Restoration is the process of returning a historic building to a known earlier state. It is different from preservation, which maintains the building as it is. Restoration removes later additions, repairs damaged features, and reconstructs missing elements based on historical evidence. The goal is accuracy, not interpretation.

Restoration requires research. Architects, historians, and conservators study photographs, drawings, documents, and physical evidence. Paint analysis reveals original colors. Mortar analysis reveals original mixes. Sometimes a single photograph or letter provides the only clue to a lost detail.

The work is painstaking. Matching historic brick or stone may require finding salvaged material or having new pieces custom-made. Reconstructing a cornice or window may require traditional craft skills that are in short supply. The budget is often uncertain because the extent of the work is not known until walls are opened.

Restoration is not always the right approach. Sometimes preserving the building's evolution is more honest than restoring it to a single moment. The choice depends on the building, its history, and the values of the community.