Thousands of older and historic homes in New Orleans were affected by Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that followed. But that does not mean that every building material with mold on it needs to be removed and discarded. In fact, removing a house’s original, historic building materials, such as wide baseboards or wood widows, lowers the property value of a historic house. This ultimately makes it more expensive for a homeowner to repair A flood-damaged home. As well, removing original windows and exterior doors in local historic districts means that homeowners will have to go through the additional step of having their replacements approved by the Historic District Landmarks Commission.

The following is intended to be a guide for volunteer groups cleaning out historic properties as a service for homeowners. The Preservation Resource Center is available to do further training for volunteers. Our staff also can serve as “house captains,” advising on what historic building materials should remain in a home.

You may contact Sarah Bonnette, PRC’s Operation Comeback Information Manager, at (504) 636-3047 or sbonnette@prcno.org for more information. 

WHAT TO TAKE OUT 

• Remove and dispose of any drywall that was submerged. Mold can grow on the paper sheeting that covers each side of the soft gypsum material in between.
• Remove all fibrous insulation that was saturated to inhibit mold growth and allow air flow to wall cavities to aid in their drying-out process.
• Remove wall-to-wall carpeting to avoid contamination.
• Remove belongings such as upholstery, textiles and books because these are porous materials.
• Remove vinyl flooring to aid the evaporation process for underlying wood floors.

WHAT TO KEEP

• DO NOT remove original, solid-wood windows. These windows can be cleaned to remove surface mold. A disinfectant can then be used to kill any remaining mold. 
• The LSU AgCenter recommends disinfecting non-metal surfaces with a solution of ¼ to ½ cup bleach per gallon of water.
  
• The repairing original window frames and sashes is strongly encouraged in local historic districts. If the originals cannot be repaired, the use of wood replacement sashes and details to match other existing units on the building is recommended.

Doors

• DO NOT remove original, solid-wood doors – most likely to be panel doors that survive flooding well. These doors can be cleaned to remove surface mold. A disinfectant can then be used to kill any remaining mold. 
• The LSU AgCenter recommends disinfecting non-metal surfaces with a solution of ¼ to ½ cup bleach per gallon of water.
• The removal of original doors in local historic districts is strongly discouraged. The removal of exterior doors may not be allowed under local laws.
• Panel doors should be dried in place. It may help to open them to allow better air circulation.
• Be sure doors are completely dry before attempting to repair or plane them.

 Wood Trim and Wood Floors

• The retention of all original wood finish building materials is strongly encouraged.
• Most wood will expand and deform when wet and then return more or less to its original form as it dries.
• Wood trim around baseboards, ceilings, doors and windows is likely to survive a flood because it can usually expand without crushing its fibers.
• Original baseboards, chair rails and other trim can be removed and cleaned to remove mold. A disinfectant can then be used to kill any remaining mold. 
• The LSU AgCenter recommends disinfecting non-metal surfaces with a solution of ¼ to ½ cup bleach per gallon of water.
• When possible, keep original hardwood floors.
• Tongue and groove hardwood floors are unlikely to return to their original condition but may be modified. Non-interlocking floorboards should return to their original shapes when dried.

 Plaster

• Plaster that is dry, in good condition and has no fibrous insulation behind it can be cleaned and sanitized to remove mold.
• Cut small holes or squares into plaster walls to explore behind them and help circulate air.
• Check for obvious areas where plaster must be removed, such as ceilings with large sags. 
  

Source: Treatment of Flood-Damaged Older and Historic Buildings, available online at www.nationaltrust.org.

Note: This document is intended to provide general information. It should not be understood to offer legal, architectural, environmental, engineering or other professional services, or an opinion with regard to a specific property or condition. If legal, architectural, environmental, engineering or other expert assistance is required, the services of a qualified professional should be sought.