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Confidence Restored The restoration sector is benefiting from an increase in the number of skilled practitioners by Godfrey Budd he building restoration sector is diverse T and encompasses a vast array of reconstruction types, products and services. Retrofitting the plumbing or wiring, resurfacing a floor, re-insulating a building envelope, repairing the masonry or reviving the pristine look of an historic watch-tower ��� all fall under the rubric of restoration. The variety of activities potentially applicable to restoration might, on first reflection, render the phrase, ���specialist in restoration��� questionable. But, clearly, there are areas within the sector that involve some unique types of skilled work and craftsmanship and specialized knowledge. The good news for owners in Canada who may find themselves requiring restoration products or services is that there are indications that the availability of home-grown specialized skills is better than it used to be, and that, overall, standards are improving, especially for some of the more demanding and high-end projects. For complex work on historic or heritage buildings, using the services of an accredited conservator or curator is a growing trend, says Sam Trigila, president of Clifford Masonry Limited. While there are several dozen conservators listed on the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators (CAPC) bilingual website, most specialize in areas other than historical buildings. One is a specialist in architectural finishes and murals, but none on the site is listed as an architectural conservator. Nonetheless, a trend to hiring conservators, who might work closely with an architect on heritage projects and advise on methods and materials, is growing in Canada, says Trigila. He points out that his company has a fulltime conservator. Also, with the help of conferences, association meetings and other mecha- nisms, people involved in restoration work are today more inclined to share knowledge than they were in the past. ���If we don���t take the opportunity to develop the best through sharing, the whole sector loses, as well as our historic buildings,��� Trigila says. For older heritage buildings, the work of skilled masons often has a critical role. Fortunately for high-profile historical building restoration projects, both the number of training programs and colleges for practitioners of this venerable trade has mushroomed since the early 1990s. Trigila estimates that 20 years ago there were ���maybe two training centres in Ontario,��� whereas, today, the province has about a dozen, largely thanks to the growth in unionbased training centres in recent years. The conservator at Clifford is a relatively rare type, at least in some parts; he���s a hands-on guy with academic laurels. Armed only with his trade certification and about a dozen years of masonry work under his belt, Donovan Pauly was admitted to a masters degree program at Bournemouth Project: 165 Dundas Street West, Mississauga, ON Applicator: Arista Building Contractors Limited General Contractor: Brook Restoration Engineer Firm: Best Consultants Limited Owner: Callan Property Management EIFS System: Durex�� EW-17 Select The photo to the right and above show the final results of the Durex�� EIFS System. It was specifically engineered by Durabond���s technical staff to accommodate the harsh ridges in the deteriorating precast concrete. (���Before��� shot to the far right.) Restoration Products p36-41RestorationProd.indd 37 february 2013��� ��� /37 13-01-22 3:18 PM

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