Everything old needn't be new again.

Historic or older homes may be full of charm and character, but they might have deteriorating windows or wood panelling that has seen better days.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean a trip to a big-box home-reno store to install the latest in modern windows or slapping up some drywall for a quick fix.

There's a better way - through restoration.

Jack Dagley, Business Edge
City of Edmonton heritage planner David Holdsworth, right, Peter Caron of The Housewright and Johanne Yakula of From Times Past say it's important to ask the right questions when renovating.

The City of Edmonton has gathered a number of specialists under the banner of the This Old Edmonton House public seminar series.

The 2006 edition began on Feb. 27 and ends on April 22. There are 12 different seminars, each costing $20 to attend.

An expert will lead each seminar.

The goal, according to City of Edmonton heritage planner David Holdsworth, is to provide a series of classes about owning, maintaining and restoring a historic home.

"The purpose of these seminars is to arm owners of heritage homes with enough knowledge to ask appropriate questions when it comes to appropriate renovations," says Holdsworth. "Lots of people are sold on the newest and latest in terms of windows and mechanical systems (when it comes to fixing up old homes), but there are alternative options.

"Everybody will say, 'I need to buy new PVC windows,' but you can keep the old ones if they're properly restored."

Holdsworth says the program has been in existence for awhile, but was reinvigorated about four years ago and has since been very popular. "Most of them (the seminars) have sold out," he says.

That success is due in part to a growing interest in preserving old houses, including numerous television shows dedicated to home renovations. Also, people are more aware that there are options available to them, adds Holdsworth.

Past program participants have included students, people looking to buy an older home, and even tradespeople and real estate agents who want to learn more about these homes to help themselves in their line of work.

For Peter Caron, owner of The Housewright and a specialist in historic buildings built between 1790 and 1930, the courses are about getting people to widen their scope of thinking.

"By and large, most people didn't know that they had a choice (for fixing problems in older houses.) Many (salespeople) tell them it would be cheaper to buy new or say that nobody does that work anymore," says Caron, who will be teaching four of the seminars this year and co-presenting on a fifth.

His topics include windows and doors, plastering and walls, and the House Doctor, where he takes a small group through a historic house and evaluates it for potential problems.

"Definitely, it (the seminars) are influencing people in the choices they make. Even if they're doing modern interventions in their old houses they're doing it in a sensitive way. If somebody decides to replace their windows ... instead of buying whatever is available off the rack, they might now buy one with three panes of glass in the same style and same pattern as the original," says Caron.

Meanwhile, repairing the original material doesn't necessarily mean a more expensive renovation.

"There are techniques and upgrades available where they can maintain the original character and material of their houses. It all depends on the specific job. It can range from being cheaper to a comparable cost to more expensive, but there are certainly people out there who are willing to pay a little more to maintain the historic material and character of their houses," says Caron.

While Caron says the city can't discriminate by recommending specific contractors, it will try to point people in the right direction so they can find some help.

Johanne Yakula, a heritage home consultant and owner of the From Times Past antique and home decor shop in Edmonton, says paying attention to detail is also important if homeowners want their home to accurately represent the period in which it was built.

"There's a very big difference between a one-inch wooden blind and a two-inch wooden blind in terms of authenticity. Unless you understand that it was typical 100 years ago, when the (restoration) job is done, it won't feel right because you didn't understand the historical context," says Yakula, whose 2006 courses include historic window treatments and historic wall coverings.

"But I also send a message that the house has to reflect who you are. It's not a matter of recreating a museum room but rather to incorporate your own personality with the sensitivity of the past," she adds.

One thing that course registrants might also find interesting is that some not-so-old homes could be added to the city's historic register if their owners are interested.

"At the moment it's pre-1947, but we're shifting that date. Anything older than 50 years with significant or good architectural examples, or some historical association with someone or some event, could be considered," says Holdsworth, emphasizing though that taking part in the courses and adding a house to the register are two separate things.

Most seminars for This Old Edmonton House take place at Fort Edmonton Park. For registration information, please contact Fort Edmonton Park Registration at 780-496-2925. Additional information can be obtained by contacting David Holdsworth at 780-496-5281 or david.holdsworth@edmonton.ca Details and dates on the seminar topics are also available on the city's website at www.edmonton.ca and can be found by searching for "This Old Edmonton House."

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Class sizes are generally between 20 and 25 people.

(Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)