Historic Restoration & Preservation in Tampa Bay

Yes, Florida Construction Specialists has extensive experience in historic restoration and works in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation. We coordinate with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and local historic preservation boards.

Yes, we regularly coordinate with the Florida Division of Historical Resources and local historic preservation boards to ensure our restoration work meets all applicable standards and maintains historic tax credit eligibility when applicable.

Historic restoration requires specialized knowledge of period construction techniques, materials, and architectural details. It involves preserving original character while meeting modern building codes. We balance authenticity with functionality, often using traditional methods alongside modern solutions.

We prioritize preservation over replacement whenever possible. Our team is skilled in restoring original materials including historic masonry, woodwork, metalwork, and decorative elements. When replacement is necessary, we source or fabricate period-appropriate materials.

Absolutely. A key part of successful historic restoration is sensitively integrating modern systems—HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and technology—while preserving historic character. We design these updates to be minimally invasive and reversible where possible.

We've completed projects throughout Tampa Bay's historic districts including Ybor City's National Historic Landmark District (including Barrio Latino Commission compliance), Hyde Park, Seminole Heights, Old Northeast St. Petersburg, and historic downtown areas in multiple cities. We also have experience with federal historic facilities like Bay Pines Veterans Hospital.

Yes, we assist property owners in navigating historic tax credit programs including the federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit and Florida's historic preservation incentives. We ensure construction work meets the documentation and methodology requirements for tax credit qualification.

Balancing current building codes with preservation requirements is one of the most challenging aspects of historic restoration. We work closely with building officials, historic preservation boards, and architects to find solutions that satisfy both safety requirements and preservation standards—often using alternative compliance methods approved under Florida Building Code provisions for historic buildings.

Yes, we specialize in disaster recovery for historic properties. This requires particular expertise to ensure emergency repairs and restoration work don't inadvertently damage historic character or jeopardize tax credit eligibility. Our 43+ years of combined insurance and construction experience is particularly valuable for historic property claims.

Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) requirements vary by jurisdiction, but generally involve submitting detailed plans showing proposed work, materials, and methods to a local historic preservation board. We prepare comprehensive COA applications and attend board meetings to present projects. Our experience with these boards helps navigate the approval process efficiently.