What Are Preservation Briefs?
The National Park Service has developed a series of Preservation Briefs to help property owners, architects, and preservation professionals make informed decisions about caring for historic buildings. These guides provide practical advice on identifying and addressing common preservation challenges before work begins.
With 50 in-depth briefs, this resource is especially valuable for those utilizing the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program, offering best practices that align with maintaining a building’s historic integrity.
How to Use These Briefs
Preservation Briefs are designed for anyone involved in historic building care, including homeowners, preservation professionals, and municipal officials. They offer step-by-step guidance for a variety of restoration and rehabilitation efforts. Here’s how to make the most of them:
Homeowners: Learn how to maintain and restore historic features while avoiding common pitfalls.
Architects & Contractors: Use these briefs as a technical reference when planning rehabilitation projects.
Local Governments & Preservation Commissions: Apply these guidelines to preservation planning and compliance with local regulations.
For those unfamiliar with historic preservation, check out our quick guide, or if you’re looking for something specific, use the search bar below.
QUICK GUIDE
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These give a solid overview of preservation philosophy, terminology, and planning:
PB 17 – Architectural Character: Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings. Teaches you how to “read” a building and understand what makes it significant.
PB 35 – Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation. Explains how to document and analyze changes over time.
PB 43 – The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports. Shows how professionals organize findings and guide future work.
PB 47 – Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings. Practical starting point for anyone who just owns an older building.
If you only read four briefs, start here — they’ll orient you to how preservationists think and plan.
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Once you understand the big picture, move to these everyday materials:
PB 9 – The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows.
PB 2 – Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings.
PB 10 – Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork
PB 4 – Roofing for Historic Buildings
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For balancing preservation with comfort and long-term care:
PB 3 – Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings. Teaches how to make old buildings comfortable without gutting them.
PB 39 – Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings. Shows that most “old house problems” start with water, not age.
PB 24 – Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings. How to add or upgrade systems without damaging historic materials.
Official NPS Preservation Briefs Index
Masonry & Stone
- Assessing Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings (PB 1) Surveys cleaning methods and choosing the gentlest means; explains water-repellent vs. waterproof coatings and risks. 2000. GPO 024-005-01207-9.
- Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings (PB 2) Guidance on appropriate materials and methods for repointing historic masonry. 1998.
- Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings (PB 6) Why sandblasting and similar methods are harmful; rare cases where abrasive cleaning may be appropriate. 1979.
- Removing Graffiti from Historic Masonry (PB 38) Surface cleaning approaches, barrier coatings, tips, and process charts. 1995.
- Preservation of Historic Concrete (PB 15) Characteristics, deterioration, cleaning, maintenance, repair, and protective systems. 2007. GPO 024-005-01253-2.
- The Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone (PB 42) History, causes of deterioration, repair methods, replication and replacement guidance. 2001. GPO 024-005-01190-1.
- The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra-Cotta (PB 7) Deterioration diagnostics; maintenance, repair, and appropriate replacements. 1979.
Roofing & Moisture Control
- Roofing for Historic Buildings (PB 4) Overview of historic roofing materials; preservation-first approach to repair/replacement and alternatives. 1978.
- The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs (PB 19) Longevity expectations, repair/replace options, matching appearance, installation and maintenance. 1989.
- The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Slate Roofs (PB 29) Failure causes, repair strategies, and appropriate replacement guidance. 1992.
- The Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Tile Roofs (PB 30) History, types/attachment, planning and executing selective replacement. 1992.
- Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings (PB 39) Diagnosing moisture problems; recommended vs. avoid-always treatments with tool/treatment charts. 1996. GPO 024-005-01168-4.
- Lightning Protection for Historic Structures (PB 50) Traditional system components, inspection/evaluation, repair and new installations. 2017. GPO 024-005-01341-5.
Woodwork, Windows, & Siding
- The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows (PB 9) Evaluating condition and practical repair methods for historic wood windows. 1981.
- Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork (PB 10) Common failures and prep for repainting; limited vs. total paint removal. 1982.
- Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings (PB 8) — Rescinded Oct 2023; guidance no longer represents best practices.
Interiors & Finishes
- Painting Historic Interiors (PB 28) Interior paints & decorative finishes (late-17th c.–1950s); failures, investigation, and safe repainting. 1992.
- Applied Decoration for Historic Interiors: Preserving Historic Composition Ornament (PB 34) History, identification, and treatment options for compo ornament. 1994.
- Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings—Identifying Character-Defining Elements (PB 18) How to identify significant interior spaces, features, and finishes for preservation. 1988.
- Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster (PB 23) Run-in-place & cast ornament basics; deterioration, restoration techniques, and contractor selection. 1990.
- Repairing Historic Flat Plaster—Walls and Ceilings (PB 21) Traditional wet plaster repairs; bases vs. compatible base/finish coats (handy comparison chart). 1989.
- Preserving Historic Ceramic Tile Floors (PB 40) History of glazed/unglazed tiles; maintenance, cleaning, protective/slip-resistant coatings; repair & selective replacement. 1996.
- Historic Decorative Metal Ceilings and Walls: Use, Repair, and Replacement (PB 49) History/manufacture, paint removal, maintenance/repair, and replacement guidance. 2017. GPO 024-005-01330-0.
Metals, Glass, & Decorative Materials
- The Preservation and Repair of Stained and Leaded Glass (PB 33) History, documentation, deterioration causes, protection, repair & restoration options. Updated 2007. GPO 024-005-01254-1.
- The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass (Vitrolite and Carrara Glass) (PB 12) Manufacture, installation, use; damage causes; maintenance, repair & replacement approach. 1984.
- The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron (PB 27) Role of cast iron in 19th-century building; essential maintenance and repair guidance. 1991.
- The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows (PB 13) History & styles; cleaning/repair; weatherstripping; storms/thermal glass options. 1984.
Building Systems & Energy Efficiency
- Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings (PB 3) Inherent energy-efficient features; prioritized actions; overview of alternate energy sources. 2011.
- Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings: Problems and Recommended Approaches (PB 24) Balancing preservation objectives with interior climate needs through careful planning. 1991.
- The Seismic Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings (PB 41) Approaches to make buildings safer without destroying significant materials; design/visual impact guidance. 2016.
- NEW: Building Codes for Historic and Existing Buildings: Planning and Maximizing their Application (PB 51) Selecting optimal compliance paths and best practices that preserve character-defining features. 2024.
Structure Types & Building Materials
- The Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings (PB 5) Traditional materials/construction; typical deterioration; preservation recommendations. 1978.
- The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco (PB 22) Evolution, composition, textures/patterns; planning & repair with sample mixes (18th–20th c.). 1990.
- The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings (PB 26) Repair methods (splicing, epoxies, replacement); chinking/daubing guidance. 1991.
- The Preservation of Historic Barns (PB 20) Barn types, historic character, maintenance/repair/rehabilitation advice. 1989.
Architectural Features & Additions
- Architectural Character—Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings (PB 17) Identify the features that give a building its visual character to maximize preservation in rehab. 1988.
- Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns (PB 14) Designing compatible additions—including rooftop additions—while preserving historic character. 2010.
- The Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors (PB 16, Revised 2023) General guidance on selecting and using substitute materials for distinctive exterior features. 2023.
- The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair, Replacement and New Design (PB 44) Historic overview; maintenance & repair; when replacement/new awnings are appropriate. 2004.
- Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts (PB 11) Role of the storefront; techniques for rehabilitation and designing compatible storefronts. 1982.
- The Preservation and Reuse of Historic Gas Stations (PB 46) Assessing significance; maintenance/repair; appropriate rehab and adaptive reuse. 2008.
Documentation, Reports & Investigation
- Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation (PB 35) Investigative process: how a building changed over time; assessing deterioration levels. 1994. GPO 024-005-01143-9.
- The Preparation and Use of Historic Structure Reports (PB 43) Defines HSRs and outlines the full, team-based preparation process. 2004. GPO 024-005-01191-9.
Maintenance, Accessibility & Temporary Protection
- Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings (PB 47) Why routine inspection & seasonal maintenance matter; exterior maintenance treatments. 2006. GPO 024-005-01252-4.
- Making Historic Properties Accessible (PB 32) Balancing accessibility with preservation; many example solutions. 1993.
- Mothballing Historic Buildings (PB 31) Protecting deteriorating buildings from weather/vandalism until work is funded. 1993.
Sites, Landscapes & Cemeteries
- Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment, and Management of Historic Landscapes (PB 36) Designed & vernacular landscape types; step-by-step planning & treatment process. 1994.
- Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries (PB 48) Marker materials, risk factors, assessment, maintenance, and treatment options. 2016. GPO 024-005-01328-8.
Specialized Topics
- Appropriate Methods of Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing (PB 37) — Under revision to reflect current federal laws/regulations.
- The Preservation of Historic Signs (PB 25) Sign types from pre-1800s through 20th century (symbol, fascia, goldleaf, rooftop, neon); repair & reuse recommendations. 1991.
Briefs courtesy of the National Parks Service