Here’s a quick overview of the types of preservation professionals out there and the kind of work they do.
Architect
Contact an architect if you're looking for professional guidance on how to repair, maintain, preserve, rehabilitate, or update your older building. Architecture firms can vary widely in size, from sole proprietor firms to large firms with dozens of employees that work across multiple states. Architecture firms also vary widely in their area(s) of expertise — if you have an older building, we recommend working with an architect that specializes in preservation or has documented experience working with older buildings.
Architects can generally be hired for these services, among others:
Most of the studies funded by our Preserve NY Arts + Culture: Support for Pre-Construction Studies (formerly Technical Assistance Grants and Preserve NY) grant program, including building condition reports, historic structure reports, accessibility studies, MEP analyses, and more.
Feasibility studies
Building code analysis
Construction drawings and specifications; construction administration
Designing historic spaces for new uses; designing new additions
Interior design
Many architecture firms — particularly those that specialize in preservation — also offer preservation planning/consulting services (see preservation consultant)
Architectural Salvage / Deconstruction
Architectural Salvage facilities provide retail access to a variety of salvaged materials — from bathtubs and fixtures to doorknobs, windows, and everything in between, allowing you to replace in-kind during home renovations.
Deconstruction is the process of dismantling a structure to maximize the recovery of reusable material. Deconstruction removes a building by selective disassembly of structural and non-structural building components. This stands in contrast to conventional demolition, which uses mechanical equipment like bulldozers and wrecking balls, resulting in limited reusability. For more information about deconstruction at a national level, visit Build Reuse. For information about deconstruction in NYS, visit CR0WD (Circularity, Reuse, and Zero Waste Development), a collaborative network of community leaders and academics working to address the vast system of building material waste within NYS.
Attorney
Attorneys can specialize in many different areas. Areas that are most relevant to preservation include: real estate law, historic tax credit syndication, tax law, land use, economic and community development.
Barn Contractor
Barn repairs may require the expertise of multiple types of craftspeople (carpenters, masons, roofers, etc.), however, some businesses specialize in the general repair and assessment of historic barns. Many of these companies are timber framers. For more guidance on historic barns, visit our Barn Preservation page.
Carpenter
Hiring a carpenter who specializes in older buildings and methods can be important for certain projects and/or building elements. Restoring, repairing, or rebuilding historic porches, which require a high level of skill and attention to detail is one such area. If you have a large or complex project, it may be worth considering hiring an architect to design and administer your project.
Cemetery Practitioner
While many different types of preservation professionals could be engaged to document and preserve a historic cemetery, this category focuses primarily on businesses that provide headstone repair and cleaning services. Some of these businesses also provide training and workshops. Other types of professionals who may be helpful: architects (to assess the condition of any cemetery buildings/structures); preservation consultants (historic resources survey, National Register nominations, planning, grant writing); landscape architects (to conduct a cultural landscape report or advise on landscape design).
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
This category includes CPAs who have experience working on preservation and historic tax credit projects.
Conservator
An architectural conservator specializes in the documentation, analysis, conditions diagnosis, testing, monitoring, treatment, and preventive maintenance of buildings and structures. In most cases, property owners will want to work with a preservation consultant, architect, or contractor, who have more generalized knowledge and can bring in a conservator if needed. Conservators are generally utilized only on highly significant buildings such as museums and large scale civic buildings.
Other types of conservators are concerned with the preservation of artifacts and objects such as paintings, textiles, photographs, etc.
Engineer
There are many types of engineers, however, civil and structural engineers are the most relevant to the preservation field. Architects will often utilize structural engineers as sub-consultants on condition reports if there are potential structural concerns.
General Contractor/Project Management
A general contractor (GC) is a construction professional who provides the services that a property owner needs to deliver a construction/restoration/repair project successfully. Whether an individual or company, a general contractor manages the day-to-day operations at the job site — coordinating materials, labor (including sub-contractors), and compliance to ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and according to plan. On complex projects, with multiple specialized professionals (plumbers, electricians, etc), the GC acts as the single point of contact and accountability for the property owner.
Historic Interiors
Many architecture firms offer interior design services, however, there are interior design firms that specialize in historic interiors as well. These services can be important to museums or any property owner (including homeowners) who wish to have interior spaces that are functional for the present day while also reflecting a certain time period and/or complementing a property's historic character.
Landscape Architect
Landscape architects can be hired for these services, among others:
Cultural landscape reports (if you are a nonprofit arts and cultural organization, you can apply to our PNY Arts + Culture: Support for Pre-Construction Studies grant program to help fund a CLR)
Landscape/site design
Master planning
Historic landscape research and documentation
Like architects, not all landscape architects have expertise and experience with historic/cultural landscapes. We generally recommend working with a firm that specializes in preservation or has documented experience working with historic/cultural landscapes.
Mason
Historic masonry (brick, stone, terra-cotta, and concrete block) requires specific treatments that are different from modern masonry. Thus, it is important to work with masons who are knowledgeable and experienced with older materials and techniques. Improper treatment of older masonry can can cause serious damage to masonry units and lead to severe deterioration. Historic masons can be hired to re-point deteriorated mortar joints, rebuild masonry walls, analyze the contents of historic mortar, find/create an appropriate match for replacement mortar, and assess the condition of masonry units.
In many instances, property owners may wish to engage with a preservation architect first to take a holistic look at an older building's repair and maintenance needs. This is particularly important if a building is exhibiting evidence of moisture infiltration (roof leaks, wet basement, etc.) so that the root causes of masonry deterioration can be addressed prior to spending money on masonry repairs.
Millwork
Millwork consists of any wood used in the construction of a structure that is designed to be exposed. Millwork includes everything manufactured in a sawmill, like wood mantels, window and door frames, stair banisters, moldings, and accent trim. This category includes businesses that fabricate reproductions of historic millwork profiles.
Plaster
Up until the 1930s-40s, plaster was the material of choice for finishing interior walls. It offers many advantages over modern drywall: it is durable and strong; it can be applied to flat or curved ceilings and walls; it resists fire and sound transmission; it is breathable and discourages mold growth.
Plastering is a skilled craft, requiring years of training and special tools. While minor repairs can be undertaken by building owners, most repairs will require the assistance of a plasterer. Plastering can be divided into two categories: flat plaster (walls and ceilings) and ornamental plaster (cornices, ceiling medallions, coffered ceilings). Plasterers may specialize in one of these two categories.
In many instances, property owners may wish to engage with a preservation architect first to take a holistic look at an older building's repair and maintenance needs. This is particularly important if a building is exhibiting evidence of structural movement or moisture infiltration (roof leaks, wet basement, etc.) so that the root causes of plaster deterioration or failure can be addressed prior to spending money on repairs.
Preservation Consultant
Although each consultant's exact offerings are different, preservation consultants typically offer a range of preservation planning related services including: National Register of Historic Places nominations (for both individual properties and historic districts); historic/cultural resource surveys; grant writing; historic research; historic tax credit applications; municipal preservation plans; municipal design guidelines. Some consultants offer more technical services such as building condition reports and historic structure reports. Consultants generally are not architects, however, many preservation architecture firms include preservation consulting in their service offerings.
Real Estate Agent
This category includes agents who have particular experience and expertise marketing older properties.
Roofer
Some historic buildings retain historic or original material roofs such as clay tile, slate, wood shingle, or certain metal treatments. Such roofs should be inspected regularly and repaired only by specialty roofers who are experienced with these materials. Specialty roofers also typically provide specialty gutter installation such as copper or Yankee gutters.
For complicated roof structures and/or larger buildings such as houses of worship, property owners may wish to engage with a preservation architect first to take a holistic look at an older building's repair and maintenance needs. This is particularly important if a building is exhibiting evidence of roof leaks (i.e. failing plaster) or other moisture infiltration (such as a wet basement). An architect can determine the source of any water infiltration, flashing needs, and proper gutter and downspout needs, which are critical to moving water away from buildings and an essential part of any comprehensive roof project.
Tax Credit Consultant
This category can be divided into two types of historic tax credit consulting services:
Consultants who assist with the preparation of historic tax credit applications and the design of your rehabilitation project (most preservation consultants and many architecture firms offer these services).
Consultants who advise on the legal and/or financial side of projects, including tax credit syndication.
Stained Glass
This category refers to craftspeople who specialize in the repair and restoration of historic, as well as the fabrication of new, stained and leaded glass windows.
Window Repair / Storms
This category includes contractors/craftspeople who specialize in the repair and restoration of historic windows (windows that are 50+ years old) and/or the fabrication of wood storm windows. Please note that some window restoration contractors specialize in either wood or steel windows. For repairs to stained or leaded glass windows, please see the Stained Glass category.