There are four distinct, interrelated approaches (preservation standards) applied the treatment of historic properties. As a result, these are important definitions to know as you take on a new project, as we tend to use these rather “loosely”. The National Park Service refers to them as The Standards:
PRESERVATIONFocuses on the maintenance and repair of existing historic materials and retention of a property's form as it has evolved over time. | REHABILITATIONAcknowledges the need to alter or add to a historic property to meet continuing or changing uses while retaining the property’s historic character. |
RESTORATIONDepicts a property at a particular period of time in its history, while removing evidence of other periods. | RECONSTRUCTIONRe-creates vanished or non-surviving portions of a property for interpretive purposes. |
