The International Preservation Trades Workshop
Silver Edition
September 7 - 9, 2023
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Twenty-five years ago, the first "Gathering of the Trades" demonstrated that sharing, learning, and talking with tools in hand filled a void in the mainstream preservation movement some doubted even existed. Our mission is to empower the traditional building trades through network, good works, community, fellowship and education. Trades education has always been and continues to be our central focus and the driving force behind the International Preservation Trades Workshop. This year IPTW returns to where it all began -- the National Park Service's Historic Preservation Training Center in Frederick, Maryland. Read more about the first IPTW held here in 1997.
Pre-conference workshops, sessions, and registration details will be updated regularly on this page. Check back to see them as they post, and we'll see you in Maryland!
Please read the PTN's Health and Safety Protocols before registering.
Looking for a way to build your company's brand while supporting a good cause? Become an event sponsor and we'll make sure your company's logo get's seen! | Have knowledge or expertise you want to share? Show us how it's done by becoming an demonstrator! | Looking for targeted marketing opportunities? Look no more! Become an exhibitor and reach the specialized market of tradespeople at our one-of-a-kind event! | Are you a student, apprentice, or just getting started in your trade? PTN wants to make sure we see you at the event. Learn about our waived student registration costs and scholarship to attend. |
REGISTRATION INFORMATION Full conference registration includes the Saturday Auction dinner, a light breakfast, snacks, beverages, and access to the full conference beforehand. Food trucks will be available for lunch and are not included in registration. Registrants will receive an electronic program. T-shirts, printed programs, and pre-conference workshops are separate. |
Early Saver - ends May 1 | $425 | PTN members receive a $75 discount |
Regular Registration | $500 | PTN members receive a $75 discount |
NPS Employees | $300 | Must use NPS email |
Auction Dinner | $80 | |
Students and Apprentices | - | Apply for waived registration here |
Demonstrators | - | Will receive promo code to register here |
Vendors, Exhibitors, Employers | Varies | Read the Sponsor Package here and submit registration here |
One-Day, Thursday or Friday | $250 | Auction Dinner not included |
One-Day, Saturday | $200 | Auction Dinner not included |
One-Day, Saturday Locals | $50 | Most provide address in Frederick County, Auction Dinner not includes |
LODGING AND TRANSPORTATION
LODGINGJoin the PTN Member's Group Facebook Page to coordinate lodging-shares with other attendees.
| TransportationJoin the PTN Member's Group Facebook Page to coordinate transportation with other attendees.
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SCHEDULE
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
Funding for these workshops was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust through the Maryland Heritage Grant. This grant has helped offset workshop costs and allowed the PTN to offer these workshops at reduced registration rates.
This workshop is hosted by the Preservation Trades Network as a pre-conference workshop to its annual International Preservation Trades Workshop. It will be led by Jon Appell of Atlas Preservation and Moss Rudley of the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center, and take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery in downtown Frederick. Read more about Mount Olivet Cemetery here: https://www.mountolivetcemeteryinc.com/ Funding for this project was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust through the Maryland Heritage Grant. This grant has helped offset workshop costs and allowed the PTN offer these workshops at a reduced registration cost and make the more accessible to more people. LEARNING OBJECTIVESThis workshop will teach introductory preservation techniques to care for cemetery monuments and gravestones. Participants will learn to:
Registration informationRead more details about the workshop and register here. Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023,Times: 9:00 am EST - 4:00 pm EST Location: 515 S Market St, Frederick, MD 21701 Cost: $100 | This workshop is hosted by the Preservation Trades Network as a pre-conference workshop to its annual International Preservation Trades Workshop. It will be led by HistoriCorps, and take place at the Collier Log House at the Catoctin Furnace in Frederick County, Maryland. Read more about the Collier Log House from the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society: https://catoctinfurnace.org/colliers/ Funding for this project was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust through the Maryland Heritage Grant. This grant has helped offset workshop costs and allowed the PTN offer these workshops at a reduced registration cost and make the more accessible to more people. LEARNING OBJECTIVESThis log house preservation workshop will teach the fundamentals of log construction and techniques for chinking and daubing. Participants will learn to:
Registration informationRead more details about the workshop and register here. Dates: Tuesday, September 5 - Wednesday, September 6, 2023 |
This workshop is hosted by the Preservation Trades Network as a pre-conference workshop to its annual International Preservation Trades Workshop. It will be led by members of the Window Preservation Alliance, and take place at the Beatty Cramer House in Frederick County, Maryland. Read more about the Beatty Cramer House from the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation: https://www.fredericklandmarks.org/ Funding for this project was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust through the Maryland Heritage Grant. This grant has helped offset workshop costs and allowed the PTN offer these workshops at a reduced registration cost and make the more accessible to more people. LEARNING OBJECTIVESThis window preservation workshop will teach introductory window sash restoration techniques. Participants will learn to:
Registration informationRead more details about the workshop and register here. Dates: Tuesday, September 5 - Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | This workshop is hosted by the Preservation Trades Network as a pre-conference workshop to its annual International Preservation Trades Workshop. It will be led by Preservation Maryland, and take place at the Catoctin Furnace's Isabella Stack in Frederick County, Maryland. Read more about the site's history at the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society: https://catoctinfurnace.org/history/ Funding for this project was provided in part by Preservation Maryland and the Maryland Historical Trust through the Maryland Heritage Grant. This grant has helped offset workshop costs and allowed the PTN offer these workshops at a reduced registration cost and make the more accessible to more people. LEARNING OBJECTIVESThis masonry preservation workshop will teach the fundamentals of brick arch construction and techniques for stabilization, repair, and repointing. Participants will learn to:
Registration informationRead more details about the workshop and register here. Dates: Tuesday, September 5 - Wednesday, September 6, 2023 |
SESSIONS
Past, Present and Future of the Preservation Trades Network on its 25th AnniversaryWhat does the future hold for PTN? In a Keynote Roundtable moderated by Simeon A. Warren, we will bring together Ken Follet, Moss Rudley, and Andrea Sevonty to discuss where we came from, where we are, and where we want to go. |
POINTERS IN POINTING Improper repointing can accelerate the deterioration of a historic structure. Learn about these pitfalls and more as we seek to understand the 16 steps to proper repointing. Then you will get to perform some repointing yourself. Learning Objectives
| THE STONE ROSES OF THE WHITE HOUSE Chuck Jones and Dale Lupton will showcase the carved replica double Scottish rose that they produced as part of a White House Historical Association (The WHHA) Symposium in 2018. Both Chuck and Dale carved the rose over a few days as a collaboration project between Historic Environmental Scotland, the National Park Service and the White House Historical Association. This demonstration will cover the steps taken by both to take a detailed survey of the existing rose carving above the North Door of The White House, sourcing the original Aquia Creek sandstone as used by the Scots masons who built the white house in the 1790’s and the working steps to replicate the rose carving in a high relief carving style. Participants will have the chance to work a piece of Aquia Creek stone as used to build the White House. Learning Objectives
| HOLES BY HAND Much is commonly referenced in regard to doing woodwork by hand without power tools, but little focus is applied to traditional stone techniques. This session will show how to split, shape, and make round holes in stone without the use of power tools. Includes free story-telling from fifty years of experience. Learning Objectives
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MASS RULES: Why Traditional Brick Masonry Lasts and Lasts and Survives Sooooo, So Long This session will demonstrate how to construct a three-brick wide wall. Participants will learn how traditional 3 brick thick masonry is constructed, different bonds employed, mortar composition, and why these techniques last sooooo long. Prepare for abundant stories from 37 years of repointing, rebuilding, and consulting. Learning Objectives
| ALONE WITH A STONE: The Thought Processes Involved in Cutting Stone This session introduces the thought processes and practical applications of traditional stone hewing, from the initial drawing to creating templates to hewing architectural mouldings on stone. Attendees will get the chance to participate and learn the possibilities and limitations of working with stone and using traditional tools. There will be a discussion about Scottish stonemasonry conservation principles, comparing the materials found in Scotland and America, and time for questions and answers. Learning Objectives
| CONCRETE: Introduction to Repairs and Patching This hands-on demonstration will show the process to patch and repair different types of historic concrete (exposed aggregate, fluted, formed architectural elements, color matching, texture matching etc.). Attendees are welcome to join in the patching process. Learning Objectives
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TRADITIONAL MASONRY & PLASTER This session will demonstrate traditional lime slaking and its many uses. Participants will learn how to use slaked lime for plasters and mortars, traditional use of natural materials such as animal hair for added strength, and how to slake lime into a pit for future use. Learning Objectives
| MARBLELOUS SCAGLIOLA: An Introduction to Marezzo Scagliola Scagliola is a skilled fine plaster technique to recreate the look of marble and other stones, coming into fashion in 17th century Tuscany. In this demonstration, the Hayles and Howe crew will demonstrate marezzo scagliola–also known as American scagliola. This technique works with pigmented plaster in a liquid state. They’ll demonstrate how to recreate and restore marezzo scagliola in historic buildings. Learning Objectives
| GET PLASTERED: Ornament and Mold Making Plasterwork has been a part of the building trades for nearly 10,000 years, adapting its materials and techniques through the centuries. In this demonstration, the Hayles and Howe crew will show how to make crown moldings and decorative plaster ornaments. Attendees will see how to prepare and execute bench-run molds and use rubber molds to recreate ornaments. Learning Objectives
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carpentry |
ARCHITECTURAL WOOD CARVING: Practical Geometry in Practice John McRitchie will demonstrate how to use practical geometry to lay out wood carving designs. Attendees will learn how to work with wood, understanding how the grain and pattern impact practice. Learning Objectives
| REPRODUCING HISTORIC MOLDINGS: Hollows and What? Preservation carpenters often find the need to reproduce short sections of moldings in the field on-site, with or without access to a full shop. Options include taking the molding to a millwork shop or producing yourself. If you do it yourself, do you have knives that match or do you need to get them custom-made? This is the most logical and practical option if you need long runs, but what do you do if you only need a few feet replicated? The session will show you how to be efficiently creative with tools on-hand to replicate shorter pieces of molding, using a combination of hand and power tools. Learning Objectives
| KNOW YOUR WOOD In this session, Thomas will lead attendees through the process of wood identification–observing its grain, patterns, colors and other attributes–and how these properties guide their usage in historic structures. Learning Objectives
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FINISHING |
I THINK I'M DYEING: Matching Old and New Wood Old buildings age gracefully. The greater the wear and discolor the more we love them. This session will explore the world of manipulating wood to enhance beauty and blend. Getting the right tones and depth is daunting but never impossible. Learn how to use dyes, stains, acids and other colorants to achieve the impossible and never have a bad color day again. Learning Objectives
| COLOR MATCHING AS AN ART FORM The session will demonstrate how to blend old wood and new wood together to create a seamless piece. There will be a discussion of color theory, wiping stains, and touch up repairs in addition to how the color changes depending on lighting and the finish used. Learning Objectives
| CARIBBEAN COVERAGE: Traditional Spanish and Danish, Plaster and Limewash Techniques Dan and Jose will demonstrate on the application and purpose of the historic plaster and limewash process, as learned and experienced in the tropical environment of the Caribbean Island region. Learning Objectives
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METALS |
YOU LOOK STRAPPING TODAY: Traditional Door Hardware Learn how to manipulate iron with forge, hammer, tongs, and anvil to create a strap hinge and other shapes of door hardware, while learning of the lesser-known history of women in the traditional trades. Learning Objectives
| HAMMERING DOWN ON THE METALSMITH MIND Learn about the properties of metal through different techniques and practices – making moldings using a break, restoring cast iron, removing paint from tin using a fire-hydrant. Jeffrey will describe how all types of metals move in their own way and to read those signs as you work with them. Seven processes of architectural blacksmithing How different metals moves and can be manipulated based on specific techniques Cleaning and stripping techniques of painted metals How to 'read' and repair cast iron sculpture and architectural metal forms Learning Objectives
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ROOFING |
WINDOWS AND DOORS |
THE WHOLE SASH AND NOTHING BUT THE SASH: Restoring Window Sashes from Start to Finish In this special session, members of the Window Preservation Alliance will lead attendees through the full restoration process of sashes from the Beatty Cramer House in Frederick, Maryland. Documented and prepped during the window restoration workshop, conference attendees will learn about and get to participate in the full restoration during the full conference. This will include glazing, cutting glass, dutchman repairs, epoxy repairs, and priming and painting with linseed oil paint. The sashes will be restored to be reinstalled after the conference. This is an opportunity for attendees to get hands-on on different steps of wooden sash restoration Learning Objectives
| LINSEED PAINT: How the Past Can Save the Future Why does wood cladding last hundreds of years and suddenly, starting in the mid-twentieth century, begin to rot? Often modern materials and methods of the twentieth century that were meant to improve upon the past, have proved to be detrimental instead. As a part of this modern shift from traditional building materials, many thoughts about linseed oil paint these days are rooted in fundamental misunderstandings and misconceptions about the application and general nature of this time tested, natural, architectural material. Learning Objectives
| WAVY GLASS: When You Know You Know Ian Scott will demonstrate how to measure, cut, and handle glass, while touching on the history of glass-making, types of glass for restoration work, and modern methods of reproducing restoration glass. Attendees will get chances to work with glass and install them on the glazing for the Beatty-Cramer House window sashes. Learning Objectives
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SPECIAL TOPICS |
NO BATTERIES REQUIRED: How to Use a Framing Square An introduction to the 16”x 24” steel rafter, or framing, square examining its tables and practical applications. The steel square as a functional builder’s calculator. Learning Objectives
| PRACTICAL GEOMETRY: Framing With a Compass Come draw! See how Serlio, Palladio, James Gibbs and William Buckland used Practical Geometry. This session will teach about the geometry of historic frames erected in the rural Northeast and compare that geometry with what was used in Virginia, Maryland, and Louisiana. Attendees will practice proportioning a steeple, plan a glass curtain wall without numbers, and generate a complete timber frame from one dimension and one length. This can all be done through the use of daisy wheels, the rule of thirds, the 3/4/5 rectangle for construction and design. You will wonder why they no longer teach this in high school. Compasses, straight edges, and paper will be provided. Bring a pencil! Learning Objectives
| GOT SHOTS? How to avoid crappy photos, and what you can do with good ones. Bring your smartphones! Photos help all of us to communicate to a wider audience the quality of our work. Really good photos show our passion, and sharing them through various media is a low-cost means of advertising and marketing to attract good customers. Your skill in a traditional trade will be enhanced with the skill to show remarkable photos of your work. Tod Bryant taught photography at the New School, in NYC for forty years. Ken Follett has for an equal amount of time wandered around on worksites taking photos. Together, this dynamic duo will show how to shoot a decent photo with what you already carry with you–a smart phone–and how to use phone editing to enhance what you have shot. Learning Objectives
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WHAT IS A HOUSE WITHOUT ITS YARD: Remote Sensing: Looking Under the Ground Without Digging What is a house without its yard? In historic research buildings are inseparable from their surrounding landscapes. In order to fully understand the site you need information from both the building(s) and landscape(s). The best way to accomplish this is through interdisciplinary research with restorationists and archaeologists working along side one another and sharing information. Unfortunately this is rarely practical or even possible for most projects. Consequently, this presentation/demonstration will provide information about maintaining historic landscapes while conducting potentially ground disturbing activities, like restoration (What we call Maintenance Archaeology). This year we will concentrate on remote sensing and how these various techniques can provide information about what lies beneath the ground without disturbing it. Remote sensing techniques displayed and discussed include: metal detecting, soil resistivity, areal photography and photogrammetry and LiDar. Demonstrations of the various techniques are planned but dependent on the limitations and restrictions of the venue. Learning Objectives
| BEYOND HANDS-ON: Take Trades Training to the Next Level What's the recipe for successful trades training and education? Many ingredients go into designing effective lessons to reach all learners. Through this bite-sized introduction to the Beyond Hands-On Instructor Training (BHIT) course, learn about how to expand your career into trades education. Get a taste of the Beyond Hands-On Learning Model--a flexible framework that’s engaging, digestible, welcoming and individualized for learners. Let's take trades training to the next level with this fresh approach! Learning Objectives
| WHERE AM I? WHY DOES THIS PLACE MATTER? Connecting to the site is a foundational - and often forgotten - part of historic trades preservation. As tradespeople, it's easy to dive into the project without first getting grounded where we are. At what cost? The site/resource can become a scenic backdrop to the task at hand. By making time to develop our own "sense of place", we can create context and more meaning for our work. At every historic site, there is the possibility of tapping into the passion and tradition of the tradespeople who came before. During this hands-on, heads-on, hearts-on workshop, we will walk-through some essential theory and then try out several options for getting connected to Haggert Farms. Whatever your trade and wherever your next project takes you, walk away with some new "sense of place" tools to add to your toolbox! Learning Objectives
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DEMONSTRATORS
SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS
The PTN thanks our amazing Sponsors and Exhibitors. IPTW could not happen without their generous support. Interested in joining them? Submit a registration form here.