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Hancock Architecture Addresses Main Street Building Design

Hancock Architecture has completed numerous main street facade designs for the 10 downtown communities of Beaver County and has become a leader in downtown design issues. The following articles were published in the Town Center Associates’ 2005 quarterly newsletters.

Open for Business

Your storefront acts as your business’ most visible and potentially valuable calling card. A properly maintained storefront will correctly frame and display your goods and services, and act in concert with other storefronts to establish a cohesive shopping district to the benefit of all businesses in the community. Take a look at your storefront - is it portraying a good impression for your business? Or does it need some work? If so, where do you begin? Through this upcoming series of articles, you will get a glimpse of how to successfully transform the front of your building into a unique facade which shows potential customers you are definitely open for business!

Renovation Budgets that Work

Making an investment in your storefront can create a strong visual image to potential customers. But how much will it cost to successfully tranform the front of your building into a unique facade?

Start by developing a budget. Take a close look at your building. If you notice damaged or cracked brick, and are looking to replace the storefront framing and glass, doors, windows, cornices, and decorative carpentry of the facade, expect the costs to be $30,000 or more. Many older but otherwise sound facades however can be successfully restored with the addition of new signage, painting and perhaps awnings. Expect the costs for this type of work to be in the $2,500 - $10,000 range. If you building is on a corner lot, has multiple storefronts, or has exposed side walls, make sure to add these costs to your budget as well.

Fortunately, there are several resources available to help you develop a budget and defray the expense of renovating your facade. Your local Business District Authority will have all the information you’ll need to apply for grants (currently up to $20,000/address in some areas), low interest loans available from local lenders, and federal 10% - 20% tax credits. A Registered Architect, experienced with Main Street Design, will also be able to assist you in developing an attractive storefront design for your business without "breaking the bank". In fact, the fees for such services may be fully refundable through the local grant program offered by your Business District Authority.

Appropriate Facade Renovation Design

Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to renovate your main street building facade! Before you start the actual construction however, it is important to have an understanding of your building’s original design and to develop a plan for what you want to accomplish with your renovations.

A typical storefront facade built during the late 1800’s to early 1900’s is arranged in concert with the facade of the upper floors through a series of architectural bays. The pleasing rhythm and carefully considered proportions of the original storefront and bays may be difficult to recognize however if your building underwent "modernization". Newer and often times inappropriate materials such as aluminum siding or sheeting, vinyl siding, stucco, plywood, etc. may have been used in past renovations and now obsure your building’s interesting architectural details and character. A good strategy if you suspect this is the case is to remove the "newer" materials to see what is underneath. Many times these "newer" materials were hastily added and the beautiful, original facade lies intact just beneath! Grant money is usually available for renovations which are sympathetic to the original historic design, and simple restoration is often times the best and most economical design solution.

Once you have made the decision to restore your facade, consider cleaning and spot-pointing the brick if necessary (this is best left to professionals) and repainting the original architectural woodwork. Most national brand paint companies can provide assistance in the selection of historic colors and appropriate painting materials. Original window and door frames should be left intact but you may wish to replace the sashes and doors to take advantage of the convenience and energy savings of the newer products. Wood is the best choice followed by aluminum. Avoid vinyl windows because they do not perform well in the larger sizes typical of many storefront buildings. Also, resist the urge to use tinted glass in your storefront. It will significantly reduce the visibility of times in your display window. Signage should be kept simple and appropriatetly located on the signboard above the display window.

Most renovations can be done in this manner and result in very satisfactory results. If your facade is in need of significantly more complex work which may include structural changes, it is best to consult a licensed design professional who specializes in historic main street architecture.

How to Choose the Right Contractor

You’ve decided to renovate your main street facade and have developed a plan for what you want to accomplish. Selecting a qualified Contractor to perform the work is the next and one of the most important steps towards a successful project.

Your project may be limited in scope and you may wish to be your own General Contractor. If this sounds like you, make an honest appraisal of your abilities and time available to dedicate to your project. Things will go much smoother if you have a basic knowledge of storefront construction, are able to effectively organize the work, and have the time (at least twice the amount you think it will take) to direct the various trades and vendors.

If your project is more involved and you are working with an Architect, he or she should provide you with a scope of work, cost estimates, and bid forms which you can use to obtain and evaluate bids from qualified contractors. While price is always important, also consider a contractor’s experience and their availability to work within your schedule. Asking for references and looking at similar projects is also helpful. The Contractor should be experienced in renovations of older buildings and be able to work from architectural plans if required. Additionally, if you are utilizing grant money for the facade renovation, he must be willing to work within the Facade Improvement Guidelines.

Experience, availability, and price should factor equally when choosing a Contractor. Doing so will help assure a successful project and a good return on your investment.