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Who to Hire for Historic Restoration
Hire a historic restoration contractor to preserve your home while meeting modern codes
Nando Azevedo / Adobe Stock Photography
Nando Azevedo / Adobe Stock Photography
Highlights
Hiring historic restoration contractors protects period details while aligning plumbing, electrical, and HVAC with modern safety codes.
Expect to pay $100 to $400 per square foot for work that uses period-appropriate methods and materials to match your home’s era.
Costs increase when contractors must consult historians to address complex or uncommon restoration techniques and finishes.
Planning, vetting, written contracts, and understanding local preservation rules help ensure a smooth project and strong results.
Verify licensing, insurance, bonding, references, and a portfolio of similar historic projects before you hire.
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This article was created using automation technology and thoroughly fact-checked and edited by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.
Use this guide on how to hire historic restoration contractors to protect your home’s integrity and avoid costly mistakes. Hire a contractor with licensing, insurance, and bonding, backed by references and a portfolio of historic work.
Confirm familiarity with your home’s time period and local preservation rules so the project remains compliant, accurate, and aligned with your goals.
Benefits of Hiring Historic Restoration Contractors for a Historic Home
Hiring a specialist safeguards historical integrity, meets safety codes, and reduces risk and rework. DIY restoration is risky without period-specific knowledge, materials, and techniques. A pro helps you make informed choices that preserve value and authenticity.
Here are some of the top benefits of hiring professional historic restoration contractors:
Structural repairs and reinforcements are handled safely and correctly
Repair or replace moldings, windows, and doors to match the era
Restore original flooring, woodwork, and plaster with care
Repoint masonry and brickwork for durability and authenticity
Apply historical painting techniques and finishes appropriately
Restore roofing and exteriors per historical guidelines
Upgrade plumbing, electrical, and HVAC to code without compromising aesthetics
Improve efficiency while maintaining historical accuracy
Consult on period-appropriate materials and design choices
Document and research work to ensure historical accuracy
If your project involves restoring original flooring, woodwork, or plaster and you’re unsure about the best approach, you might want to consider a remodeling company near you to ensure the job is done with the right expertise and care.
Can I Hire a Local Home Remodeling Company for Historic Restoration?
A local home remodeling company that specializes in historic restorations can be a good choice. Verify their experience with your home’s time period, ask for references, and review similar projects.
Hiring a remodeling company offers broader remodeling resources and can complete restoration-focused work when specialists are limited. Ensure they understand preservation guidelines and can keep the project aligned with modern codes and historical accuracy.
How Do Historic Restoration Contractors Restore Historic Homes?
Historic restoration contractors follow a careful process to preserve the value and integrity of your home. Here’s a look at their process:
Document and research the home to ensure historical accuracy
Assess the structure, then plan repairs and reinforcements
Preserve or repair historic features, including moldings, windows, and doors
Restore original flooring, woodwork, and plaster with era-appropriate care
Repoint masonry and brickwork to extend life and match the original look
Apply historical painting techniques and finishes
Restore roofing and exterior details per historical guidelines
Upgrade plumbing, electrical, and HVAC to modern codes without altering aesthetics
Improve efficiency while maintaining period-accurate details
How Much Does Hiring a Historic Restoration Contractor Cost?
Expect $100 to $400 per square foot for historic restoration. Pricing depends on the methods and materials needed to match your home’s specific period. Costs increase when contractors must consult historians to replicate challenging, uncommon techniques or finishes.
Scope also matters, with interior versus exterior work and the extent of features restored influencing the total price. Request multiple written quotes with a clear scope, timeline, and materials list to set expectations and control costs.
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