Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Partner for Historic Building Restoration in Maine
Since 1975, Restoration Resources has specialized in restoring and preserving 18th and early 19th-century buildings across Maine. Our team brings over 160 combined years of experience to every project, offering comprehensive services ranging from structural repair to period kitchen design. Based in Midcoast Maine, we serve communities from Portland to Belfast, prioritizing craftsmanship, historical integrity, and client collaboration. Our approach emphasizes careful planning, minimal intervention, and sustainable practices to ensure buildings retain their character while meeting modern needs.We provide free phone consultations and fee-based on-site assessments, backed by a commitment to quality workmanship and community heritage preservation. Our founder, Les Fossel, has spent 48 years establishing expertise in historic architecture, contributing to our reputation as trusted specialists in old house restoration.
Services
Exterior Restoration
Interior Restoration
Structural Repair
Fine Carpentry
Period Kitchens
Building Relocation
Antique Hardware
Historic Consultations
Cost Estimates
Educational Workshops
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- We have 48 years of experience in historic building restoration.
- Our team combines 160+ years of collective expertise in preservation.
- We prioritize minimal changes to maintain historical integrity.
- We offer free phone consultations and detailed on-site assessments.
- We guarantee workmanship against defects for client satisfaction.
What people say
Fantastic job
Expertly preserved
200 years indistinguishable
Services
Exterior Restoration
We specialize in maintaining and replacing external components like roofs, siding, and windows using period-appropriate materials and techniques. Our team ensures structural integrity while preserving historical aesthetics through meticulous attention to architectural details. Services include cornice repair, entryway restoration, and weatherproofing solutions tailored to 18th-19th century buildings.
Interior Restoration
Our experts restore period interiors including staircases, plasterwork, and decorative woodwork while integrating modern functionality. We employ traditional methods to repair fireplaces, paneling, and hardware, ensuring spaces maintain their historical character. Custom solutions address unique challenges like adapting old structures for contemporary use without compromising authenticity.
Structural Repair
We address critical structural issues including timber framing repair, foundation stabilization, and roof reinforcement. Our approach combines modern engineering with historic preservation standards to resolve problems like sagging floors or listing walls. Services ensure long-term stability while maintaining original construction characteristics through careful material selection and traditional techniques.
Building Relocation
Our team specializes in dismantling, transporting, and reconstructing historic buildings with precision. We carefully document and preserve architectural components during relocation, ensuring accurate reassembly. This service includes structural reinforcement, permit acquisition, and coordination with local authorities to maintain historical integrity throughout the moving process.
Historic Consultations
We provide expert guidance on restoration planning, cost estimation, and regulatory compliance for historic properties. Services include building inspections, research documentation, and referrals to preservation-sensitive professionals. Our consultations help clients prioritize projects while balancing historical accuracy with practical considerations through decades of accumulated knowledge and experience.
People
Les Fossel
Founder
With 48 years of experience, Les Fossel established Restoration Resources in 1975. He specializes in 18th-19th century architecture, contributing to numerous publications and educational programs. His expertise in historic preservation combines practical restoration skills with deep historical knowledge to guide complex projects.
Questions
What services do you offer for historic buildings?
We provide exterior/interior restoration, structural repair, period kitchen design, building relocation, historic consultations, and educational workshops for 18th-19th century structures.
How do you balance preservation with modern needs?
Our approach prioritizes minimal intervention while addressing structural requirements. We integrate traditional techniques with modern solutions to maintain historical integrity while ensuring functional spaces meet current standards.
Do you work outside Midcoast Maine?
While based in Alna, we serve areas from Portland to Belfast. For properties beyond our service area, we can recommend preservation-sensitive professionals across Maine and beyond.
How are project costs estimated?
We provide free initial consultations and detailed cost estimates after site assessments. Estimates include materials, timelines, permits, and labor costs with transparent billing every two weeks during projects.
Are your services guaranteed?
Yes, we guarantee all workmanship against defects. Our team will repair any issues at no additional cost, ensuring client satisfaction with both process and final results.
How do you handle emergency repairs?
We prioritize urgent structural issues and dangerous conditions. Our team responds promptly to stabilize buildings while maintaining historical preservation standards during emergency interventions.
