.png)
My Old Home
This page is dedicated to adding information about owning and caring for a historic home. If you have any good information that would benefit others in the neighborhood, please contact us so we can include it here.
Steel Casement Window Repair
This guide from the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department’s Historic Preservation Office provides practical guidance for evaluating, repairing, and maintaining historic steel casement windows. It emphasizes that even windows that appear badly deteriorated can often be successfully restored, while also offering tips for improving energy efficiency without sacrificing their historic character.
Wood Window RepairÂ
This guide from the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department’s Historic Preservation Office provides practical guidance for repairing and maintaining historic wood windows while preserving their original materials and character. It covers everything from paint and glazing repair to deteriorated wood, historic hardware, weather stripping, and energy-efficiency improvements, with an emphasis on repairing rather than replacing original windows whenever possible.
Paint Removal from Historic Masonry
This guide from the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department’s Historic Preservation Office explains safe methods for removing paint and graffiti from historic brick and masonry. It emphasizes starting with the gentlest methods possible and warns against abrasive blasting, grinding, and harsh chemical cleaners that can permanently damage the protective surface, mortar, and appearance of historic brick.
Masonry Cleaning
This guide from the City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department’s Historic Preservation Office outlines gentle cleaning methods designed to remove dirt, staining, fungal growth, and vegetation without damaging historic masonry. It recommends low-pressure water, natural-bristle brushes, and mild cleaners, with special care taken to protect windows, doors, mortar, and other vulnerable building materials during cleaning.
Palm Maintenance in Historic Districts
This guide from the City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office and Parks & Recreation Department explains how to properly care for the palms that have helped define Phoenix’s historic neighborhoods since the early 1900s. It covers appropriate pruning techniques and timing, warns against harmful over-pruning and trunk damage, and offers guidance for keeping these distinctive elements of our historic streetscapes healthy for years to come.