Architects have a lot to consider when beginning a new project. Beyond all of the designing, testing and product selection, they must also fully understand all of the potential problems associated with the project. This is especially true for restoration jobs, where challenges borne from mistakes that might have been made 100 years ago can be lurking in shadows.
The Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda, Pa., is the epitome of a challenging historic restoration, and how tricky is can be to find the right building material. The courthouse’s restoration was anything but simple due to its lengthy list of problems: persistent leaking, substrate vulnerabilities including a weak roof deck, poorly secured roof tiles and frame, serious blow-off and pull-out risks, and more.