The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation provide a list of ten guidelines that must be met when rehabilitating a historic property for its new, modern use. Following these Standards ensures that the historic character of the property is maintained but that it will be safe and comfortable for its current inhabitants. There is a wealth of guidance available for the interpretation of these Standards. Every Part 2 that is submitted to the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation is reviewed for conformance with these Standards. 

In Louisiana, we see a number of the same Standards issues time and time again. When planning your rehabilitation project, make sure to keep the following in mind:

• Spray foam insulation is rarely approved as an appropriate insulation treatment.
• Historic windows should be retained and repaired, rather then replaced.
• The use of a replacement siding material on the facade is not approved.
• Sand blasting and other forms of abrasive cleaning are rarely, if ever, approved.
• Patchy plaster finishes are not approved. Historic plaster over brick, even fireplaces, must be retained.
• The first rooms in a shotgun-style house must remain unaltered.
• Sealers applied to masonry must be breathable and have a matte finish.

Accessibility

• Preservation Brief 32: Making Historic Properties Accessible
• Interpreting the Standards 53: Designing New Additions to Provide Accessibility
• Codes and Regulatory Requirements for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings

Accessory Buildings

• Preservation Brief 20: The Preservation of Historic Barns

Architectural Character

• Preservation Brief 17: Architectural Character--Identifying the Visual Aspects of Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preserving Character
• Preservation Brief 18: Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings--Identifying Character-Defining Elements
• Preservation Brief 35: Understanding Old Buildings: The Process of Architectural Investigation
• Cumulative Effect and Historic Character
• Interpreting the Standards 38: Alterations Without Historic Basis
• Interpreting the Standards 50: Reusing Special Use Structures
• Interpreting the Standards 55: Retaining Industrial Character in Historic Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 56: Alterations Without Historical Basis
• Evaluating Substitute Materials in Historic Buildings

Door Openings

• Interpreting the Standards 2: Garage Door Openings: New Infill for Historic Garage Openings
• Interpreting the Standards 4: Exterior Doors: Inappropriate Replacement Doors
• Interpreting the Standards 16: Loading Door Openings: New Infill for Historic Loading Door Openings
• Interpreting the Standards 22: Adding New Openings: Adding New Entrances to Historic Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 26: Entrances and Doors: Entrance Treatments
• Interpreting the Standards 29: Garage Doors: Adding Vehicular Entrances and Garage Doors to Historic Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 30: New Entries: New Entries on Mill Buildings
• Preservation Tech Note: Historic Garage and Carriage Doors: Rehabilitation Solutions

Energy Efficiency

• Preservation Brief 3: Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings
• Preservation Brief 13: The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows
• Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 52: Incorporating Solar Panels in a Rehabilitation Project
• Energy Efficiency
• New Technology and Historic Properties
• Sustainability Research
• Sustainability Resources

Exterior Design Issues

• Interpreting the Standards 33: Secondary Elevations: Alterations to Rear Elevations
• Interpreting the Standards 43:Converting Fire Escapes to Balconies in Mill Complexes

Exterior Maintenance

• Preservation Brief 6: Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings
• Preservation Brief 7: The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural Terra-Cotta
• Preservation Brief 8: Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings: The Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings
• Preservation Brief 10: Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork
• Preservation Brief 15: Preservation of Historic Concrete
• Preservation Brief 16: The Use of Substitute Material of Historic Building Exteriors
• Preservation Brief 22: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco
• Preservation Brief 27: The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron
• Preservation Brief 39: Holding the Line: Controlling Unwanted Moisture in Historic Buildings
• Preservation Brief 47: Maintaining the Exterior of Small and Medium Size Historic Buildings
• Preservation Tech Note: Proper Painting and Surface Preparation
• Preservation Tech Note: Paint Removal from Wood Siding
• Preservation Tech Note: Protecting Woodwork Against Decay Using Borate Preservatives
• Preservation Tech Note: Conserving Outdoor Bronze Sculpture
• Preservation Tech Note: In-Kind Replacement of Historic Stamped-Metal Exterior Siding

Gas Stations

• Preservation Brief 46: The Preservation and Reuse of Historic Gas Stations

Masonry

• Preservation Brief 1: Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry Buildings
• Preservation Brief 2: Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings
• Preservation Brief 38: Removing Graffiti from Historic Masonry
• Preservation Brief 42: The Maintenance, Repair, and Replacement of Historic Cast Stone
• Preservation Tech Note: Substitute Materials: Replacing Deteriorated Serpentine Stone with Pre-Cast Concrete
• Preservation Tech Note: Stabilization and Repair of a Historic Terra-Cotta Cornice
• Preservation Tech Note: Water Soak Cleaning of Limestone
• Preservation Tech Note: Non-Destructive Evaluation Techniques for Masonry Construction

HVAC Systems

• Preservation Brief 24: Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings: Problems and Recommended Approaches
• Interpreting the Standards 24: Corridors: Installing New Systems in Historic Corridors
• Interpreting the Standards 51: Installing New Systems in Historic Buildings

Interior Design and Maintenance Issues

Brick and Plaster

• Preservation Brief 21: Repairing Historic Flat Plaster--Walls and Ceilings
• Preservation Brief 23: Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster
• Interpreting the Standards 5: Exposed Interior Brick: Removing Interior Plaster to Expose Brick
• Interpreting the Standards 19: Interior Finishes: Deteriorated Plaster Finishes

Corridors

• Interpreting the Standards 28: Corridors: Corridors in Historic Highrise Apartment Buildings and Hotels
• Interpreting the Standards 31: Interior Features: Retaining Distinctive Corridor Features
• Retaining Corridors and Other Circulation Spaces in Historic Buildings
• Preservation Tech Note: Preserving Historic Corridors in Open Office Plans
• Preservation Tech Note: Preserving Historic Office Building Corridors
• Preservation Tech Note: Preserving Historic Corridor Doors and Glazing in Highrise Buildings

Elevators

• Preservation Tech Note: Replicating Historic Elevator Enclosures

Floorplans

• Interpreting the Standards 6: Significant Spaces: Preserving Historic Church Interiors
• Interpreting the Standards 8: Interior Alterations: Interior Alterations to Detached Residences to Accommodate New Functions
• Interpreting the Standards 44: Subdividing Significant Historic Interior Spaces
• Interpreting the Standards 45: Adding or Modifying Fly Lofts on Historic Theaters
• Identifying Primary and Secondary Interior Spaces in Historic Buildings
• Changing Secondary Interior Spaces in Historic Buildings
• Subdividing Assembly Spaces in Historic Buildings

Historic Finishes

• Preservation Brief 28: Painting Historic Interiors
• Preservation Brief 34: Applied Decoration for Historic Interiors: Preserving Historic Composition Ornament
• Preservation Brief 37: Appropriate Methods of Reducing Lead-Paint Hazards in Historic Housing
• Preservation Brief 40: Preserving Historic Ceramic Tile Floors
• Interpreting the Standards 7: Interior Finishes: Painting Previously Unpainted Woodwork
• Interpreting the Standards 15: Industrial Interiors: Treatment of Interiors in Industrial Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 25: Interior Finishes: Altering the Character of Historically Finished Interiors
• Interpreting the Standards 46: Modifying Historic Interior Railings to Meet Building Code
• Preservation Tech Note: Process-Painting Decals as a Substitute for Hand-Stenciled Ceiling Medallions

Landscapes

• Preservation Brief 36: Protecting Cultural Landscapes: Planning, Treatment, and Management of Historic Landscapes
• Interpreting the Standards 39: Site and Setting: Changes to a Historic Site
• Interpreting the Standards 41: Incompatible Alterations to the Setting and Environment of a Historic Property

Log Buildings

• Preservation Brief 26: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings
• Preservation Tech Note: Log Crown Repair and Selective Replacement Using Epoxy and Fiberglass Reinforcing Bars

Mothballing

• Preservation Brief 31: Mothballing Historic Buildings

New Additions

• Preservation Brief 14: New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns
• Interpreting the Standards 3: New Additions: New Additions to Mid-Size Historic Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 10: Stair Town Additions: Exterior Stair/Elevator Tower Additions
• Interpreting the Standards 18: New Additions: New Additions to Mid-Size Historic Buildings
• Interpreting the Standards 34: Additions: Completing Never-Built Portions of a Historic Building
• Interpreting the Standards 36: Rooftop Additions
• Interpreting the Standards 37: Rear Additions: Rear Additions to Historic Houses
• Interpreting the Standards 47: Rooftop Additions on Mid-size Historic Buildings
• New Additions to Historic Buildings
• New Construction within the Boundaries of Historic Properties

Parking

• Interpreting the Standards 17: Interior Parking: Adding Parking to the Interior of Historic Buildings

Porches

• Preservation Brief 45: Preserving Historic Wood Porches
• Interpreting the Standards 9: Porches: Inappropriate Porch Alterations

Roofing

• Preservation Brief 4: Roofing for Historic Buildings
• Preservation Brief 19: The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle Roofs
• Preservation Brief 29: The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate Roofs
• Preservation Brief 30: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Tile Roofs
• Interpreting the Standards 32: Roofing Materials: Slate Roof Treatments
• Interpreting the Standards 54: Installing Green Roofs on Historic Buildings
• Preservation Tech Note: Restoring Metal Roof Cornices

School Buildings

• Interpreting the Standards 11: School Buildings: Interior Alterations to School Buildings to Accommodate New Uses
• Interpreting the Standards 12: School Buildings: Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of Schools
• Interpreting the Standards 20: School Buildings: Converting Historic School Buildings for Residential Use
• Interpreting the Standards 40: Corridors: Corridors in Historic School Buildings

Shotgun Floorplans

• Interpreting the Standards 1: Interior Plans: Changes to Shotgun Interior Plans
• Interpreting the Standards 35: Interior Plans: Changes to Shotgun Interior Plans

Signs and Awnings

Awnings

• Preservation Brief 44: The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings: Repair, Replacement, and New Design
• Interpreting the Standards 27: Awnings: Adding Awnings to Historic Storefronts and Entrances
• Preservation Tech Note: Repair and Reproduction of Metal Canopies and Marquees with Glass Pendants
• Preservation Tech Note: Window Awnings

Signs

• Preservation Brief 25: The Preservation of Historic Signs

Storefronts

• Preservation Brief 11: Rehabilitation Historic Storefronts
• Preservation Brief 12: The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass (Vitrolite and Carrara Glass)
• Interpreting the Standards 13: Storefronts: Repair/Replacement of Missing or Altered Storefronts
• Interpreting the Standards 48: Replacement of Missing or Altered Storefronts
• Interpreting the Standards 49: Designing Compatible Replacement Storefronts

Windows

Aluminum Windows

• Preservation Tech Note: Maintenance and Repair of Historic Aluminum Windows

New Window Openings

• Interpreting the Standards 14: Adding New Openings: New Openings in Secondary Elevations or Introducing New Windows in Blank Walls
• Interpreting the Standards 21: Adding New Openings: Adding New Openings on Secondary Elevations

Planning

• Preservation Tech Note: Planning Approaches to Window Preservation

Replacement Windows

• Interpreting the Standards 23: Windows: Selecting New Windows to Replace Non-Historic Windows
• Evaluating Historic Windows for Repair or Replacement
• Replacement Windows that Meet the Standards
• Documentation Requirements for Proposed Window Replacement
• Preservation Tech Note: Aluminum Replacement Windows with True Divided Lights, Interior Piggyback Storm Panels, and Exposed Historic Wooden Frames

Specialty Windows

• Preservation Brief 33: The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stained and Leaded Glass
• Preservation Tech Note: Repair and Reproduction of Prismatic Glass Transoms
• Preservation Tech Note: Repair and Rehabilitation of Historic Sidewalk Vault Lights

Steel Windows

• Preservation Brief 13: The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Installing Insulating Glass in Existing Steel Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Aluminum Replacement Windows for Steel Projecting Units with True Divided Lights and Matching Profiles
• Preservation Tech Note: Repairing Steel Casement Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Aluminum Replacements for Steel Industrial Sash

Storm Windows

• Preservation Tech Note: Interior Metal Storm Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Interior Storms for Steel Casement Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Interior Storm Windows: Magnetic Seal

Wood Windows

• Preservation Brief 9: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Replacement Wooden Frames and Sash
• Preservation Tech Note: Reinforcing Deteriorated Wooden Windows
• Preservation Tech Note: Repairing and Upgrading Multi-Light Wooden Mill Windows

Contact Information
Phone (225) 342-8200
Fax (225) 219-9772

Mailing Address: Tax Incentives Staff, Division of Historic Preservation
P.O. Box 44247
Baton Rouge, LA  70804

Overnight Mail: Tax Incentives Staff, Division of Historic Preservation
4th Floor, 1051 N. Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA  70802