RESTORE JACKSONVILLE

Saturday, October 13th:

KEYNOTE: 9:45 am - 10:45 am
THE OLD HOUSE MECHANIC'S MANIFESTO: John Leeke is a mechanic in the old sense of the word: “A skilled craftsman who fixes what breaks and works to keep the house operating properly.” He has distilled four decades of working on old houses to give you the low down on what works and what doesn’t, when to do it and when to let it go, and who to listen to and who to ignore.

SESSION A: 11:00 am - 11:45 am
WHAT STYLE IS THIS HOUSE? Local architect Angela Schifanella leads a slideshow discussion of the development of architectural styles in Northeast Florida's historic homes and businesses. Learn to identify the unique visual and material characteristics of the most prevalent styles.

THE BUILDING ENVELOPE: Understand how the building envelope works as a barrier to moisture penetration in an older structure. Learn how to avoid and control mold growth and wood rot by eliminating water infiltration.

CONDITIONS ASSESSMENT: Prior to any work on an historic building, it is first necessary to evaluate the existing conditions and document them. Current conditions are almost always the indicators of deterioration mechanisms, and it is through the identification of deterioration mechanisms that appropriate treatment recommendations are made. Leslie Berman of Acacia Studios discusses how to analyze, evaluate and prioritize the condition problems in an historic structure.

HOW WE LOST JACKSONVILLE (& HOW WE FOUND IT AGAIN)– Photos from 33 Years of the Preservation Movement. Dr. Wayne Wood, Dean Emeritus of Jacksonville's preservation efforts, presents rare photos of some of the city's all-time greatest buildings that have been destroyed, as well as some of the crowning glories of Jacksonville's restoration and preservation efforts. He'll also present insights and challenges as to what we can do as a community to succeed in preserving our heritage.

BUYING AND SELLING OLDER PROPERTIES: Gunilla Craven and Linda Dove, real estate brokers specializing in older homes, share their knowledge of what sells and what doesn’t in the older home market, and discuss the restoration standards people looking for historic homes will expect.   As homeowners who have restored several of their own fixer uppers, the speakers will also share what it takes to rehab an older home and the benefits this can bring.

SESSION B: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
PRESCREENING YOUR HISTORICAL HOME PURCHASE: Wally Conway, a featured inspector on the HGTV series "House Detective" and President of Home Pro Inspections, discusses what you should look for when evaluating the purchase of a historic home.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN HISTORIC STRUCTURES:  Hazardous materials and substances are present in many historic structures, whether it's the lead in wall paint and old pipes, the asbestos in spackle, roofing material or insulation, or the mold that flourishes in our moist environment.  However, the presence of such materials doesn't mean the building can't be safely remedied for continued use. Mitch Kramer of Moran Environmental discusses what you need to know about the potential risks that are in, on, or under your old walls, as well as how to reduce or eliminate the risks they pose. 

EXTERIOR WOOD RESTORATION: The architectural character of a building is often defined by decorative features such as siding and trim. It also provides the practical function of protecting the interior structure from weather and deterioration. John Leeke will discuss how to to stabilize and save deteriorated exterior woodwork, including porch elements, and will also demonstrate how good design, proper materials selection and effective installation and rehabilitation methods will reduce maintenance, and extend the life of your exterior woodwork. 

RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF YOUR HOUSE: Joel McEachin, Principal Planner, Historic Division, of the COJ Planning Department discusses how to research the “back story’ of your home utilizing FMSF, Sanborn Maps, city directories, building permits, newspaper, property records, and other important resources.

WEAVING NEW SYSTEMS INTO HISTORIC STRUCTURES: Historic structures can present unique challenges for the architects, engineers and contractors charged with restoring them.  The buildings may be architectural jewels, yet they are technologically obsolete with faulty building systems that don't meet modern needs and require tremendous maintenance.  Modernizing these buildings, while maintaining their essential character, requires a creative balance of new design and historic preservation capabilities.  Ricardo Quinones, principal of PQH Architects and chairman of the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission, showcases creative solutions for integrating contemporary engineering systems, such as HVAC, into historic structures without compromising their architectural integrity.

SESSION C: 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
INSURANCE ISSUES & FINANCIAL STRATEGIES FOR HISTORIC HOME OWNERSHIP: A practical orientation to special financial considerations in historic homes, including information about tax credits, special insurance programs, and financing options. Speakers include Matt Carlucci, Reggie Fountain, and representatives from First Guaranty.

THIS GREEN OLD HOUSE: Historic buildings have many inherent attributes that are now promoted as green, and the very act of preserving older buildings is, in and of itself, an act of sustainable design. Still, there is more we can do. JEA presents additional strategies for energy efficiency, water efficiency, and responsible renewal, and will provide ideas and tools to help owners of older homes make informed green material choices that will improve indoor air quality while being friendly to the environment.

PREPPING AND PAINTING YOUR HISTORICAL HOME: Because one of the main causes of wood deterioration is moisture penetration, a primary purpose for painting wood is to exclude such moisture, thereby slowing deterioration not only of a building's exterior siding and decorative features but, ultimately, its underlying structural members. Another important purpose for painting wood is, of course, to define and accent architectural features and to improve appearance. Burk Brinton of Brinton's Paints will discuss the essential steps in prepping and painting older homes, and also showcase how employing period colors on an older home can bring back to life the lost features and provides fresh curb appeal. 

WOOD CONSTRUCTION AND RESTORATION IN THE SOUTHEASTERN US: Identifying Construction Methods and Materials in Timber Frame Structures. Renowned preservation architect Herschel Shepard explores the evolution of wood construction methods and materials in the Southeastern US, provides clues for dating older buildings, and reviews  the special considerations involved in restoring historic wood structures, such as structural damage caused by insects and rot, problems in structural dehumidification caused by air conditioning, and issues arising from non-standard lumber dimensions.

PRESERVATION PROCESS 101: Jacksonville's local historic preservation program seeks to identify historic buildings through architectural and historic surveys, protect those properties through local designation, and preserve significant historic fabric through the Certificate of Appropriateness process.  Lisa Sheppard of the City's Planning and Development Department, Historic Preservation Section, will give a brief history of the historic preservation movement, explain how preservation activities are handled locally and provide some clarification on the different applications, codes and requirements that homeowners, developers and contractors need to understand when dealing with older buildings.

SESSION D: 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm

BUILDING THE NEW OLD HOME: When we design a home using traditional architecture that complements its neighborhood setting, we create an environment, both inside and out, that is warm, welcoming and comfortable. Local architect Bill Leuthold leads a slideshow discussion of the elements and features that contribute to the effective creation of a "new old" home. The discussion will also address special considerations of in-fill development in historic districts.

$50,000 REPAIRS FROM 50 CENT PROBLEMS: A Primer on Essential Home Maintenance: Establishing a routine maintenance plan is critical to protecting the integrity of your historic structure. It also saves time and money by limiting the need for future expensive work to replace materials lost from neglect. Wally Conway of Home Pro Inspections discusses how to develop a proactive plan for keeping your home in good shape. 

ELECTRICAL WIRING IN OLDER HOMES: An overview of older wiring practices and how they relate to code. John Griffin, President of United Electric and an electrician with four decades of experience, will discuss when to leave your antique wiring alone, and when it needs to go.

HISTORICAL LANDSCAPING: Landscape architect J. Dabney Peeples will discuss how to achieve casual outdoor living in a more formal or traditional layout, and how to use hardscape materials and plantings that relate to the specific architecture of your house. 

RETROFITTING HISTORICAL STRUCTURES TO MEET ACCESS & LIFE SAFETY CODES: Noted preservation architect Ken Smith will review strategies for bringing historic structures up to current accessibility and life safety codes while minimizing changes to historic materials and features.

SESSION E: 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
FINDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS: Elaine Burnett, a realtor and board member of Riverside Avondale Development Organization (RADO), a nonprofit dedicated to revitalization of historic structures and to keeping affordable housing accessible, discusses strategies for accessing grant money, low interest financing and subsidies that are available to first time home buyers, and to those who fall within certain income ranges.

ROOF REPAIR, MAINTENANCE & REPLACEMENT: Jodie Marchman, roofing consultant, will discuss roof repairs, maintenance and replacement on the various systems found on your historic homes.  He'll give you tips on how to get the most out of your existing system as well as how to repair or replace when the time comes.  If you need professional referrals, Marchman will be glad to share with you the names of contractors that he feels are capable of handling your needs.