The Brownstone GuideMaintenance & Repair Factsfor Historic Property Owners

New York Landmarks ConservancyTechnical Services Center

Contents

Brownstone as a Building Material 1

Inspecting the Condition of Brownstone 2

Protection and Maintenance Strategies 3

Causes of Brownstone Deterioration 4

Composite Repairs 5

Alternative Repair Methods 7

Inappropriate Repair Methods 9

The Future of Brownstone Preservation 10

Acknowledgements

The Brownstone Guide is more a consumer’shandbook than a technical manual. Rather thana source of step-by-step instructions for repairmaterials and techniques, the Guide is designedto help owners of historic properties understandthe character of sandstone and the basic causesof its decay. In addition, it provides anintroduction to the various methods andmaterials for sandstone repair and restoration.With this background, building owners canmake more informed choices about maintainingand repairing historic brownstone.

The Brownstone Guide was funded by a grantfrom the New York State Council on the Arts.Richard D. Pieper, Ward Dennis, and William J.Higgins consulted on the development of thecontents. Alex Herrera, Director of TechnicalServices, and Erin Tobin, Manager of Grants andTechnical Services, shepherded it through tocompletion. Photography was provided by Ann-Isabel Friedman, Andrea Goldwyn, Li/SaltzmanArchitects, Ken Lustbader, James Mahoney,Richard Pieper, and Erin Tobin.

Brownstone as aBuilding Material

“Brownstone” is the common name for a varietyof brown, red, and pink sandstone widely used asbuilding materials from the mid-1800s until theearly-1900s. In fact, it was so common that theword became synonymous with “row house.”

Brownstone is found in buildings as early as the1600s, but it truly emerged as a dominant Americanbuilding material in the mid-1800s, when populartaste in literature, art, and architecture embraced aromantic return to nature. Its rich, earth-toned colorand variety of surface textures expressed this idealperfectly. To nineteenth-century builders, the softnessof brownstone was an ideal quality. The materiallent itself perfectly to the rapid carving of moldings,brackets, consoles, bas-relief, pediments, architraves,enframements, and many other architectural devicesthat decorated roughhouses of this period.

During the period of its greatest use, brownstonewas central to the look and feel of Americanarchitecture. It is found not only in row housesand individual residences, but also in religious,industrial, commercial, and public buildings.Brownstone use was most common in theNortheast, close to the principal quarries.

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Almost as soon as sandstone became prominent as a

building material, it became known for its tendency

to decay. Unfortunately, its layered composition and

high porosity means that brownstone deteriorates

easily. It is especially susceptible to the action of

water, salts, freeze-thaw cycling, air pollutants, and

similar factors. In the Northeast, the local climate

consisting of wet winters with daily temperature

fluctuations has proven to be particularly hard on

the material. Consequently, brownstone presents

significant maintenance and repair problems for

many owners of historic brownstone buildings.

Brownstone used in nineteenth-centuryNew York City came from quarries in:

• Connecticut: Portland, East Haven• New Jersey: Newark, Belleville,

and Little Falls• Massachusetts: East Longmeadow• Pennsylvania: Hummelstown• New York: Medina• Michigan • Scotland

Brownstone homes, like these Harlem row houses, werebuilt by the thousand throughout the Northeast in thelate-nineteenth century.

Beginning in the late 1860s, however, a constructionboom in New York and other eastern cities createdmile upon mile of new row houses. Often, the lessdesirable material was pressed into architecturalservice and sliced into thin veneer or carved intoelaborate façade features.

Before embarking on any repairs, the condition ofthe stone should be surveyed, identifying thesymptoms and possible causes of deterioration.Observations regarding the color, pattern, texture,and surface tooling of the brownstone, as well asprevious repairs, can be very helpful to a conservator,architect, or contractor. Building owners can dosome of this initial investigation, allowing them tobetter describe the condition of their building:

Color: Is the stone brown or another color? Hasmore than one color of stone been used?

Pattern: Are there swirls, bands, or veins of colorwithin the individual stones?

Texture: Is the stone surface hard or crumbly, sharpor weathered?

Surface Tooling: Is the stone carved, rock-faced, orsmooth? Are there other tooling marks or decorativesurface patterns? Is any part damaged or missing?

Previous Repairs: Are there old patches applied tothe masonry? Has the entire surface of the façadebeen patched or refaced some time in the past? Is thestone painted? Are past stucco repairs showing signsof blistering, loosening, or detachment?

Protection andMaintenance Strategies

Building owners and stewards can avoid manyproblems commonly associated with brownstonethrough proper maintenance. A regular maintenanceprogram can remedy water infiltration and slowthe rate of decay. Deteriorating stone often can beprotected, and repair and replacement costs canbe reduced.

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Inspecting theCondition of Brownstone

Brownstone has two basic characteristics thatdetermine its appearance and performancein buildings:

• Composition: Sandstone is made up of grains ofsand and other minerals held together by naturalcementing agents.

• Structure: The minerals that form the stone weredeposited into layers, or strata, by water and windover many centuries. Within the stone, naturalareas of weakness, called bedding planes, occurwhere each layer comes into contact with the next.

All brownstone is not created equal, however. Someis much harder and more durable than others. Stonefrom the same quarry can have very differentproperties, depending on the specific location whereit was quarried.

In the early days, quarries sorted and gradedbrownstone, saving the good quality, dense materialfor architectural use. This stone was carved, ordressed, into lintels, doorways, and blocks.Beautifully preserved brownstone lintels, quoins,and other details can be seen in such grand buildingsas St. Paul’s Chapel in lower Manhattan. The lessdesirable brownstone was given over to uses such asroad and rail embankments or other projects wherelarge, rough blocks were needed and the fineness orthinness of the stone did not matter.

The relative softness of brownstone lends itself todecorative carvings and building ornamentation.

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A responsible building owner can carry out most ofthe following basic maintenance procedures at a verylow cost:

Clear Gutters Regularly: Clearing gutters andleaders of debris at least twice a year allows themto drain properly.

Maintain Roof: Repair leaks in the roof anddrainage systems immediately. They can act as afunnel for water, causing severe and costly damageto the façade.

Remove Vegetation: Vegetation, such as ivy, on orimmediately adjacent to stone walls traps moistureand prevents the walls from thoroughly drying out.

Fill Open Joints: Caulking open joints preventsmoisture infiltration around windows, doors, andalong horizontal lines in projections, such as windowlintels or parapet walls. Use high quality polysulfide,butyl rubber, or acrylic latex caulk.

Maintain Flashing: Metal flashings protect ledges,lintels, ornamentation, and other projections thatcollect and absorb water. Use non-corrosive, non-staining sheet metal, such as lead or lead-coatedcopper, to seal the top surfaces and to bridge thesmall, open gaps between the elements.

Repoint as Necessary: Crumbling, loose, ormissing mortar joints should be repointed by aqualified mason. The repointing mortar must besofter and more porous than the stone. Hard mortarwith too high a cement content can acceleratebrownstone deterioration.

Clean Carefully: Improper cleaning can cause moredamage in minutes than years of weathering.Cleaning is only necessary to protect brownstonefrom pollutants or excess dirt build-up. Use aprofessional mason to handle the cleaning, and askto see a sample of their work. A gentle water washor water and non-ionic detergent wash should be thefirst cleaning methods attempted. Do not use harshchemicals or abrasive methods, such as sand- orwater-blasting.

Causes ofBrownstone Deterioration

Brownstone, like other sandstones, consists essentiallyof grains of sand that have been consolidated by thepressure of overlying sediments and the presence of acementing matrix, or binder, between the grains.Many of the brownstones used in New York arecomposed mainly of quartz and feldspar, bound byclays and iron oxides. In some cases, silica or calciteare also present in the binder.

Most brownstone deterioration is caused by thefailure of its cementing matrix. As the mortar jointsbetween the stones deteriorate, water finds its wayinto the interior bedding planes of the stones. Hardfreezes cause expansion of the trapped water withinthe tiny crevices of the stone, destroying the stone’ssolidity from within. The recrystallization of saltsfrom deicing compounds or mortars also plays a rolein deterioration.

The most common forms of deterioration are:

Exfoliation: Separation and failure of stone along itssedimentary bedding planes. Exfoliation causes themost dramatic failure when a stone unit is “face-bedded,” with its bedding planes set parallel to thefinished face of the stone. “Blind exfoliation”describes bedding layers that have separated but arestill loosely attached, causing the finished surface tosound hollow. Exfoliation is caused by the failure ofweakly cemented layers in a stone unit.

Severely exfoliating brownstone can be both unattractiveand detrimental to the building.

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Contour scaling: Failure of a thin surface layer ofthe stone parallel to the worked surface of the stone,rather than along its bedding planes. “Crustformation,” “blistering,” and “surface induration”are terms used for similar deterioration. Contourscaling occurs when acid-soluble binders dissolveand form a brittle crust at the surface of the stone.This is most likely to occur in areas of frequentwet-dry cycling, such as windowsills and copings.

Disaggregation: Loss of cohesion between sandgrains as the binder deteriorates. Disaggregation atthe surface of a stone can result in slow erosion ofthe surface and softening of tooling. Areas beneathsurface crusts are also often disaggregated.Disaggregation often occurs in sheltered areas wheremoisture from other sources evaporates, in somecases from salt recrystallization.

Deterioration varies dramatically for the differenttypes of brownstone that were available in thenineteenth century. The severity of exposure of thestone and its orientation in the wall both significantlyaffect how the brownstone deteriorates. The morecarving on a façade, the more surface area of thestone is exposed to the elements. These factors cancreate an enduring challenge to the concernedbuilding owner.

Composite Repairs

Composite repair, the application of a tinted mortar-like patch to the surface of a deteriorated stone orportion of a stone, is one of the most commontechniques utilized to repair deteriorated brownstonesurfaces. Composite repairs are appropriate wheresmall areas of mechanical damage have occurred orwhere the entire face of a unit has exfoliated.Composite repairs last longer in locations that do nothave heavy exposure to rain. Composites applied towindowsills and wall copings often fail prematurely,due to water infiltration and disaggregation of thestone beneath the repair. In areas where direct wettingof the patch is not a problem, such as sheltered verticalwall surfaces, composites may be very durable.Satisfactory adhesion of a composite repair requires

removal of all deteriorated stone down to solidmaterial. The sound stone is then scarified orroughened to provide some mechanical anchoragefor the composite patch. For large repairs, rods andwire armatures are sometimes added to provideadditional support and to assure that the patch doesnot separate from the substrate. The rods can bemade of fiberglass, nylon, or stainless steel. Adurable composite repair must be at least 3/4” thick.

Due to the difficulty of exact color matching,composites applied to the full face of a deterioratedstone unit are the most successful visually. Usually, itis preferable to apply composite repairs separately toindividual stone units, stopping the edge of therepair at the mortar joint that separates the unitfrom adjacent stones.

Since the 1930s, many brownstone contractors havecompletely covered the façades of small buildingswith tinted stuccos. When an entire façade is heavilydeteriorated or when a façade has been refaced oncebefore, this approach may be appropriate. Refacingis most successful when they faithfully replicatewindow hoods, door surrounds, and other trimelements. Complete refacing should be avoided,however, when significant sections of originalbrownstone are intact and may be retained.

Materials The proper repair mixture consists of acombination of a binder, aggregate, pigments,

Contour scaling(top) and

disaggregation(bottom) are twocommonly found

forms ofbrownstone

deterioration.

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admixtures, and water. Most masons have their ownpreferred composite patching system, and in general,it makes sense to use the system with which yourmason is most familiar.

The most common repair mixture is a stucco-likemix consisting of Portland cement and lime binder,crushed stone-sand aggregate, and small amounts ofdry oxide pigments. The ingredients are combineddry and then mixed with water, often with a smallamount of acrylic latex admixture. The dry mixtureis usually prepared on site, but may also be preparedoff site in a more controlled setting and brought tothe site in pails or bags.

One important point to remember: gray Portlandcement should not be used for composite sandstonepatches. It is more difficult to color and work,shrinks more in curing, and may cause staining.

In addition to the traditional cement-lime-sandpatching mix, many companies market their ownproprietary patching systems. Among the morecommon proprietary mixes available today are thosesold under the Edison and Jahn names. Proprietarymixes have a number of advantages, includinguniformity of material, a proven track record, andtechnical assistance from the manufacturer. Manymanufacturers will supply a premixed, color-matchedproduct to which water is added at the site. It isimportant to ensure that the masons are properlytrained in the use and application of proprietary mixeswhen using or specifying such mixes. Many proprietarymixes are not applied in the same manner astraditional cement-lime-sand mixes, and, like anyrepair, will fail if improperly installed.

Color Matching Color matching is one of the mostcrucial aspects of creating a successful compositepatch and should be based on a careful examinationof the existing stone. The contractor or an architec-tural conservator who specializes in masonry can dothe color matching. Manufacturers of proprietarymixes can provide a custom color match based on asample of the stone being repaired. Samples of pro-prietary mixes should be prepared in accordancewith manufacturer’s instructions.

If the stone is to be cleaned, the repair material mustmatch color of the cleaned stone. If the stone’s colorand dirt or stains give it a varied appearance, selectthe color that blends best. Repairs in more than onecolor may be needed if the color variations are great.Often, sandstone buildings are part of a group ofsimilar façades, constructed at the same time and ofthe same sandstone. When repairing entire façades insuch buildings, it is important to use a color mixturecompatible with the neighboring buildings.

Surface Finishing Even with proper color matching,a repair will look dead and artificial – like sandsealed up in colored cement – unless the character ofthe surface mineral grains closely resembles that ofnatural sandstone. Commonly, this is achieved withacid-etching or rubbing stones to remove the thinouter film of pigmented cement binder and exposethe shape, size, color and distribution of theaggregate grains at the surface of the repair. Patchescan also be stippled with a sponge or dry-troweled tocreate surface effects. Tool marks and patterns canbe matched to those on the original stone.

Years of weathering caused the brownstone details to deteriorate (left), but careful composite repairs (center) restore it toits original glory (right)

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Historic Accuracy A successful composite patch,whether a small repair or replacement of an entirefaçade, should be indistinguishable from the originalstone. Mortar joints in the new repair shouldreplicate the historic profile. Repairs should notextend continuously between separate blocks ofstone, because continuous patches can crack andfail if the individual stones behind them move.

Where possible, photographs and measured drawingsor sketches should be used to recreate carveddecoration. For row houses that are part of auniform development, one can often find survivingdecoration on adjacent buildings. Decorations foundon neighboring buildings may serve as the model fornew composite patches or may be used to createmolds for cast stone ornamentation. Historicphotographs should be consulted to ensure thatarchitectural features that appear on a neighboringbuilding are historically appropriate on the buildingbeing restored.

Alternative Repair Methods

In addition to composite repair, there are othertechniques that can be used to repair deterioratedbrownstone masonry.

Unit Replacement In some cases, the most durableand most visually successful “repair” for deterioratedbrownstone is replacement. While replacement ofentire brownstone façades is rare, replacement ofportions of façades and of individual stone units isquite common. Unit replacement is an appropriateapproach with severely deteriorated stone, especiallyat corners, buttresses, and projecting bays. Heavily

exposed features prone to deterioration, such asstoops and stairways, are also often replaced.Damaged elements can be replaced with either natu-ral stone or cast stone.

NATURAL STONE For simply tooled units of wallmasonry, natural stone is often the most appropriatechoice. Generally natural stone will be more expensive,but is usually a better match for surrounding masonry.Finding a stone that matches the color of the originalstone is extremely important. Salvaged stone, takenfrom buildings that have been demolished, is oftenavailable and the simplest choice for smaller projects.For new brownstone, quarries are currently active inConnecticut, Michigan, and Canada’s maritimeprovinces. For larger projects, imported stoneresembling some brownstone in the Northeast isavailable through American suppliers from Germany,Scotland, and England. Whenever possible,brownstone should be laid with its natural beddingplanes oriented horizontally (“quarry-bedded”).

CAST STONE Cast stone, which is precast concretetinted and finished to resemble brownstone, can be adurable and economical material for replacement ofstair treads, balustrades, and molded ornamentation.Color and texture are important considerations inthe use of cast stone. A mixture of cement, sand, andcoarse aggregate, most of its color comes from theuse of a tinted cementitious matrix. As the matrixweathers, more of the sand and aggregate areexposed. If these are lighter than the matrix, the caststone will fade and no longer match the adjacentstone. The use of crushed brownstone or otherbrown aggregates assures a closer and more durablecolor match.

After cast stone has been molded, it is common forthe fabricator to lightly sandblast or acid etch thesurface to remove a portion of the cement on thesurface and expose the aggregate. Stainless steelreinforcement should be considered for pieces thatserve a structural function or that may crack inhandling. Keeping the cast stone moist during curingassures proper hydration of the cement in theconcrete. Design and fabrication of cast stone iscomplicated enough that the services of an architect

Brownstone can be laid with its natural bedding planesoriented vertically, called face bedding (left), or horizontally,called quarry bedding (right).

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or engineer may be desired, depending on the sizeof the project.

Dutchman Repairs A “dutchman” repair may beused with exposed damaged stone where a compositerepair is infeasible or unlikely to last. A stonedutchman is a piece of stone set into a larger stoneto replace a damaged or missing section. In highlyvisible locations and in areas subject to frequentwetting, a dutchman will generally be more durableand more successful visually than a composite repair.Although sometimes used for severely damagedbrownstone, dutchmen, adhered with pins andadhesives, are used more frequently with granites andmarbles. “Full face” dutchman may be used forbrownstone repair when the face of a unit isdeteriorated to a significant depth and the stonesurface must be durable. A dutchman might be used,for instance, where an exposed repair overhangs anentry or sidewalk, and the failure of a compositewould be hazardous.

Retooling If the decayed surface of the stone is tooshallow for a durable composite repair and the depthof deterioration does not warrant unit replacement ora dutchman, retooling may be considered. Reworkingthe decayed surface of an individual stone andretooling the stone is most successful where theoriginal surface of the stone is roughly tooled andthe plane of the façade is not extremely important.Smooth honed and finely tooled surfaces, as well asrock facing, are more difficult to retool successfully.Retooling that does not match the original tooling ofthe stone is not advisable.

Consolidation In recent years a number ofproducts have been developed to “consolidate”or strengthen deteriorated stone. These liquidpreservatives can play a limited role in somebrownstone restoration projects.

YES Consolidants may be appropriate where astone surface is slowly eroding or where originaltooling or carving is still present, but threatened.

NO Consolidants cannot re-adhere separatedsurface layers or repair severe damage.

Numerous factors must be considered beforeconsolidation is undertaken, including soundness ofsubstrate, type of consolidant, depth of consolidantpenetration, methods of and numbers of applications,and color change. An architectural conservatorshould be consulted to guide any proposedconsolidation effort.

InappropriateRepair Methods

Many historic brownstone buildings in New YorkCity have been repaired, restored, or remodeled atleast once. In some cases, these old rehabilitationshave become historic in their own right. Often theyare a testament to the layering of history typical ofold, urban centers. If your brownstone is in anhistoric district, you must check with your locallandmarks board or commission before embarkingon a restoration plan. Depending on the age andquality of the remodeling, it may be seen assignificant feature.

Many brownstone owners today need to address thefailures of old repairs. Old patches often fade overtime, resulting in a patchwork appearance to thebuilding. Old stucco or cement may start to comeloose, and some areas may blister and detach fromthe substrate. Sometimes, these failures occur as aresult of natural aging, but sometimes they arecaused by inappropriate repair methods or installation.

Inappropriate Mortars Repointing with a mortarthat is too hard or impermeable will damagebrownstone. Impermeable mortars force water,which enters the masonry through joints and cracks,to collect in, and evaporate through, the stone itselfrather than through the mortar joints. Moisturetrapped in the masonry often damages the stonethrough salt crystallization or frost damage. Inextreme cases, the masonry will spall completely,leaving protruding mortar. Similarly, compositepatches that are too vapor impermeable will result indeterioration of the natural stone. Pointing mortarsshould be sacrificial to the surrounding stone orbrick, and owners should expect to repoint theirbuilding from time to time.

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Cementitious Coatings Tinted cementitious coatingsare available under a variety of trade names and areone of the most common repair methods to avoid.Unlike composite repairs, which are generallyapplied only to deteriorated stone, brush-on cementi-tious coatings are often indiscriminately applied toentire façades of sound and deteriorated stone. Thesecoatings tend to hinder vapor transmission throughthe stone surface and hold water inside the stone,eventually causing it to disaggregate. In areas ofsevere water infiltration, near roofs or parapets,coatings such as these may lead to frost damage. While they may match stone coloration when theyare initially applied, cementitious coatings tend tofade and may be highly disfiguring. They are alsodifficult to remove without damaging the surface ofthe stone.

Painting Painting brownstone is generally notrecommended. Even paints that are vapor permeablemay retard the passage of moisture and cause theunderlying stone to deteriorate. This is especiallytrue where cracks or open joints allow water to enterthe masonry. A thick paint buildup may lead tofuture damage by trapping moisture in the stonebehind it. Painting will not preserve decayed stone,since paint will adhere only to sound material.

Repainting of sound stone that has already beenpainted is an option if paint removal is likely tocause damage or if it would expose old, non-matchingrepairs. If painting is appropriate, use oil-based paintover previously painted stone and latex paint onexposed stone.

Waterproofing Waterproofing and water repellent

coatings tend to trap moisture and migrating soluble

salts. This may cause loss of stone surface through

freezing or salt recrystallization. These coatings may

also alter the color and reflective qualities of the

stone. They also require regular and frequent

reapplication, making this an expensive option for

homeowners.

Harsh Cleaning Sandblasting, high-pressure water

blasting, and other abrasive cleaning or paint

removal techniques damage stone and should never

be used.

The Future ofBrownstone Preservation

A rich heritage of architectural brownstone has

survived to the present day in the neighborhoods

of New York City. These buildings and homes have

endured despite adverse structural, mineralogical,

and environmental conditions.

Restoration of brownstone façades has grown into

an industry. Natural stone supplies are more easily

available today than in years past, and repair methods

are advancing rapidly. A trip to many brownstone

blocks in warm weather will show one or more

houses in the process of being repaired.

Brownstone restoration can be a complex process for

building owners, but if they are prepared with a

practical understanding of sandstone and its problems,

they can continue to preserve this legacy for

future generations.

Inappropriate repairmethods, such aspainting (top) andcementitious coatings(bottom), tend totrap moisture andmask underlyingbrownstonedeterioration.

Further Reading

The following is a selective list of books and articlesof use to the homeowner. Emphasis has been placedon general works and information particularly helpfulto the novice, as well as more recent articles notcited elsewhere.

General Building Maintenanceand Restoration Guides

Carosino, Catherine, et al, editors. Historic MasonryDeterioration and Repair Techniques: An AnnotatedBibliography. Washington, D.C.: PreservationAssistance Division, National Park Service,United States Department of the Interior. 1993.

Fisher, Charles E. and Hugh C. Miller, editors.Caring for Your Historic House. New York: Henry N. Abrams, Inc. 1998.

Foulks, William G., editor. Historic BuildingFaçades: The Manual for Maintenance andRehabilitation. New York: John Wiley &Sons, Inc. 1997.

Friedman, Donald. The Investigation of Buildings:A Guide for Architects, Engineers, and Owners.New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2000.

McKee, Harley. Introduction to Early AmericanMasonry: Stone, Brick, Mortar and Plaster.Washington, D. C.: National Trust for HistoricPreservation. 1973.

Weaver, Martin with Frank G. Matero. ConservingBuildings: Guide to Techniques and Materials. NewYork: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1993.

Preservation Briefs

The National Park Service has published over 40Preservation Briefs on a range of subjects related tothe repair and maintenance of historic buildings.Many of these briefs are now online athttp://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/briefs/presbhom.htm.

Conservancy Publications

In addition to The Brownstone Guide, theConservancy offers other helpful publicationsto the public:

• Historic Building Facades: The Manualfor Maintenance and Rehabilitation coversinspection, maintenance, and repair of historicfacades made of brownstone, limestone, brick,terra cotta, cast iron, and wood. $29.95

• Repairing Old and Historic Windows is acomplete guide to window deterioration,maintenance, replacement, and repair forhomeowners and professionals. $24.95

• Managing Repair & Restoration Projects: ACongregation's How-to Guide is a step-by-stepguidebook that explains the basics of projectplanning, management, and supervision tolaypeople and clergy. $20.000

• Inspecting and Maintaining ReligiousProperties is a practical guide for buildingcaretakers and professionals with chapterson the building envelope (roofs, walls, anddrainage systems), structural systems, mechanicalsystems, energy cost-saving measures, andcyclical maintenance. $15.00

For more information or a publications orderform, call 212-995-5260 or visitwww.nylandmarks.org

The New York Landmarks Conservancy is proud toannounce that 2003 marks our 30th anniversary.Since 1973, the Conservancy has advocated forpreservation of New York’s unique architecturalheritage in Washington, Albany, and at City Hall.In addition, it is the only preservation organizationin New York City – and one of the few in thecountry – with the financial and technical resourcesto back up advocacy with assistance.

In thirty years, we have awarded nearly $22 million inloans and grants, accompanied by countless hours ofpro-bono technical advice, to owners of historichomes, businesses, schools, houses of worship,

New York Landmarks Conservancy

141 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10010

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

P A I DNew York, NY

Permit No. 8056

theaters, cultural institutions, and communitycenters. In turn, we help revitalize neighborhoodsand shape the future of our great City.

The Conservancy’s Technical Services Center isnationally recognized for its expertise in addressingbuilding problems. Its staff answer questions fromhundreds of owners each year and help them findand manage qualified architects, craftspeople, con-tractors, and other consultants. The Center'spublications offer detailed, practical guidance onthe preservation of specific building types, materials,and features. For answers and referrals, call thePreservation Hotline at 212-995-5260.