historic renovations

Historic Renovations in Louisiana

There’s something incredibly special and exciting about restoring a historic home to its former beauty. New Orleans is home to some of the most gorgeous historic structures in the U.S.  At MLM Incorporated, our historic renovations team helps transform aged buildings in our city back to the architectural wonders that they once were.

We know how to balance modernization and historical integrity, as well as tackling all of the challenges that lie beneath the surface of older buildings. At MLM, we have managed major citywide historic home renovation projects that included the replacement of the entire mechanical and electrical infrastructures of the buildings without disturbing their original facades. From commercial buildings to residential home renovations, here’s how we can help with your next project.

Honoring New Orleans’s Historic Heritage

You might be looking to bring a historic beauty back to life with a full, basement-to-rafter remodel, or you might just need to update one or two aspects of your home to make it safer, more beautiful, or better suited to your family’s needs.

Depending on your initial plans, some areas that your historic remodel might focus on include:

  • Electrical and plumbing systems, especially to bring them up to code
  • Flooring
  • Layout
  • Lighting (interior and exterior)
  • Interior finishes
  • Kitchens and baths
  • Exterior upgrades

Take a look at MLM Incorporated’s photo gallery of beautiful renovations to find your inspiration.

Historic Home Renovation Projects

Factors for A Successful Historic Renovation

Residents of New Orleans are extremely proud of their city’s architectural heritage and strive to preserve its integrity at all costs. This is a wonderful thing as New Orleans is one of the most historic cities in the United States. Thanks to our historic preservation legislation, our city continues to carry on the legacy of our ancestors.

Even with guidance from the past and tools in the present, though, successful historic renovations can be very complicated. It pays to work with a contractor well-versed in historic remodels, like MLM, as they’ll handle many of the following steps for you.

Generally, the first step to a historic remodel is to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC). This ensures that the property is currently designated as historic and in what capacity. These guidelines clearly outline which historical characteristics must be preserved to maintain the integrity of the surrounding neighborhood.

This is just the first step, but it’s a crucial one. Without this certificate, homeowners may be issued a “stop work” order that can result in costly delays to historic remodels. You don’t need a certificate to paint the master bedroom or change a bathroom faucet, but when you do need one for larger projects, work cannot start without it.

Further, while there are restrictions on certain types of finishes and architectural details, new materials are available that can meet these historic guidelines but still provide greater longevity to your historic renovations. In Louisiana’s hot and humid climate, building materials can warp and deteriorate quickly, or they may not provide hurricane or flood protection.

Because of factors like these, the most important decision you’ll make—and the key to your successful historic renovation—is working with a contractor from the very beginning. Selecting one of the top Louisiana remodeling contractors can be the difference between a project that quickly goes out of scope and one that is in-budget and on time.

How We Help at MLM Incorporated

During a historic remodeling project, MLM Incorporated works with the homeowner and the city to make the historic renovations process as smooth as possible. With years of experience and multiple large-scale historic renovations, we know what it takes to deliver your project beautifully, on time and on budget.

So, what does that look like?

Expert historical knowledge

Do you know the origin of that clawfoot tub? Or the history behind the wrought iron in so much of historic New Orleans architecture? Your house may not be able to talk, but it certainly tells a story. We can help translate that story, ensuring the dignity and integrity of your historic home is kept intact. When it comes to these renovations, the smallest details matter.

Code compliance with Louisiana building codes

Historic or not, all houses and remodels must follow local building codes. MLM Incorporated knows how to translate these sometimes-complicated codes into beautiful home renovations. Code violations on historic renovations especially can cause costly delays and heartache. We take care of all code compliance work, so you don’t have to.

Demolition or major layout changes

MLM Incorporated can help you reimagine your entire space, offering a full-service demolition service that makes it possible for you to have the home layout of your dreams. We can even help you decide what to keep and what to update.

Updating systems

Maybe you are looking to completely replace your crumbling pipes or bring your mid-century electrical system into the 21st century. We offer licensed work on all major systems in your historic home, including electric, plumbing, and HVAC.

Material selection and finishes

From siding to shutters to the color of your porch ceiling, we help you choose the best materials and finishes on the inside and outside of your home.

Custom work

You live in a historic home, and you know that many of your historic replacement materials (e.g., windows) aren’t necessarily easy to come by. MLM Incorporated offers custom work that fits each individual home, in keeping with both the history of the house and the needs of our client.

Our Historic Renovation Approach

Some homeowners already have a complete idea of what they want—they have a vision and are just looking for a skilled and experienced contractor to realize it. Other clients know they want to update their historic home but need help with the design aspect of their project. They aren’t sure what will work best with their house, their neighborhood, their needs, and their own taste.

In either case, our creative design professionals can help you formalize a vision for your historic renovation, from the ground up.

Once your design is in place, we’ll help you set a budget and develop a timeframe for construction. We’ll work quickly to pull permits as soon as possible, as nothing can get started without permissions (especially true of historic renovations). Once permits are in place, your renovations can begin!

As the project progresses, our team will send regular updates on its progress. Especially for larger projects where you are not living in the home, it can be reassuring to see pictures and follow the timeline of the renovation. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

Work with Historic Remodeling Contractors In New Orleans

At MLM Incorporated, we know that a historic home renovation can be daunting. From the dust and inconvenience, or time away from your home for larger projects, you want the work done right by a professional, qualified Louisiana remodeling contractor. We know it’s a big decision. Our goal is to plan well and do the job right, on time and on budget.

And our goal is being recognized across our community. Since 2015, MLM Incorporated has been voted Best of Houzz, taking the Best of Home Award in 2015 and 2017. With an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List Super Service Award for Residential & Commercial Building Contractor, it’s clear we care about our clients and the work we do for them. We are locally owned and operated, in business since 2006, and proud to be part of the New Orleans metropolitan area community.

MLM Incorporated’s knowledge, experience, and attention to detail are key factors in our many successful historic renovations. We want you to have a beautiful historic renovation and home you’ll enjoy for generations to come.

We would love to discuss all of our services with you, including financing options. When you are ready to get started on your historic renovation, get in touch today to request an estimate.

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