Restore Omaha

Conference, Exhibition, and Tour

February 29,
March 1,
March 2, 2008

Metropolitan Community College
South Omaha Campus
27th & Q Streets

Pre-registration is now closed. If you would like to attend the conference, please show up Saturday at 8 am to register.

Questions? Call 402-457-2241.

 

Sponsored by

Metropolitan Community College's Continuing Education Department is a proud sponsor of Restore Omaha, a conference focused on teaching people how to restore, revive and preserve older properties.

2008 Educational Sessions

Download Conference Schedule [PDF]

10:30-11:45 a.m. Breakout Session One (short session)

Register for one session.

  1. HOMI 205N 01 – South Omaha Workers’ Cottages
    Tom Hubka – Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
    Hubka will share his extensive knowledge of the architecture of everyday people and discuss the small workers’ cottages that sprang up in South Omaha as a response to the booming beef industry from the late 1800s to the mid 1900s.
  2. HOMI 206N 01 – Building Codes and Historic Houses
    Jay Davis – Chief Building Inspector, City of Omaha
    How are the City of Omaha building codes applied to historic or older properties? Can certain conditions be grandfathered? Can the code accommodate historical systems and features? Davis will describe how codes and ordinances affect older properties and outline the responsibilities of owners, operators and occupants of historic and older properties.
  3. HOMI 207N 01 – Energy Efficiency and Comfort in Older Homes
    Daniel Lawse – Energy Outreach Associate, Omaha Neighborhood Center
    Improve comfort. Save energy. Reduce utility expenses. Older homes present unique opportunities for saving energy and improving comfort. Learn what you can do to take advantage of these opportunities throughout your home and during a remodeling project.
  4. HOMI 208N 01 – Keeping It Cool — Air Conditioning for Older Properties
    Pat Ryan – Ray Martin Company
    Tired of that old window air conditioner? Not sure how to add a cental air system to your older home? Then this is the session for you. Ryan will share his knowledge on high velocity air conditioning plus answer any questions you might have when it comes to your mechanical systems. Bring your questions and walk away with answers.
  5. HOMI 210N 01 – Roofing: Asphalt to Tile
    Al Owen – Owen Roofing
    Owen will cover the different roof types often found on historic or older properties. He will discuss needed regular maintenance for roofs and will cover repairs for older roofing systems. Learn how to decide whether to keep, repair or replace your historic tile, slate, asbestos, asphalt or wood roof. Simple maintenance techniques and repairs can help roofs last for years.
  6. HOMI 211N 01 – Squeaks and Eeks — Household Pests
    Dennis Ferraro – Douglas County Extension Services
    Got raccoons in your attic? Are termites eating your garage? Bats in your chimney? Ferraro can help! Learn how to deal effectively with pests in and around your historic or older property and how to keep them away.
  7. HOMI 212N 01 – Wood Repair Through Wood Consolidation
    TBA
    It is not always necessary to rip off and replace damaged wood elements. Werner will discuss the materials and methods available to consolidate damaged wood using state-of-the-art consolidates. Consolidation can often be a more reasonable and a less intrusive solution.

1:00-2:15 p.m. Breakout Session Two (Short Session)

Register for one session.

  1. HOMI 213N 02 – Historic Paint Colors
    Dena Sanford – Architectural Historian, National Park Service
    Learn how to choose a historically accurate paint scheme for your home or business. Sanford will demonstrate how to analyze paint samples from historic structures and determine the early paint sequences that were used. She will describe how to translate historic colors into a paint scheme for today.
  2. HOMI 214N 02 – How to Research Your Historic Property
    Jennifer K. Honebrink – AIA, Alley Poyner Machietto Architecture, P.C.
    Who lived in your house before you bought it? Was that old garage a stable? Honebrink will lead us through the processes and resources available to research your historic building or home. She will demonstrate online, print and other tools that can be used and will indicate what kind of information to look for and where to find it.
  3. HOMI 215N 02 – Tear Downs and McMansions
    Jim Lindberg – Director of Preservation Initiatives, National Trust for Historic Preservation
    Is shoe-horning massive, suburban-style homes into historic neighborhoods a good fit? Are massive, out-of-scale structures that completely ignore the historic character appearing in your neighborhood? Join Lindberg as he explores this trend and what communities are doing to address these issues.
  4. HOMI 216N 02 – Greening an Historic Property
    Tim Hemsath – AIA, Assistant Professor of Architecture, University of Nebraska
    Daniel Lawse – Energy Outreach Associate, Omaha Neighborhood Center How can you make your older property more green? Hemsath and Lawse will suggest ways to make historic and older homes and properties better contributors to sustainable communities.
  5. HOMI 217N 02 – Window Repair: Repairing Window Weights
    Don Browers – The Old House Mechanic
    Do you have broken window weights? Are your windows jammed closed? Do you have to prop them open? Browers will demonstrate the materials, tools and methods used to repair broken windows safely.
  6. HOMI 218N 02 – Steam and Water Heat!
    Eric Peterson – B. G. Peterson Co.
    Jay Rybin – Rybin Plumbing and Heating
    Do you have steam heat in your property? Can it be repaired? Upgraded? Should you keep it? Who can do repairs? Rybin and Peterson will answer questions about older steam heat systems and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.

1:00-4:00 p.m. Breakout Session Three (Long Demonstration Session)

Hands on sessions sponsored by First National Bank of Omaha.

Register for one session.

  1. HOMI 219N 03 – Brick Restoration
    Brad Colvin – Brick Restoration Specialist
    Does your foundation need to be tuck-pointed or repaired? Do you need to remove and replace brick features or can they be repaired? Learn about old and new bricks and mortar and how to do minor repairs yourself. Colvin will demonstrate the best ways to repair and maintain historic brick structures. Learn why sand blasting, high-pressure water washing and machine mortar removal are destructive to brick structures.
  2. HOMI 220N 03 – Exterior Woodwork
    David Lawrence – Lawrence Paint Company
    Lawrence will discuss the major causes of deterioration in wood and the best methods for preservation and restoration of painted wood exterior elements. He will discuss the repair of exterior woodwork.
  3. HOMI 223N 03 – Interior Woodwork
    Al Moellenbeck – A.J. Moellenbeck Builders
    Moellenbeck will talk about restoring old woodwork and completing period replacements in historic interiors. Find out if replacement woodwork is available, whether or not reproduction millwork can be made, and the common tools needed to complete the job.
  4. HOMI 222N 03 – Electrical Basics
    John Berger – Industrial Maintenance Instructor, Metropolitan Community College
    What is knob and tube? Do you need to replace your fuse box? Why do your lights dim when you use a hair dryer? Bring your old home questions and learn the basics of electrical safety for your home. Berger will use the MCC demonstration lab to help explain the do’s and don’ts of changing light switches lights and receptacles.

2:45-4:00 p.m. Breakout Session Four (Short Session)

Register for one session.

  1. HOMI 225N 04 – What Style Is My House?
    Melissa Dirr – Architectural Historian, Archeology Division Nebraska State Historical Society
    Dirr will illustrate the development of architectural styles in historic homes and businesses in Omaha. She will use local examples to show the range and diversity in Omaha house styles and will help participants understand elements that will help associate structures with a particular style.
  2. HOMI 226N 04 – Local, State and Federal Incentives
    Grant Landreth – Project Coordinator State Historic Preservation Office, Nebraska State Historical Society
    Get money to help restore your historic home or business. Obtain low interest loans for home improvements. Learn about the VIP program. Join staff from the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office to learn about ways to help make it easier for you to afford restoring a historic property and to hear about local homeowners who have successfully completed the VIP program.
  3. HOMI 227N 04 – Connected Farm Buildings
    Tom Hubka – Professor, Department of Architecture, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
    Have you ever wondered why and how connected barns came about? Join Hubka as he describes the innovation of connected farm buildings in the middle of the 19th century.
  4. HOMI 228N 04 – Mechanical Plumbing – A Steam Fitters Dream!
    Jay Rybin – Rybin Plumbing and Heating Company
    If you ever had questions about your steam or water heat plumbing system, then this is the place to be. Join Rybin, a seasoned steam fitter, in learning more about the mechanical plumbing system in your home or business.
  5. HOMI 229N 04 – Ceramic Tile
    Su Harvey – Artist & Owner, Prairie Mile Tileworks
    Learn about ceramic tile production, reproduction, restoration and the role it has played through the evolution of the American home — from Arts & Crafts to today’s contemporary designs. Harvey, who has a Master’s Degree in Ceramics, will share her knowledge of this decorative arts medium using current restoration projects her company is completing.
  6. HOMI 221N 04 – Window Repair: Reglazing Windows
    Don Browers – The Old House Mechanic
    Do you have old windows that need to be reglazed? Do you have broken panes and don’t know how to replace the glass? Browers will demonstrate the materials, tools and techniques to replace broken glass and reglaze older and historic windows.