Key steps to successful home restoration

OAKWOOD, Ohio (AP) _ Oakwood, Ohio, resident Andy Pruitt has these suggestions for restoring a historic home:

ù Establish a realistic time frame. Proper restoration takes a lot of time.

ù Prioritize jobs. Start by stabilizing ongoing problems, such as structural issues, roof leaks and encroaching plants and trees.

ù Learn as much as possible before and during the process from professionals as well as neighbors. "We discovered that our neighbor had saved the original garage door from our house which was thrown out many years ago by the previous owners," said Pruitt.

He also recommends finding the community's network of local restoration people and talking to them _ frequently.

"Most local contractors do not understand restoration. Find ones that do," Pruitt advises. "Watch and learn when they do their work, then you can continue the project yourself."

Blueprints for your house may be available from a local archive or from the Old House Journal Restoration Directory.

ù Whenever possible, repair original elements rather than replacing them. If you must replace, do so with materials and style consistent with the original architecture. This will give a more aesthetic as well as durable result.

Items which should never be replaced include slate and tile roofs, wooden windows, wood siding and copper gutters and flashing.