Historic Preservation: Rehabilitating Interiors

This course has been discontinued.

While the exterior of a building may be its most prominent visible aspect, or its "public face," its interior can be even more important in conveying the building's history and development over time. This 1-hour interactive online course has been developed to assist building owners and architects in identifying and evaluating those elements of a building's interior that contribute to its historic character, and in planning for the preservation of those elements in the process of rehabilitation. The information covered applies to all building types and styles, from 18th century churches to 20th century office buildings. The course discusses historic interior paints, and addresses a variety of materials and features: plaster walls and ceilings; wooden doors, molding, and trim; and metal items such as radiators and railings. It provides background information about some of the types of paint which were used in the past, discusses the more common causes and effects of interior paint failure, and explains the principal factors guiding decisions about repainting, including what level of paint investigation may be appropriate.