Supporting Burlington's Heritage

General Heritage Conservation/Enhancement Projects

• Any work which conserves or enhances heritage features specified in the designation bylaw
  • Short-term routine maintenance is not eligible:
    • minor repairs, such as repairing a broken step or a broken window,
    • painting (other than as specified),
    • repair of non-original siding or roofing materials or
    • landscaping

Exterior Heritage Conservation/Enhancement Projects

• Conservation of your property’s important heritage features is eligible. This might include the conservation or restoration of:
  • doors
  • windows
  • verandas
  • cupolas
  • chimneys
  • bargeboard or other decorative trim
    • any other features important to the overall composition of the structure as specified in the designation bylaw
    • fences and outbuildings if specifically referred to in the designation bylaw
• This does not include:
  • work on modern additions
  • sheds or outbuildings not specifically referred to in the designation bylaw
    • modern doors and windows unless they are replicas of the original in like materials
  • new storm or screen doors and windows
  • chimney repairs other than the restoration of a significant chimney
    • repair of eavestrough unless it is significant to the heritage of the structure
• Restoration of heritage features where the original form and materials can be clearly determined from documentary evidence. This might cover any of the features included above
• Restoration of storefronts which have been altered or replaced where there is documentary evidence such as historic photographs clearly showing the feature(s) to be restored
  • Conservation or restoration of original siding and roofing materials might include:
    • Necessary repair and replacement of wood clapboard or board and batten,
    • Repair and repointing of masonry buildings, stucco repair, repair or replacement of original roofing materials
    • Removal of modern material such as aluminum siding, asphalt shingles, etc. and replacement with the original documented material
  • This does not include repairs to or renewal of modern materials
  • Cleaning of masonry buildings may be eligible if it is necessary for the building’s preservation
    • Under no circumstances will grants be approved for sandblasting 

Painting Heritage Conservation/Enhancement Projects

• You may apply once per property for exterior painting in its documented original colours. After this initial loan, maintenance will be your responsibility
• Colours must be documented for the building or be proven to have been a common colour in the area

Structural Heritage Conservation/Enhancement Projects

• Work necessary to restore the building to structural soundness
• Work includes the correction of serious structural faults which threaten the building's survival, but does not include routine maintenance
• Structural work needed during a modern renovation is not included. For example, a new supporting beam over the opening for a patio door is not included.

Interior Heritage Conservation/Enhancement Projects

• The conservation of features specifically referred to in the designation bylaw are eligible include:
  • woodwork,
  • plaster work,
  • wall or
  • ceiling murals, etc.
• New services such as electrical, plumbing, heating and insulation are not eligible

Properties Designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act

• Improvements to your property as specified in the district plan guidelines
  • If the property is identified in the plan as being of specific heritage value, the definition of an eligible project for a property designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act may apply
  • For other properties within the district, an eligible project is any work for the property as specified in the district plan guidelines
• Routine maintenance is not eligible

Notes on Project Eligibility

The Conservation or Renewal of Original Roofing and Siding Materials

• Conservation or renewal of original roofing and siding materials is only for historical materials
  • Wooden shingles, shakes, board roofing, metal roofing made of copper, zinc, tin or terneplate, and roofing of clay tile and slate
  • Heritage Grant Program loans and grants are to help offset the extra costs associated with the now scarce materials and skills required for the preservation of heritage properties
  • Materials such as standard asphalt shingle, built-up roofing and other "modern" readily available roofing types are not eligible

Storm and Screen Windows

• Repair, conservation or reconstruction of wooden storm or screen windows if there is documented historical evidence of the use of storm windows
  • Must be a replica of the original in both style and material
• Storm windows using materials such as lexan, plexiglass, aluminum or extruded metal are not eligible

Painting of the Exterior in Documented Historic Colours

• Limit of one (1) application per property
• Colours may be chosen based on:
  • paint analysis,
    • a period colour scheme, or
    • local historic paint styles
• Paint analysis is performed using paint chip samples under a microscope or magnifying glass
  • Several chips should be taken from different areas of the house for the best results or
  • sanding of the paint surface in a circular motion, revealing the layers of paint which can be examined through a magnifying glass
• Period style publications are a good reference for the selection of appropriate paint colours for historic buildings.
• Use historic paint colour schemes which were common to the municipality if the methods above cannot be used.

Stained Glass

• Conservation and repair of stained glass
  • Repair of lead or copper cames and wooden frames or the restoration of the stained-glass lights
  • Ineligible projects:
    • installation of lexan,
    • plexiglass or other synthetic materials to protect stained glass windows, such as new storm windows

Eavestroughing

• Restoration of gutters and downpipes only where these items are a significant heritage feature of the building, for example:
  • Gutters and downpipes of now rare but long-lasting materials such as copper and lead
  • Gutters and downpipes which have decorative elements - often found at the "storm heads" or at the metal straps
  • Gutters which are built into the building cornice
• Modern materials, such as plastic, vinyl, aluminum and galvanized metal are not eligible.

Stucco

• Restoration of stucco where this is known to have been the historic exterior finish for the building
• Stucco work must replicate the original or historic rendering for the building in colour and texture. For example, a structure originally finished in a "roughcast" texture and yellow colour should be restored to this finish.

Bridges

• Designated conservation and repair of bridges.
• Repairs needed to restore the structural integrity of the bridge or conservation of its decorative elements are considered eligible project types.
• Examples include repairs to: Railings, newel posts, trusses, arches, abutments or piers executed in the original materials.

Cemeteries

• Restore or conserve significant heritage features of the property
• Eligible work includes:
  • Conservation of grave markers, tombs, mausolea, dead houses, significant stone walls, wrought iron gates and fences which are part of the original design
  • Restoration of elements of the original landscape plan may be eligible if there is documentary evidence
  • Significant features should be cited in the designation bylaw
  • Routine maintenance, such as grass cutting, tree pruning, etc. is not eligible
• The Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) must be notified prior to approval of proposal for cemetery restoration