2008 Educational Sessions
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10:30-11:45 a.m. Breakout Session One (short session)
Register for one session.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.