Restore Omaha

Conference, Exhibition, and Tour

November 3, 4 and 5, 2006

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Metropolitan Community College
South Omaha Campus

Saturday, November 4, 2006 – Breakout Sessions

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Breakout Session 1

  1. Early Kitchens and Bathrooms.
    What should you consider when renovating your kitchen or bath? Dr. Marilyn Casto from Virginia Tech University's School of Architecture and Design will examine the development of kitchens and baths in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to help you use these functional spaces in ways that honor the past, but address your current needs.
  2. Exterior Woodwork.
    John Leeke, American preservationist, will discuss the steps to stabilize and save deteriorated exterior woodwork. He will demonstrate how good design, proper materials selection and effective installation methods along with proper rehabilitation will reduce maintenance and extend the life of your exterior woodwork.
  3. Lessons Learned in Commercial Restoration Projects.
    Where do you begin when rehabbing an older commercial property? Local architects Al Macchietto and Jerry Berggren along with architectural historian Melissa Dirr will cover the ups and downs of older commercial rehabilitation with wit, humor and down right fun.
  4. Nobody Told me I Had to Have a Permit.
    Kevin Denker, chief city housing inspector, and Jay Davis, chief city building inspector, describe how codes and ordinances affect older homes and commercial properties and will outline the responsibilities owners, operators and occupants of existing structures have.
  5. Buying and Selling Older Properties.
    Tim Reeder, a real estate broker and agent specializing in older homes, shares his knowledge in what sells and what doesn't in the older home market. As someone who has restored his own fixer upper, he also will share what it takes to rehab an older home and the benefits this can bring.

1:45 to 2:45 p.m. Breakout Session 2

  1. Interior Woodwork.
    As an apprentice to a German furniture maker, Bob Yapp learned the 'right way' to restore anything made of wood. He will discuss innovative and cost effective techniques for wood restoration that do not use toxic chemicals.
  2. Researching the History of your Property.
    Who lived in your house before you bought it? Was that creaky old garage a stable? What was your neighborhood like 80 years ago? How old is your property? Let architect Jennifer Honebrink, an experienced researcher of both commercial and residential properties, point you in the right direction to find answers to these questions and more using local resources.
  3. Revitalizing Urban Neighborhood Commercial Districts.
    The Nebraska Main Street program isn't just for small towns. J.L. Schmidt and Liz Chase from Nebraska Main Streets will show how Omaha's neighborhood commercial districts can benefit from the training, historic preservation ethic, and place building principles that are a part of the Main Street Four Point Approach™.
  4. What Style is my House?
    Architectural historian Melissa Dirr will use a multitude of Omaha residential properties to illustrate house styles and will discuss basic stylistic forms that may be used to identify your own house style.
  5. Lead Paint Removal.
    Is it dangerous to remove old paint? Will my family be safe? What should do I do about the peeling paint on my older property? Reid Steinkraus, supervisor for the Douglas County Health Department, will lay out steps for safe work practices in both wet and dry removal of lead paint including how to clean-up and check your work.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Breakout Session 3

  1. From the Ground Up.
    Is your dream of a rumpus room in the basement hampered by bulging walls and water on the floor? Bill Kirby with Thrasher Basement Systems will walk attendees step-by-step in understanding how moisture and structural problems happen, how to identify these problems in their own property and what repair options are available.
  2. Nebraska's New Historic Tax Incentive.
    Can I get financial assistance for restoring my historic property? The Nebraska Valuation Incentive Program is a property tax incentive that gives owners a temporary "hold" on property tax valuation increases when they substantially rehabilitate an historic property. Jill Dolberg of the Nebraska State Historical Society will discuss eligibility and the types of work that qualify.
  3. Cheap, Quick and Easy: Early Imitative Architectural Materials.
    Dr. Pamela Simpson, a professor of art history at Washington and Lee University, will explore examples of the 'cheap, quick and easy' buildings materials used in the 1870-1930 time period. Rock face concrete block imitated rusticated stone. Pressed metal looked like stone, wood or even brick on exterior siding. On interiors, the popular pressed metal ceilings looked like decorative plaster. Linoleum simulated ceramic tile, mosaic, marble, wood and carpet patterns. Pamela will show how the history and development of these new materials, reveals not only the intersection between technology and popular culture, it also reveals some of the most deeply held values of the period.
  4. Perspectives on Period Lighting.
    Join Rejuvenation's Senior Designer and Historian, Bo Sullivan, for an overview of American residential lighting from 1880 to 1960. Bo will discuss key terms and advances, the major historical style traditions that define this era and will show vintage and contemporary installations that demonstrate the beauty and design integrity possible with period-appropriate lighting.
  5. Mold – Fact/Fiction/Realistic Solutions.
    Is mold on your walls a cosmetic problem, a health concern, or an indicator of underlying damage? Dr. Johnna Roberts will provide basic information about mold, mold clean-up and remediation. Learn when to call in a professional and what to look for in a mold assessment/remediation company.

4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Breakout Session 4

  1. Lessons Learned in Restoring Older Homes.
    Want to restore your older home, but don't know where to start. Don Browers, Tim Reeder, John Gill and Pat and Heather Dugan will share their lessons learned on rehabbing old homes. Join this experienced group in a round table discussion of their adventures.
  2. Baby it's Cold Outside.
    Are you afraid of that monster in your basement and those noisy radiators? Do you dream of central air conditioning? Pat Ryan, experienced HVAC engineer, will discuss issues relating to heating, ventilation and cooling systems in older buildings and the integration of original systems with newer technologies.
  3. Discover Your Homes Original Colors.
    What colors should you paint your house? Architectural historian Dena Sanford will show how to analyze the original paint colors of a building and how to choose a historically accurate paint scheme. She will identify resources and illustrate a step-by step process to gather information and make your home's inherent beauty shine through.
  4. Metals 101.
    Is that iron or bronze? Should that metal be striped? Join metals conservator Deborah Long in an exploration of metal and their historic finishes. Learn how to identify and preserve metals in and around your older property.

Breakout Sessions sponsored in part by AIA Omaha.

Morning and afternoon breaks sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and The Nebraska Medical Center

Sunday, November 5, 2006 – Hands-on Workshops
Metropolitan Community College South Omaha Campus Industrial Training Center

Just off Kennedy Freeway at 27 and Q Streets
Intensive hands-on workshops to learn how to fix common old-home problems.

    9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

  1. Window Repair.
    Are you ready to save some windows? During this four hour workshop John Leeke will guide you in the practical methods of maintenance and repair of older and historic wood windows. Learn specific treatments for the most common window problems: broken glass and sash cords, rotten sash joints, weathered sills, bowed meeting rails, frame joint decay and more. Cost $30

    2. 10:00 a.m. – Noon

  2. Mud Slinging – Flat and Decorative Plaster.
    Back by popular demand, learn how to repair plaster walls. Dick Grace will show how to salvage loose and cracked plaster and explain to attendees how decorative plaster is made. Cost $20.
  3. Woodturning Basics.
    Have you always wanted to learn how to create your own stair balustrades or spindles for your front porch? Join master carpenter Chuck Suiter as he shows you the steps for working a wood lathe. Cost $20.
  4. Electrical Basics.
    This workshop will teach you the basics of electricity safety for your home. Learn the does and don't of changing light switches, lights and receptacles. Cost $20

    The hands-on workshops are sponsored by Friends of Joslyn Castle through a grant they received from the Mutual of Omaha Foundation.