Welcome to Old House Authority

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Welcome to Old House Authority, where we connect property owners with preservation professionals to ensure the historically appropriate rehabilitation of old houses. Many skilled craftsmen and specialists work independently and are not easy to find. For them, we serve as advocates and promoters, helping to preserve their knowledge and skills while preventing the mistakes in renovation that too often diminish the historic and architectural integrity of old houses.

SUMMER "STIMULUS" SALE ON CUSTOM- MADE STORM WINDOWS   New!

New low prices on low-profile storm windows!

We offer:

• Special Shapes
• Custom Colors
• Interior and Exterior
• Velva-lumes with expander

(804) 648-1616
info@oldhouseauthority.com

Contact us for a free consultation.
We don't intend to be undersold.

Ask the Authority: Installing Receptacles Without Damaging Plaster   New!

Q: I need to install an electrical receptacle in a plaster wall. How can I do this without cracking the plaster? A: When I have to upgrade old-house wiring, my first choice is to mount the electrical receptacles in the baseboards rather than the wall surfaces. This practice greatly reduces the number of boxes I have to cut into plaster, but doesn’t eliminate them. Read more >>

How to Copy Vintage Millwork

Living in a city that is graced with many houses and commercial buildings that were constructed throughout the last two centuries, I am often called on to make mill work that either completes a broken pattern or is a facsimile of a nearby one. I had done this many times when by chance I discovered a vintage mill work catalogue...  Read more  >>

Old Windows as Efficient as New Ones

Research shows that most traditionally designed wood-frame buildings lose more heat through the roof and un-insulated walls than through the windows. A historic wood window, properly maintained and fitted with a storm window, can be just as energy efficient as a new window. The National Trust for Historic Preservation offers tips for "greening" your historic house.  Read more  >>

FEATURED HISTORIC PROPERTY FOR SALE

HISTORIC COLONIAL REVIVAL
GINTER PARK
RICHMOND, VA

The Pinckney House, circa 1904

Built circa 1904, the Pinckney House is a Colonial Revival gem with elegant architectural detailing reminiscent of a Georgian plantation home. A towering magnolia tree shades the gracious classically-styled entrance porch at the center of its semi-circular drive...  Read more  >>