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Organizing a Restoration
What to do? First, consider why you want to restore rather than renovate. How far will you go to preserve something? This decision will affect your choice of materials, your budget, the trades people you hire, and the time you are will to devote to the job. Read and learn. If you decide to restore, you must familiarize yourself with the architecture of the era and how your house fits within that context. Read books and attend home improvement courses that focus on restoration. Then research your house. Local archives may have information on your home’s architect or builder, its occupants, and the neighbourhood. Identify important tenants and events that may have taken place in the house. Make an appointment to meet with your city’s heritage planner. Bring along your research, You are now to ready to begin planning your project. Purchase a brightly coloured, hardcover binder with loose-leaf lined pages, so you can find it easily under sawdust, wood shavings and spilled coffee. Organized research and a binder might also impress your banker. Consider categories such as: Inspiration: Include pictures cut from magazines and photographs of homes and projects that you admire. Your Wish List: What do you want to accomplish? A more “sensitive to the era” kitchen? Insulate walls for energy efficiency? Strip paint off woodwork? Replace a sagging porch so you can safely enjoy it? Involve your family as much as possible in this stage of the planning. The more involved they are in the initial decisions, the more likely they are to help, or at least accept the chaos and upheaval that is invariably a part of this process. Information: If possible, speak to other heritage home owners with restoration experience. Ask them who did their work, what choices they wished they had made, and what they wish their contractor had done differently. Gather information on potential contractors, trades people, and heritage home consultants.
Decide what work you are prepared to do yourself. What are the skills that you or your family can bring to the project? Determine if you have the time to do the work and be realistic in your assessment. Book recommended trades people in advance.
House Statistics: Take “before” photographs and record room measurements. Having this information at your fingertips will help you calculate what you need at the lumber yard or wallpaper store! Looking at these “before” pictures will provide you with real satisfaction once the job is done, too. Service Trades: Discuss your plans with possible candidates to determine that their attitude towards preservation is close to yours. Contact other homeowners who have worked with them. Contact your local Homebuilders’ Association for advice about legal responsibility. Keep written contracts for all aspects of the job. Never assume anything. Keep track of costs and conversation about changes in your binder. Self Preservation Tips: Changes to your home can create chaos and stress. If possible, have a “sanity” room, one where no work is done, so you can escape. Or consider house-sitting someone’s home while your project is in progress. Don’t forget to take time off to do enjoyable things. When safe, consider a “hard hat” party or dinner, and invite close friends as well as your trades' people. Celebrate success along the way—not just when the job is done. The process of restoring your heritage home will have as many good memories as the personal satisfaction you will enjoy once the project is complete.
Written by Johanne Yakula From Times Past
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Making changes in your heritage home can be a daunting task, whether you are renovating or restoring. Restoration seeks to authentically replace what was lost, while renovation changes the structure. 
including photos of your house. Ask about the guidelines for historic designation and the various grant programs that are available to homeowners interested in preserving their homes. 
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