Projects involving historic interiors range from the meticulous restoration of a classic movie theater to the renovation of abandoned lofts for new residences. The size of the building, the importance of the interiors, and the scope of work will determine how best to protect interior finishes during construction work. However, all work involving historic buildings shares the need to properly plan and specify the appropriate temporary surface protection products. Without such provisions, unnecessary damage may occur that will require additional funds and may result in the complete loss of certain interior finishes. Relying on the contractor to protect interiors without specifying such surface protection puts historic material and finishes at unnecessary risk. Protective measures must be specified in the construction specifications for the job. Although the general language of the contract may refer to “protecting existing construction” and may require the contractor to “restore any damage to its original condition at no additional cost,” the general nature of the language provides little protection to existing historic finishes or features. . Instead of providing adequate protection, some contractors deliberately choose to repair the damage, believing it to be cheaper. Therefore, best practice for historic interiors is to specify protection of all historic architectural features and finishes using temporary surface protection products.

An important difference between protecting historic interior features and finishes and protecting new interior features and finishes during construction is the timing of the construction schedule. In new construction, finishes such as cabinetry and flooring are installed late in the construction schedule, after mechanical and electrical systems and other high-impact work is completed, so the finishes are not exposed to major construction operations. In conservation work, however, existing interior finishes are exposed to all high-impact and potentially damaging construction phases of the project. Important architectural features that are easily removed should be stored off-site, if possible, to protect them from vandalism, theft, and damage during construction. Light fixtures, mantelpieces, and interior doors are typical examples. The access of construction personnel to spaces with significant characteristics and finishes must be restricted, except for their work directly related to the conservation of said spaces. Restricted access spaces must be identified by the planning team and indicated in the construction documents to allow the contractor to include any associated costs in their price proposal. For spaces such as hallways and lobbies, it may not be feasible to limit access, and for all interior spaces, some construction work may be required. In such circumstances, interior finishes must be physically isolated from construction operations by protective barriers and covers such as Zipwall systems. Such surfaces are generally limited to floors, walls up to about 6 feet high, and special construction such as stairs. Floors need to be protected from damage caused by abrasion, falling objects, and there are a variety of floor protection products available from companies that specialize in surface protection.

Temporary protection during construction may involve covering historic features such as floors and walls, as well as the use of temporary gates to control worker traffic and the inevitable dust and debris. Prominently located fire extinguishers are required. Where liquid spill protection is required, a water resistant surface protection layer should be used. In projects where electrical systems are upgraded, fire protection should be used. Care must be taken in choosing the proper floor protection to ensure that moisture from spilled liquids is not trapped against the historic floor or that the newly installed or repaired floor can breathe. Care should also be taken to avoid coatings such as rosin paper, which could stain the historic floor. Historic stairs, balustrades, balconies, fireplaces, door and window frames, and other components should also be protected from construction damage. There are a variety of surface protection products on the market, including Swiftwrap Handrail Protection, Ram Jamb Door Jamb Protection, DoorGuard Temporary Door Protection, and others. It makes sense to contact a surface protection expert to choose the best temporary protection for the project.

Specifying temporary protection of historic interiors during construction is the responsibility of both the architect and the contractor. Most general conditions of a construction contract contain language such as: “The Contractor shall be solely responsible for and shall have control over the means, methods, techniques, sequences and procedures of construction and for coordinating all parts of the work. For projects It is recommended that temporary protection of historic interiors during construction be specified in a separate section of the Division 1 specifications to ensure that bidders do not bypass the required provisions. price, the bidder will be inclined to treat “special project procedures” as an additional cost rather than a part of the temporary facilities required for any alteration project The contractor’s project manager may anticipate reasonable expenses to provide specific temporary surface during construction ion. To ensure the adequacy of temporary protection measures on projects involving a construction manager temporary protection is often best provided by the construction manager, who typically works for the owner on a cost plus fee basis. In general, temporary surface protection should be specified as to the name of the product, the type and the company where the products are available.

The contractor must photographically document the conditions prior to the start of construction. For small projects, a videotape survey can also be an effective complement to photographs of existing conditions. The owner may want to document existing conditions independent of the contractor to avoid any future disputes regarding damage caused by construction operations as opposed to pre-existing damage. The temporary protection of historic interiors during construction, an essential component of any conservation project, is largely a construction management issue. A successful protection program is the result of careful pre-planning, thorough project-specific specifications, owner vigilance, contract compliance, and contractor diligence. Cost savings can be achieved by minimizing damage to the historic structure in the course of construction work and the proper use of temporary surface protection products.