Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Home & Family » Home Improvement » Article
 

What Restoration Really Means




By Paul Glover

Some people believe that restoration is restoring something to a satisfactory state. But to the homeowner interested in preservation, restoration is a whole new ballgame because it means restoring something to its original condition. An original condition is very different from a satisfactory state. A satisfactory state can mean anything really - and it solely depends upon the opinion of the restorer. However, when we're restoring an object to its original state, we have a standard to follow. As you might have guessed, this standard is history.

The importance of this historical standard is crucial when we're working with
restoration projects because not only are we attempting to recreate a historic object, we're also attempting to recreate a historic value. The closer an object is to its original state, the more valuable it is.

It's unfortunate, but many people don't know this and when they begin a restoration project, they mistakenly devalue what they're working on. Later, when they learn the potential value of their project and attempt to cash in, they're disappointed to learn of their mistakes.

Not only is a non-professional (and in some cases, non-authorized) restoration a major blunder, so is attempting to do a professional restoration job alone. This is analogous to a non-artist attempting to restore an ancient Egyptian wall painting or an archaic Greek sculpture. Nothing of suspected value should be restored by a non-professional - no matter what the object is or how careful you promise to be! Just one small mistake in your restoration efforts could throw off the entire significance of a piece, and ultimately render it valueless.

The professional that you hire to restore an item of interest will first evaluate the piece to determine the time-period that it's from. From this determination, s/he can further determine where it's from, what it was used for, who made it, and what it's supposed to look like. This discovery will assist the restorer in selecting the proper (original) materials necessary to restore an item to its original condition. In some cases, the restorer may have to recreate the out-dated materials that were used to make the object just to obtain the same look and feel of an item.

Restoration is a project reserved for those who are interested in preserving the past, such as antique collectors or those involved with museum work. If you're interesting in restoring a part of your home to its original state, do a little research about the item of interest first so that you can see what type of work might be involved. Remember to never attempt restoration yourself unless you're a professional restorer. Your goal is to increase the value of an item - not decrease it.

After you've learned the history and the significance of the piece that you're interested in restoring, hire a professional to validate your discovery and give you an estimate of the cost and length of time it will take to bring your item to a salable point. If you don't have an immediate intention to sell your treasure, you can always learn how to maintain the area or object so that you and future generations can enjoy it for years to come.
 
 
About the Author
Author Paul White represents FloridaHomeBuild.com. A site designed to help home owners from Florida locate local home contractors with their home improvement projects.
Visit Our Site : http://www.FloridaHomeBuild.com

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/49716.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/49716.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Paul Glover
Thinking about a new Bathroom?
The bathroom is the usually the second room in the house that we visit each morning and we certainly visit it multiple times throughout the day. ...

Introducing Cabinet makers
Without employing the professional services of a cabinet maker, you're basically stuck with remodeling your home kitchen or bathroom with pre-designed cabinets - which ...

Don't Forget Your Gutters!
If you're planning on having a new roof installed (or repaired) and you want it to last for the duration of its warranty, then you'll appreciate the following advice on how to take care of your ...

Looking for a little fence work?
A wooden privacy fence surrounds almost every home in California. In fact, that's one of the things that differentiates a California home from a home ...

A Case for a Fireplace
Unlike in the past, we don't need nor necessarily use fireplaces for warmth. Today, we use fireplaces for aesthetics or to create a warm ...

A Swimming Pool is Cool-literally
A swimming pool just oozes coolness from all sides of a privacy fence! Whether it's an above ground swimming pool or an in-ground swimming pool - nothing makes your lifestyle more fashionable ...

  
  Recent Articles
Let Your Life Shine With Antiquity
by Sarika Kabra

Resurfacing Your Bathtub? Here's A Money Saving Tip
by Christopher Smith

What You Need To Know About Hardwood Floors
by Christopher Smith

Thinking about a new Bathroom?
by Paul Glover

Wrought Iron Furniture for Every Season
by Sarika Kabra

Choosing and Measuring Carpet Flooring
by Rami Nseir

How To Save Space with Futons
by Christopher Smith

Wicker and Amish - A Perfect Combination
by Sarika Kabra

Is It Curtains For Your Curtains
by Christopher Smith

Get The Best Home Theater System With These Four Major Components!
by Dean Caporella

Designing with Hardwood Floors Made Easier
by Christopher Smith

Two Person Hot tubs
by Simon Dickson

Can't connect to database