Preservation Briefs from the National Park Service, provide information on preserving, rehabilitating, and restoring historic buildings. These NPS Publications help historic building owners recognize and resolve common problems prior to work; they recommend methods and approaches for rehabilitating historic buildings that are consistent with their historic character.
To order hard copies of the Briefs, see Printed Publications.
  1. Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings
  2. Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings
  3. Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings
  4. Roofing for Historic Buildings
  5. The Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings
  6. Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings
  7. The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra-Cotta
  8. Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings: The Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings
  9. The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
  10. Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork
  11. Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts
  12. The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass (Vitrolite and Carrara Glass)
  13. The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows
  14. New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns
  15. Preservation of Historic Concrete
  16. The Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors
  17. Architectural Character—Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving their Character
  18. Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings—Identifying Character-Defining Elements
  19. The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs
  20. The Preservation of Historic Barns
  21. Repairing Historic Flat Plaster—Walls and Ceilings
  22. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco
  23. Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster
  24. Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings: Problems and Recommended Approaches
  25. The Preservation of Historic Signs
  26. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings
  27. The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron
  28. Painting Historic Interiors
  29. The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs
  30. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Tile Roofs
  31. Mothballing Historic Buildings
  32. Making Historic Properties Accessible
  33. The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass
  34. Applied Decoration for Historic Interiors: Preserving Historic Composition Ornament
  35. Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation
  36. Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment and Management of Historic Landscapes
  37. Appropriate Methods of Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing
  38. Removing Graffiti from Historic Masonry
  39. Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings
  40. Preserving Historic Ceramic Tile Floors
  41. The Seismic Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings
  42. The Maintenance, Repair and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone
  43. The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports
  44. The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair, Replacement and New Design
  45. Preserving Historic Wooden Porches
  46. The Preservation and Reuse of Historic Gas Stations
  47. Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings
  48. Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries
  49. Historic Decorative Metal Ceilings and Walls: Use, Repair, and Replacement
  50. Lightning Protection for Historic Buildings
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