Arts and Crafts Grilles, Foundation Vent Covers, Louis XIV Grilles, Magnetic Return AIr Filter Grille, Radiator Covers, Recessed Lighting, Return Air Filter Grilles, Speaker Grilles
Historic Preservation – Historic Reproduction Grilles
Historic Preservation – Historic Reproduction Grilles
If you own a historic building in the “National Register of Historic Places” you are considered the caretaker of a National Treasure. Donating the facade of your home to the Trust for Historic Preservation will provide generous tax credits and the designated historic plaque as shown below.
In exchange for the tax credits and historic recognition, you are expected to follow the Historic Preservation procedures exactly as outlined by the General Services Administration of the United States Government.
Since practically all historic structures were built before forced air heating and air conditioning, the GSA is very specific about how to add a new HVAC system or update an old one. In general, they require that you install a new HVAC system that can later be removed from the building without scaring the historic aspects of the building. To quote GSA, “when possible, install new systems that are reversible (removeable), reuse existing holes where possible”, and “use existing interstitial spaces to conceal systems”. Duct work should be “concealed as much as possible, but DO NOT install suspended ceilings to do so.”
Historic Reproduction Grilles for Historic Preservation
As for grilles, the GSA procedures specify to “reuse original grilles where possible” or “specify new grilles to match the original as closely as possible, in material and pattern.” This used to be very difficult because, most Colonial, Federal and Antebellum buildings used fireplaces in every room. These homes had no grilles in their original design. Historic buildings were retrofitted with heating and air conditioning in the 1950’s and early 60’s, before the National Historic Preservation Act was passed in 1966. Therefore, it is difficult to tell if an old grille found in a historic building was installed when it was built or a hundred years later.
History of Historic Reproduction Grille
We were contacted in 2006 by the owner of a historic property North of Baltimore, Maryland to duplicate the handsome grille shown below. The house was originally built around 1870 by A.S. Abell, the founder of The Baltimore Sun Newspaper, for a country house. In the 1950s a grade school was attached to the house. The house was used for the administration of the school. The Builder/Developer demolished the grade school and was restoring the historic home. He wanted us to duplicate the handsome master that was in the house and several other small sizes for the new HVAC system.
The name of the grille manufacturer was marked on the back of the grille, Tuttle and Bailey. They manufactured these grilles in Brooklyn, New York from 1865-1922.
Today Tuttle and Bailey, The First Name in Air Distribution, manufactures steel louvered HVAC grilles and registers.
Historic Reproduction Grilles Made in USA
Beaux-Arts Classic Products manufactures classic home improvement products in Salisbury, Maryland. We specialize in combining classic designs with today’s technology to create home improvement products which can be used in historic preservation. Our replicas of historic grilles are made to fit modern HVAC grille standards. We sell historic reproduction grilles to help old buildings retain the integrity of their original design. We actually sell more grilles to traditional style buildings that want to look historic. We have supplied historic reproduction grilles for historic homes, restaurants, hotels and commercial buildings. Our decorative line of HVAC grilles often transcend their historical significance. They are used in new trendy projects such as New York night clubs, restaurants , movies and TV Shows. The standard white pressed metal louvered grilles just don’t look right in certain interiors.
Here is our most popular Craftsman Style Arts and Crafts Historic Reproduction grille. It comes in over 70 sizes and 12 finishes. Shown here our 10″ x 36″ in Rubbed Bronze Finish.
Beaux-Arts’ decorative grilles are the only grilles in the marketplace with 3-Dimensional designs. They are a combination of the best 3-dimensional design details which we preserve with CAD software.
Our finishes highlight the 3-dimensional design details with multi step techniques to achieve the most beautiful finishes.
We intentionally chose urethane resin to cast our products for all the qualities mentioned above. Closeups of the perfect 3-dimensional details show the artistry of the design details. Urethane will not rust, rot or corrode. They are maintenance free. You should not need to repaint, remove rust, corrosion or mold for the life of the grilles.
Historic Reproduction French Style Louis XIV Grille
The Louis XIV grilles are historic reproductions of possibly the best grille ever made in Europe, Circa 1680’s. The French style is our most elegant style vent cover. Beaux-Arts Classic Products made it possible to create this classic acanthus leaf design into sizes for today’s heating and air conditioning vent covers. Homeowners, builders, designers, architects use it to replace industrial louvered vent covers. These grilles are not for floors, wall and ceiling applications only. Resin grilles are durable and virtually maintenance free. The urethane resin makes them appropriate for damp or wet locations.
Historic Preservation Projects using Historic Reproduction Grilles for Radiator Covers.
Our grilles have been used in Historic Homes and Castle preservation projects around the globe.
The Château de Lalinde is a château, developed from a 13th-century castle, in the commune of Lalinde in Dordogne, France. It is known locally as le château de la Bastide. Our Louis XIV style is perfect and was used throughout the chateau for all the radiators. See our company blog about the Chateau Radiator Covers.
Another fabulous installation in this German Castle Fireplace.
Historic Reproduction Home Improvement Products for Foundation Vent Covers
It is an understatement to say that Beaux-Arts Classic Products makes the best foundation vent covers. There is no other company that offers an attractive alternative to industrial foundation vent covers. We are the ONLY company that offers Historic Reproduction Foundation Vent Covers.
Testimonial
The artistry and functionality of these foundation crawl space vent covers completely exceeded our expectations. It is evident that your company takes great pride in its workmanship, from the way the covers were protected for shipment to the quality of the hardware and materials used in their production. This photo does not do justice to its beauty. Thank you! All the best to you and your team.” Marylou, Tennessee
The Foundation Vent Covers come with a blocking plate and screen mesh to accommodate the change in seasons. They are perfect for both foundation venting and encapsulated foundation crawl space vents. Made to order, this vent cover consists of two separate parts: the frame, which is attached to the foundation, and the grille, which is removable. Both are cast from an exterior grade urethane resin that won’t rot, rust, corrode or grow mold.
Our decorative foundation vent covers are available in three timeless styles; Louis XIV, Empire and Arts and Crafts Styles and 12 finishes. They fit in the standard 16” X 8” concrete block crawl space vent opening you’ll see on the foundation of many homes.
Oglethorpe Court House – Custom Foundation Vent Cover
Historic Preservation Home Improvement Products for Interior Lighting
One of our first Historic Reproduction Home Improvement Products was a decorative recessed light trim. In 2006 we won Best New Lighting Product in Residential Lighting award for this “clever” product. Necessity is truly the mother of invention. We were installing a Louis XIV decorative plaster and composition ornament ceiling in the dining room of a private home. The room was large and in addition to the grand chandelier there were recessed lights around the perimeter of the ceiling. The recessed lights were such an intrusion on the classical beauty of the ceiling design. Our solution is our Victorian Style decorative recessed light trim.
It is still one of our most popular style recessed light trims. It comes in 12 beautiful finishes. Very easy to install.
Historic Preservation Home Improvement Products for Modern Intrusions
Beaux-Arts Mission Statement is to offer classic alternatives to mass produced industrial coverings for heating and air conditioning, recessed lighting, radiators, foundation crawl space vent covers, filter grilles and speaker covers. The focus of this post is historic preservation, but there are many who are involved in creating a classic environment with all the comforts of modern technology. Our products offer timeless functional works of art to transform these elements into attractive features and details.
Our Filter grilles are the best solution to unattractive white louvered door assemblies. They are handsome, offer great air flow and so easy to change your filters.
Historic Reproduction Speaker Covers
Two beautiful products our Empire Speaker Cover and decorative recessed light trim embellished with crystals in this beautiful ceiling.
A beautiful solution can stand alone without a historic necessity.
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