Did you know?

One of the benefits of Historic Denver membership includes access to our Contractor Referral List - a comprehensive list of experts, contractors and craftspeople specializing in the restoration, repair and maintenance of historic homes.

Click here to become a member!

Your Historic Home: Preservation for Living

Though more humble than the city’s grand and iconic landmarks, these historic resources have an everyday importance in our communities and our quality of life. We hope to strengthen this importance by being a source of encouragement and a technical resource for those who live in and love their historic house. Through the program, we educate homeowners about restoring and preserving their home by providing technical assistance and offering opportunities to learn more about specific restoration subjects. We also recognize a homeowner’s efforts to restore and revitalize their home. 

Restoration

Usually historic or older buildings require a different, more thoughtful approach for renovation. Though their materials are generally of better quality, careful planning is still needed to ensure that such buildings’ systems and assemblies are not compromised. For example, the mortar used in older masonry homes is “softer” than the concrete-based mortar commonly used today. If the mortar joints are re-pointed with a “harder” mortar, extensive damage to the bricks can occur over time.

The National Park Service’s Technical Preservation Services program offers online Preservation Briefs, in-depth essays which cover a wide range of technical topics related to restoration, from masonry to windows to interior painting. Get an informal preservation education by checking out the Preservation Briefs at the NPS/TPS website here.


Resources

Historic Denver’s Preservation Hotline
If you feel intimidated by the technical side of restoration and have a question about your house or upcoming project, you can take advantage of our Preservation Hotline by calling 303.534.5288 ext. 4 to get general advice and pointers.

Contractor Resource List
Among the many benefits of Historic Denver membership, we offer our comprehensive referral list of qualified and preservation-minded contractors, trade and craftspeople for all of your historic home’s repair, maintenance and renovation projects. To become a member, please click here.

An Owners Manual for Historic Homes
In 2010, in partnership with the City of Denver and the Colorado State Historical Fund, Historic Denver published a new brochure to explain the ins and outs of landmark designation, design review and tax credits. Read it in detail here.

Recognition

Historic Denver Home Plaque
Have you taken great care to maintain and restore your home? Historic Denver recognizes homeowners who have made a true effort to preserve their older homes’ architectural and historic integrity by offering an official plaque to be placed on your home. The plaque is an ideal way to showcase the time and care you have put into maintaining your home’s distinctive characteristics.

Criteria for Home Plaque
· Original windows and doors intact or replaced with sensitivity to architecture
· Original building material of exterior walls and accents intact or restored
· Any addition is sensitive to the original construction with respect to the home’s original scale and quality of craftsmanship
· Authenticity of materials

Plaques costs $150 ($25 review fee, $125 for the plaque) and provides a year’s membership with Historic Denver. A plaque from Historic Denver does not constitute an official landmark designation of the home.

To inquire further about this program, click here.