PHILOSOPHY
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• Try to use storm windows over your building’s old windows rather than replacing them with new insulated glass window units.
• Be sure your insulation has a vapor barrier facing the interior or the warm side of a ceiling or attic. Insulating without a vapor barrier can cause moisture problems and can actually render your insulation ineffective. Planning Consider the long-term impact of the decisions you are making today. Step back and look at your building as a whole, not just at an air-conditioning project or a kitchen wing project or an insulation project. Think of all the things you may want to do to your building over several years. Then plan your project in manageable phases. Consider the cumulative effect of all your individual projects as the years pass. Will your building’s essential historic character still come through, or will it somehow gradually slip away, almost unnoticed, under the weight of accumulated changes, additions, and “improvements?” Remember, the loss of historic character can actually diminish the dollar value of your building. Preservation Briefs As you read and use these guidelines, you may find it helpful to make frequent reference to Preservation Briefs. This series of technical pamphlets is published by the Preservation Assistance Division of the National Park Service. The pamphlets cover topics such as masonry cleaning, repointing and sealing; repair and replacement of historic windows; repair and replacement of wood siding; exterior paint problems; and how to deal with roofs. Preservation Briefs are available for review from the Commission Assistant at 588 South Third Street. Preventive Maintenance Equally important is regular maintenance of your property once you have completed its rehabilitation. Poor maintenance practices diminish historic character and property values just as much as poor rehabilitation. Develop a seasonal inspection procedure in which you watch for trouble in gutters, downspouts, site drainage, and roofing materials. Look for evidence of moisture damage to wood and masonry building components. Find and correct the causes—not just the symptoms—of any trouble right away. Guarding against the inadvertent erosion of the qualities we all find attractive in German Village is the most important thing you can do for your neighborhood.