The Building Doctor Program

The Building Doctor is a two-day program that helps old home and buildings owners become even better stewards of their properties. It consists of an evening seminar and "house call" site visits the following morning.

Day One: includes a two-hour long evening seminar about old buildings and their challenges: cracked and stained plaster, wet basements, crumbing masonry, stuck or inoperable windows and doors, and drainage (or lack thereof) - among other maladies. The Building Doctors explain how you can meet these and other issues head on, while preserving your building's historic character. You'll discover tried and true ways to preserve and update your old building - and learn what not to do.

Those registering in advance (and attending) the evening seminar will receive a ​Building Doctor booklet, a thick compilation of useful information that goes into detail about topics covered during the evening seminar. Walk-ins will receive copies if supplies last (so register early instead!)

Day Two: the Building Doctors make morning "house calls."  They tour ailing buildings, examining conditions, and prescribing cures. The Doctors visit all kinds of structures: homes, downtown storefronts, churches, factories, schools, offices, barns, and even mausoleums. Since the Doctors are historic preservation professionals, the building must be old - built before 1960.

While the Doctors "do" windows (and roofs, and basements, and walls), they are not structural engineers, electrical, HVAC, other building systems experts - but will recommend that you contact one if warranted.

House calls are also free and must be requested when registering for a Building Doctor Clinic - first come, first served. You must attend the prior evening's seminar to qualify for a house call. You'll be contacted in advance of the Clinic to set up an appointment.

So that the Doctors spend more time examining buildings than driving to them, they must be within a five-mile radius of your city or village's center.

House calls begin at 8:00 or 9:00 AM and end by 12 noon or 1:00 PM. House Calls are 50 minutes in duration and begin on the hour (9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, Noon, 1:00 PM, for example).  Visits are scheduled consecutively, one following immediately after the other and with no gaps in the schedule.

The 2024 Building Doctor Season Is Almost Complete—But There's Still Time!

Our final clinic of the year will be held in Wilmington on November 7-8, and registration is still open. Don't miss your chance to receive expert guidance on preserving your historic building.

We’d also like to extend a big thank you to our 2024 hosts: Richfield, Grandview Heights, and Wilmington. Your support has made this year’s Building Doctor clinics a success!

Be sure to check back here for news and updates about the 2025 Building Doctor season. We look forward to continuing our work in helping preserve Ohio’s historic buildings!


Co-sponsor a Building Doctor Clinic

Do old-building owners in your community have questions about how to maintain their historic properties? Consider co-sponsoring a Building Doctor clinic to help them find the answers. State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Building Doctor Clinics are now being scheduled for the coming season, typically from April through October each year.

If your community is interested in co-sponsoring a Building Doctor Clinic and would like additional information about the program and the costs associated, please call 614.298.2000.

Marketing Materials for Co-Sponsors

Thank you for being a sponsor for one of this year’s Building Doctor Clinics. To help you promote the clinic in your community, we’ve developed some resources for your use. We are looking forward to working with you on your Building Doctor Clinic.

Below are two different size posters in various colors you can use to let your community know about the upcoming clinic. Print, fill in the blanks and display the posters at your location and that of any other clinic partners, as well as at area libraries, grocery stores, coffee shops and recreation centers.

Save the Date

  1. Blue
  2. Green
  3. Orange
  4. Purple
  5. Yellow
                 

11x17 Posters

  1. Blue
  2. Green
  3. Orange
  4. Purple
  5. Yellow

Graphics

Here are two different size Building Doctor graphics that can be used on your web site, Facebook or Twitter pages to guide registrants to this building doctor page. Click on the graphic below, that you wish to use, then right click To download a graphic, click on the you wish to use below, right click the image and choose "save image as" and save to your device.

Contact Us

Location Information

800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, OH 43211
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