Everyone who loves historic houses owes a big thank you to historic trades workers! I took this photo while visiting one of the historic rehab projects I am consulting on. Thirty feet up on scaffolding in Maine, in January, experienced masons, slate roofers, coppersmiths, carpenters, and roofers were working on this Second Empire gem. These folks are the unsung heroes of the preservation movement!
The skills and techniques needed for preservation work differ from those used in new construction. Most trade schools do not teach the “old ways” of building, and the skills must be passed on from experienced people to those who want to learn them, usually on job sites like this one.
Happily, I increasingly see a younger and more diverse workforce when I visit projects. Ten years ago, the crews were almost exclusively male and often well past 40 years old.
Much of the country has a shortage of historic trades workers, and a number of preservation organizations are working to create programs to train new workers in these traditional building skills. The non-profit Preservation Trades Network (ptn.org) is one of the leaders in this effort.
“Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners” includes information on how to find contractors experienced in historic preservation as well as suggestions for developing your own DIY skills.
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© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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