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.
Our outreach to owners of Historic Homes is funded in part by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Colorado State Historical Fund.
Historic Denver Inc. has partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, State Historical Fund, cities in the Denver metro area, and graduate students in architecture from the University of Colorado to create a series of homeowner education workshops. This program also includes the creation of pattern and design idea books to provide remodeling ideas for owners of pre-and-post-war housing in pilot neighborhoods.
The free workshops focus on the topics of Historic Preservation Basics and Tax Credits, Window Restoration and Weatherization, Mortar and Wood Trim Restoration and Energy Efficiency for the Older Home. All the workshops are available on-line, but if your neighborhood group or community organization is interested in scheduling a live presentation of one of these workshops please contact our offices at (303) 534-5288 ext. 5.
Historic Denver has produced a series of videos to capture the information presented in the workshops. Please click on the name of a workshop above to view the videos online!
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.
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.
The Preservation for Living program was funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Partners in the Field Program and History Colorado's State Historical Fund.
