Building Restoration Course

Lesson 1 • Ethics and Professional Standards

Establishes ethical obligations specific to working with existing buildings. Grounds decision-making in reversibility and minimal intervention principles.

Lesson 2 • Defining Rehabilitation and Restoration

Clarifies the spectrum from preservation to full reconstruction. Establishes precise terminology used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Stakeholders and Project Roles

Maps the professional ecosystem of a rehabilitation project. Clarifies responsibilities across owners, designers, contractors, and regulators.

Lesson 4 • History and Evolution of Practice

Traces how rehabilitation practice developed alongside conservation philosophy. Provides context for current standards and methods.

Lesson 1 • Plaster, Stucco, and Finishes

Describes lime and gypsum plaster systems and historic coating materials. Connects finish layer knowledge to interior and exterior assessment.

Lesson 2 • Concrete and Modern Materials

Addresses early concrete, reinforced concrete, and mid-century materials. Bridges historic material knowledge to 20th-century building stock.

Lesson 3 • Metals in Historic Construction

Surveys cast iron, wrought iron, steel, and nonferrous metals used historically. Links material properties to corrosion patterns encountered in the field.

Lesson 4 • Masonry Materials and Behavior

Covers brick, stone, and mortar composition and performance over time. Directly supports later diagnosis and repair selection chapters.

Lesson 1 • Visual Inspection Techniques

Develops systematic visual survey skills for all building systems. Teaches observers to distinguish active from stable deterioration.

Lesson 2 • Pre-Survey Research and Documentation

Establishes the research process before physical inspection begins. Grounds field observations in historical and archival context.

Lesson 3 • Condition Report Writing

Translates field observations into professional written documentation. Establishes report formats used in subsequent project planning chapters.

Lesson 4 • Structural Evaluation Fundamentals

Covers load path tracing and common structural deficiency patterns. Prepares students to recognise when engineering referral is required.

Lesson 1 • Repointing Procedures and Standards

Details the step-by-step repointing process from joint preparation to finishing. Establishes quality benchmarks aligned with preservation standards.

Lesson 2 • Mortar Analysis and Mix Design

Teaches laboratory and field methods for matching historic mortar. Ensures repair mortars are compatible with original masonry units.

Lesson 3 • Diagnosing Masonry Deterioration

Applies material knowledge to identify specific masonry failure modes. Connects diagnosis directly to repair method selection.

Lesson 4 • Brick and Stone Unit Repair

Covers consolidants, patching compounds, and unit replacement techniques. Addresses matching requirements for historic masonry units.

Lesson 1 • Millwork and Decorative Wood Repair

Addresses repair of historic windows, doors, trim, and ornamental woodwork. Balances preservation of original detail with functional performance.

Lesson 2 • Moisture Control and Wood Protection

Establishes long-term strategies to prevent recurrence of wood decay. Integrates moisture management into repair specifications.

Lesson 3 • Wood Decay Assessment and Mapping

Applies decay knowledge to systematic field assessment of wood elements. Produces decay maps that guide repair scope decisions.

Lesson 4 • Splicing and Partial Member Replacement

Teaches carpentry techniques for replacing deteriorated sections while retaining sound material. Covers joint design for structural continuity.

Lesson 1 • Flashing and Drainage Detailing

Covers design and installation of flashings at all critical junctions. Establishes drainage hierarchy as the primary moisture defence.

Lesson 2 • Window and Door Rehabilitation

Evaluates repair vs. replacement decisions for historic fenestration. Addresses air infiltration, glazing, and hardware restoration.

Lesson 3 • Roofing Systems Assessment and Repair

Evaluates historic and modern roofing materials and their failure modes. Connects roof condition to interior moisture damage patterns.

Lesson 4 • Below-Grade Waterproofing

Diagnoses foundation and basement moisture intrusion and specifies remediation. Distinguishes hydrostatic pressure from capillary moisture problems.

Lesson 1 • Concrete and Steel Rehabilitation

Addresses corrosion-damaged concrete and steel structural elements. Covers cathodic protection, carbon fibre reinforcement, and steel repair.

Lesson 2 • Seismic and Wind Hazard Retrofits

Introduces performance-based approaches to hazard mitigation in existing buildings. Balances life-safety upgrades with preservation objectives.

Lesson 3 • Masonry Wall Structural Repair

Covers techniques for restoring structural integrity to deteriorated masonry walls. Addresses tie-back, stitching, and reinforcement strategies.

Lesson 4 • Foundation Repair and Underpinning

Addresses settlement, undermining, and foundation deterioration remediation. Connects foundation condition to superstructure distress patterns.

Lesson 1 • Writing Rehabilitation Specifications

Teaches specification writing tailored to existing building conditions. Covers allowances, alternates, and mock-up requirements unique to rehabilitation.

Lesson 2 • Scope Definition and Phasing

Translates condition reports into defined project scopes and logical work sequences. Addresses phasing for occupied buildings and budget constraints.

Lesson 3 • Construction Phase Quality Control

Develops field observation skills for monitoring rehabilitation work in progress. Addresses submittals, mock-up approval, and nonconformance resolution.

Lesson 4 • Project Closeout and Maintenance Planning

Covers documentation, warranties, and long-term maintenance programming. Ensures rehabilitation investment is protected through ongoing stewardship.