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Sam Penrod ReportingWe're seeing more and more old buildings across the country and here in Utah being restored instead of torn down, but doing this restoration work requires the knowledge of how the buildings were built.
Utah is rich in many old homes and buildings built by the early settlers, but craftsmen with experience in restoring these old buildings are in short supply. We found there is a program here in Utah trying to keep these old fashioned building skills alive.
Students in this program at Snow College in Ephraim are getting hands-on experience in blacksmithing. There is growing demand for the old traditional building skills like these, not only for restoring historic buildings, but in new construction.
Russ Mendenhall, Director, Traditional Building Skills Institute: "These students can learn blacksmithing, woodcarving. What are people asking for in their new homes? The old traditional look, the old traditional feel."
While construction methods have dramatically improved over the decades, people with little experience in restoration work often make mistakes.
Russ Mendenhall, Director, Traditional Building Skills Institute: "If we go to the hardware store and buy a bag of masonry cement, and repoint that, the mortar is stronger than the stone and what's going to happen is it's going to break down."
The Traditional Building Skills Institute has been around for a few years now. It's one of just a few places in the Western US where these methods are taught. From rockwork to the old fashioned plaster walls.
Russ Mendenhall, Director, Traditional Building Skills Institute: "It's lost basically and no one is doing it and it's too costly so they just tear it out and put sheetrock in. The quality and endurance of an old plaster wall is far superior than sheetrock ever thought of being."
It's a new way of thinking, going back to the old way, which is now considered an art form. It also is providing new opportunities for students interested in construction.
Russ Mendenhall, Director, Traditional Building Skills Institute: "We've really in a lot of ways lost a lot of great knowledge that we hope we can start to bring back and make our buildings better."
Snow College actually offers a two year degree in traditional building skills. Three day workshops are also offered to anyone else who is interested.
