The Building Doctor Program

The Building Doctor is a two-day program that helps owners of older homes, commercial buildings, churches, and public buildings become even better stewards of their properties. It consists of an evening seminar and "house call" site visits the following morning.

Day One: includes a two-hour long evening seminar about old buildings and their challenges: cracked and stained plaster, wet basements, crumbing masonry, stuck or inoperable windows and doors, and drainage (or lack thereof) - among other maladies. The Building Doctors explain how you can meet these and other issues head on, while preserving your building's historic character. You'll discover tried and true ways to preserve and update your old building - and learn what not to do.

Those registering in advance (and attending) the evening seminar will receive a ​Building Doctor booklet, a thick compilation of useful information that goes into detail about topics covered during the evening seminar. Walk-ins will receive copies if supplies last (so register early instead!)

Day Two: the Building Doctors make morning "house calls."  They tour ailing buildings, examining conditions, and prescribing cures. The Doctors visit all kinds of structures: homes, downtown storefronts, churches, factories, schools, offices, barns, and even mausoleums. Since the Doctors are historic preservation professionals, the building must be old - built before 1960.

While the Doctors "do" windows (and roofs, and basements, and walls), they are not structural engineers, electrical, HVAC, other building systems experts - but will recommend that you contact one if warranted.

House calls are also free and must be requested when registering for a Building Doctor Clinic - first come, first served. You must attend the prior evening's seminar to qualify for a house call. You'll be contacted in advance of the Clinic to set up an appointment.

So that the Doctors spend more time examining buildings than driving to them, they must be within a five-mile radius of your city or village's center.

House calls begin at 8:00 or 9:00 AM and end by 12 noon or 1:00 PM. House Calls are 50 minutes in duration and begin on the hour (9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, Noon, 1:00 PM, for example).  Visits are scheduled consecutively, one following immediately after the other and with no gaps in the schedule.

Co-sponsor a Building Doctor Clinic

Do old-building owners in your community have questions about how to maintain their historic properties? Consider co-sponsoring a Building Doctor clinic to help them find the answers. State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Building Doctor Clinics are now being scheduled for the coming season, typically from April through October each year.

If your community is interested in co-sponsoring a Building Doctor Clinic and would like additional information about the program and the costs associated, please call 614.298.2000.