Tips for Historic Home Preservation with Glenn Faris

48 East Madison Street  during the process of exterior restoration. This former hotel now houses Wild Geese Bookshop on the first floor, and Franklin Heritage, Inc. offices on the second floor.

So, you bought a historic home—or maybe you want to one day—but where do you begin when it comes to restoring and preserving the history and integrity of your investment? Downtown Franklin, IN, is known for its historic architecture and community of preservationists. Preserving a home can seem overwhelming, but it is a rewarding, fulfilling endeavor that will leave you with memories and a place to call your own.
 
Glenn Faris, History and Preservation Coordinator for Franklin Heritage Inc., has some tips for restoring your abode. Let's dive in to see what he has to say about preservation.
 
What is considered a historic home?
Historic homes are those that are 50 years or older. While many may think of a historic home as a Victorian or American Foursquare, anything built prior to 1974 currently is considered historic. A historic home could be anything from a ranch house built in the 1960s to a brutalist building from the early 1970s.
 
Where should someone start when it comes to restoring a home?
You have a lot of options when it comes to restoring your home. One of the ways you can do it is to get back to the time the house was built, with the exception of electricity and modern conveniences.
 
Regardless of the style and method you choose to restore your home, my advice is to start with what I call the FREE method: Start with the foundation and roof, and then you can move on to everything else.

• Foundation: You want to check the foundation to ensure it is sturdy and has no cracks or leaks, and you should determine whether or not you need tuckpointing. Your whole house is built on the foundation, so you want to address anything wrong.

• Roof: The next is the roof and downspouts. Like the foundation, the roof protects your home from the elements. It keeps water off and removes it from the sides and foundation of your home. While the roof and the foundation are not glamorous, they are necessary to secure so you can protect your investment and all of the other restoration you plan to do.

• Everything else: After your foundation and roof are secure, it is safe to start investing in other things, such as repairing windows, painting the exterior, repairing porches, or starting on the home's interior.

98 North Jackson Street before, and after, restoration

It can be overwhelming to buy a property, especially if it needs any work. Most of the time, the first thing someone wants to do is paint or redo the floors—something really satisfying. But if you have any water issues, you'll want to take care of them first. It will save you time and money in the long run.
 
When you have a lot to do in the home, having a priority list is very important. But adding small projects in between the big projects is also helpful to motivate you.
 
If you had to suggest a book or resource for someone wanting to learn more about their home, what would it be?
I would recommend Virginia McAlester's A Field Guide to American Houses. Her book is the best; every preservationist will recommend it. You can get it at the library, or we have it in our archive room. It's a big book with a lot of pictures. It will just show you the different styles and features of historic homes.
 
What is one myth about historic homes you'd like to debunk?
A lot of times, people think that wood windows are not energy efficient. However, a lot of research has gone into saying that wood windows can be reglazed and reinflated to be energy efficient. If your house has the original windows, people in town or in Indianapolis can restore them at a lower cost than replacing all of the windows.
The other thing about preservation is it is rarely done all at the same time. Once your foundation and roof are good. Everything else can be done in bite-sized pieces as you have the time, funds, and willpower to do it. It's not a race. As long as you can live there, that's the goal.

Connie and Mike Hill staining floorboards in the Cottage. 

Removing siding to reveal original wood siding.

You recently had a presentation about historic homes at the Franklin Library! Will you have more in the future?
Yes! Our next talk will cover Historic House Styles. It’s set for 6 pm on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in the Community Room at the Franklin Branch of the Johnson County Library. Mark your calendars! We will be covering the topic of historic home styles, from the early 1700s homes to log cabins to homes that have more recently reached the historic home age.
 
I'll also host a workshop on researching your historic home this summer. We'll be sharing more information on that soon! We hope to have about 10 people come to our office, and I'll walk them through the process of researching its history. Follow FHI on Facebook to stay in the know of upcoming events.
 
 
Why is historic preservation so important?
There are a couple of reasons why preservation is important. First, restoring a home rather than building a new one is better for the environment. Architect Carl Elefante said, "The greenest building is one that is already built." To tear down or rebuild a house takes a huge input of resources and carbon. The more that you can reuse what you have, the smaller your carbon footprint will be and the less that goes to the landfill.
 
Another reason is that historic homes and buildings are one of our only physical attachments to the past—whether that past is 1974 or 1849. A lot of houses have a lot of character and charm that you're not going to find in modern developments. You have the chance to make the home personal and customize it for yourself and your liking in ways you may not be able to otherwise.

In downtown areas like downtown Franklin, restoring a home helps bring back that community feel and preserve the neighborhood's history. A good example is Martin Place in Franklin, which is on the National and State Register of Historic Places. The people who own homes on that street have a strong community because their houses are grouped together. If you have a home on that road, you are part of that little one-street neighborhood, and it is a tight bond.
 
Everyone has their reasons for liking old houses. Older houses are quirky and sometimes a lot of work, but they are worth it.
 
Have you purchased a historic home? Glenn and the team of Franklin Heritage can help you develop a restoration and maintenance plan. Contact Glenn Faris at [email protected] or reach out to us on Facebook.