Preservation Briefs provide guidance on preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings, courtesy of the National Park Service.


01: Assessing Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings

02: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings

03: Conserving Energy in Historic Buildings

04: Roofing for Historic Buildings

05: The Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings

06: Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings

07: The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra-Cotta

08: Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings: The Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings

09: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows

10: Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork

11: Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts

12: The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass (Vitrolite and Carrara Glass)

13: The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows

14: New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns

15: Preservation of Historic Concrete

16: The Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors

17: Architectural Character - Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving Their Character

18: Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings - Identifying Character-Defining Elements

19: The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs

20: The Preservation of Historic Barns

21: Repairing Historic Flat Plaster - Walls and Ceilings

22: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco

23: Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster

24: Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings: Problems and Recommended Approaches

25: The Preservation of Historic Signs

26: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings

27: The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron

28: Painting Historic Interiors

29: The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs

30: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Tile Roofs

31: Mothballing Historic Buildings

32: Making Historic Properties Accessible

33: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass

34: Applied Decoration for Historic Interiors: Preserving Historic Composition Ornament

35: Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation

36: Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment and Management of Historic Landscapes

37: Appropriate Methods of Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing

38: Removing Graffiti from Historic Masonry

39: Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings

40: Preserving Historic Ceramic Tile Floors

41: The Seismic Retrofit of Historic Buildings: Keeping Preservation in the Forefront

42: The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone

43: The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports

44: The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair, Replacement and New Design

45: Preserving Historic Wooden Porches

46: The Preservation and Reuse of Historic Gas Stations

47: Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings