The Art of Historic Building Restoration with RPC General Contractors

Restoring historic buildings requires a delicate balance between preserving the past and meeting modern standards. Learn how to address these challenges for a successful historic building restoration that both honors history and improves functionality.

Key takeaways

• Historic building restoration grows local economies and maintains regional historical, cultural, and architectural significance.
• You must secure relevant permits before embarking on your restoration project.
• Historic building restoration involves a delicate balance between maintaining original aesthetics and meeting contemporary building codes.
• Successfully restoring a historic building requires an experienced and reliable construction partner.

Restoring historic buildings demands a delicate blend of precision and artistry, but there’s a fine line between breathing new life into a timeless masterpiece and watching it crumble under missteps and miscalculations. 

Each brick, beam, and board carries decades, if not centuries, of history, and even the smallest of errors can unravel the legacy that has stood the test of time. 

So, how do you successfully restore historic buildings?

It begins with securing the proper funding, obtaining the necessary permits, and partnering with a trusted contractor. RPC General Contractors has had the privilege of working on numerous historic building restoration projects throughout Florida. 

Your case will be handled with the same, if not greater, dedication, ensuring every detail is meticulously attended to for a successful restoration.

Ready to embark on a historic building restoration journey? Let’s explore how RPC General Contractors can help bring your vision to life!

The Benefits of Historic Building Restoration

Historic buildings are a testament to both the aesthetics and cultural history of a given area. They make us feel something, whether that’s a sense of place, a nostalgic recognition, or an overall connection to the past.

That’s why restoring these buildings can benefit the community in numerous ways.

1. Boosting the Economy

Historic buildings attract people from all over the world. Whether it’s the building’s distinctive architecture, fascinating historical roots, or even the materials used, there’s hardly a shortage of visitors willing to pay top dollar to see it.

According to a study by the University of Florida, historic preservation contributes about $4.2 billion annually to the state’s economy.  When done right, historic building restoration and preservation could provide an outstanding return on investment by improving tourism, creating jobs, and revitalizing communities. 

2. Cultural Significance

Older structures are visual reminders of an area’s cultural heritage, its people, and the industries that once made it what it is. 

Restoring these buildings ensures that the artistic, aesthetic, and educational benefits are maintained and enriched for future generations.

3. Architectural Importance

Most historic buildings feature fascinating designs that allow us to experience the architectural marvels of those who came before us, embellished with smaller details and features of a time gone by.

Six Steps to a Successful Historic Building Restoration

Historic building restoration is a complex undertaking that demands care, expertise, and attention to detail. 

Here are the essential steps and considerations for restoring historic buildings.

1. Secure the Necessary Permits

Before embarking on your restoration project, it’s crucial to seek approval from your state government or local council. You should also check your state’s heritage register to determine if the building is a local or state heritage property. This will give you an idea of the regulations you must follow and the paperwork required to secure the permits. 

A key permit required for any historic renovation project is the Certificate of Appropriateness (COA). The COA ensures the project aligns with preservation standards and maintains the structure’s historical significance and architectural stability. 

2. Prioritize Safe Restoration With Construction Inspection

The U.S. Department of Labor recently found that the construction industry housed the third-highest reported workplace injuries and illnesses in 2022. Everything from slip-and-fall accidents to hazardous material exposure can pose significant employee risks.

Besides the obvious risk of putting your employees in danger, there’s also the possibility of falling out of compliance due to poor workplace safety measures. To avoid these risks, you should perform daily inspections of the project. 

This can help you detect issues earlier and take preventive measures to mitigate potential risks. 

3. Assemble a Winning Team

Experience is key when it comes to restoring historic buildings. To ensure everything goes smoothly, you must work with experts who understand what they’re doing. 

Your team should be technically diverse and cohesive, including individuals from multiple disciplines. 

Unless you’re in the construction industry, assembling such a team might prove daunting. To make the process easier, consider hiring a full-service construction company like RPC. 

This way, you’ll have a team of qualified experts with extensive experience handling similar projects. 

4. Maintain Detailed Records

Record-keeping is integral to any construction project, providing a clear roadmap for accountability and project assessment.

As such, you should keep a record of everything you do on-site. This can include taking photos or writing detailed reports at different junctures in the project.

5. Select and Implement Authentic Materials

One of the most important aspects of historic building restoration is preserving historical accuracy. This involves everything from using period-relevant materials to sourcing skilled artisans who can replicate the designs and processes used in the original building.

You should also consider the benefits of repairs over replacements. For instance, restoring original windows and ornate moldings instead of replacing them maintains the structure’s character.

6. Adhere to Building Codes and Regulations

Restoring a historic building demands a delicate balance between preserving its original charm and adhering to contemporary building codes. 

While maintaining the structure’s visual and historical integrity is essential, it’s equally important to ensure that it meets modern safety and usability standards.

One sure way to do this is by checking the Historic Preservation Standards and Guidelines. These help ensure that the work complies with preservation standards and modern safety regulations. 

Recent Historic Restoration Work From RPC

RPC is currently in the process of renovating the Saint Restaurant project in St. Augustine, Florida. 

Located at 44 Avenida Menendez, this Italian-themed restaurant enhances the area’s culinary landscape and involves restoring the Espinosa Sanchez Building, a structure rich in historical significance.

Our work has garnered attention from prominent media outlets, including coverage in the Jacksonville Business Journal and the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Embrace Your Restoration Challenge With RPC General Contractors

Successfully restoring a historic building requires more than the right attitude and finances—it also requires an experienced team with the right techniques.

That’s where RPC General Contractors comes in. With nearly four decades of experience, we’ve become a leading provider of full-service construction solutions for the residential, commercial, retail, restaurant, and historic restoration sectors.

If you’re ready to start your historic building restoration project, contact RPC General Contractors today for a free consultation!