PAINTING
If painted, trim and siding will have to be periodically scraped down and re-painted in order to preserve the wood. This job can be time consuming and tedious, but making a schedule so that you repaint on a rotation instead of doing everything at once can help. It is important to prepare the surface you are re-painting properly, and be aware of weather conditions so that the new paint will last as long as possible. When scraping paint off of an old building the paint is likely lead based so in this case it is important to wear a mask and contain the flakes/dust as much as possible. This video gives some helpful tips on preparing a historic home to be re-painted
WEATHER SEALING
Air leaks on windows and doors can not only make your house uncomfortable and drafty, it also is one of the biggest drains on energy efficiency and the easiest to remedy. A lot of people think that if you have a drafty old wooden window then it will be more efficient to replace it with a vinyl insert. Sometimes this is the best option, if the window is in really bad shape but often all that is necessary is some simple modifications. There are a variety of different methods and products that can be used to seal a window, but this video shows some extremely cheap and simple ways to stop drafts.
SIDING &Â TRIM
While doing your routine maintenance checks on your house it is important to check the siding and trim. Some things to keep an eye on are:
Is the trim securely fastened and sealed to the siding material?
Flashing above doors and windows.
Any rotted, loose or missing shingles, clapboard or other siding material.
Any soft spots or rot on window and door trim, especially at the sills.
If some parts of the siding or trim have severe rot or are beyond repair, then they will need to be replaced. This will vary case to case and you will likely need to hire someone with experience working on historic buildings to carry out the work. This video shows the process of replacing a rotten window sill.