NPS Roof Down
Press Release, For Immediate Release

"From the Roof Down & Skin Deep: What Your Historic House Really Wants from
You," is a new long-distance learning program targeted to help owners,
developers, managers, and tradespeople understand the benefits of
maintaining the exterior "skins" of historic buildings and the costly
consequences of failing to do so. Sponsored by The National Park Service's
Technical Preservation Services, the innovative web class is free to all,
and fun to use, too.

You can log on to the Roof Down website with your internet browser at:

http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/roofdown/index.htm

First, Roof Down explains how the parts of a house are inter-connected and
how to maintain those connections to keep water and other "agents of
destruction" in check. Next, photos of deteriorated building parts (slate
shingles, siding, wood windows, etc.) show connections beginning to fail.
These are coupled with photos showing the appearance of properly maintained
parts with advice on maintenance methods and schedules. Finally, a
6-question quiz underscores the preservation intent of the class.

Cooperatively created, written, and designed by Kay Weeks, National Park
Service, and John Leeke, a Preservation Consultant from Portland, Maine, the
program breaks new ground in its presentation of building materials
deterioration and appropriate remedies to repair and preserve building parts
and systems.

Kay Weeks says, "This web class makes the point for a large non-technical
audience that ongoing maintenance of historic buildings is the highest form
of Preservation!" John Leeke replies, "Yet, all of the examples are
practical and "doable." Every example shows a photo of effective maintenance
done by ordinary tradespeople and homeowners who know how to care for their
older homes."

Kay Weeks develops Standards, Guidelines, Preservation Briefs, and videos,
as well as other training products, such as web sites with an emphasis on
self-paced distance learning modules. Audiences include historic property
owners and managers, architects, developers, federal agencies, state and
local governments, and historic district commissions. Several long distance
learning programs are currently posted, including Electronic Rehab, The Walk
Through, All Wet and How to Prevent It, and The Boilerplate YESs! And
Boilerplate NOs! They can all be found on:
 http://www2.cr.nps.gov/tps/care/

John Leeke has an extensive professional background as a preservation
tradesperson, writer, and educator on the subject of historic building
maintenance. He contributes articles on various aspects of building
preservation to technical journals and home-oriented magazines, and
NPS-sponsored books, and publishes his own series, the "Practical
Restoration Reports" as well. Learn more about caring for older and historic
buildings at:
 www.HistoricHomeWorks.com

Contact: Kay Weeks, [log in to unmask]
Contact: John Leeke, [log in to unmask]