https://cris.parks.ny.gov/

Click “Proceed as a guest”
Use the Search tool in the top menu, click on Spatial search and put your address in

Researching from Your House from Your Couch

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

Thanks for joining me from my first ever FacebookLive and blog post! The company is welcome! This discussion about research is intended to help you get your geek on and have a little stress free fun going down a research rabbit hole of fun historic photos, maps and more. Pour a cup of tea and find a sunny spot. Grab your laptop and enjoy getting away from dire headlines and the worry over toilet paper for an hour or two.

Share what you’ve found on Facebook or in the comments here! Don’t know where to look next? Post your questions! We’ll continue the discussion and have a bit of fun together.

Here are links to the online maps, city directories, etc. that I mentioned. Just a disclaimer, this is by no means a complete list of possible research resources. Just something to get you started.

Happy Hunting!

Maps
1843 Bradt Map (Boston Public Library Online Collection)
1857 Sprague Map (NYS Library’s Online Collection)
1876 Hopkins Atlas (NYS Library’s Online Collection)
1879 Beck & Pauli Perspective Map (Library of Congress)
1892 Sanborn Map (Library of Congress)
1908 Sanborn Map Volume 1 (Library of Congress)
1908 Sanborn Map Volume 2 (Library of Congress)
1934 Sanborn Map Volume 1 (Library of Congress)

1934 Sanborn Map Volume 2 (Library of Congress)

City Directories

1813 (first) - 1850 http://digitalcollections.americanancestors.org/cdm/search/collection/p15869coll21/
searchterm/New%20York%20(State)!albany%20(n.y.)/field/covera!covera/mode/exact!all/
conn/and!and/order/issue

on Hathi Trust
1844-45: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514653
1845-46: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112057581917
1848-49: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514679
1849-50: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514687
1850-51: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514695
1852-53: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514711
1853-54: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514729
1855: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514737
1856: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514745
1857: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514752
1859: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514778
1860: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514786
1861: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514794
1862: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514802
1863: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112111167398
1867: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514844
1869: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514869
1875: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514927
1877: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514943
1878: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/chi.102187346
1879: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514968
1882: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112004602287
1884: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112047653800
1886: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106514984
1889: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112111167448
1890: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106515007
1891: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112041746253
1896: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiug.30112106515031
1900: https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uiuo.ark:/13960/t0vq6n31r

NYS Cultural Resource Information System
has historic district and National Register information including historic resource inventory forms (blue sheets)

Historic Photos
Albany Public Library Digital Collection on NY Heritage (a NYS Museum Collection)
Historic Photos on AlbanyGroup Archive Flickr

Cool Collections
Historic American Building Survey
Library of Congress Map Collection