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Illustrated Hanbook for Historic Commercial Buildings <br />42 <br />Assessment table <br />Location DescriptionFeature Possible Causes Level <br /> When assessing a building, you should record at a minimum the <br />location, the condition, and any possible causes of damage. Keeping <br />good notes during your visit will help make sure no important details are <br />forgotten and will give you a clearer understanding of the building’s actual <br />condition and the types of repairs or interventions that may be needed. <br /> To begin assessing a building, you will need four basic and essential <br />tools: an assessment table, an assessment toolkit, handmade sketches, <br />and a photographic documentation. These can be either physical or digital <br />(such as using a tablet), depending on your preferences and what you have <br />available. <br /> Pro Tip: Use a simple coding system (for example, “NW-1” for North <br />Wall, Feature 1) to connect your table, photos, and sketches. This way, all <br />your materials “talk to each other,” making the assessment much easier to <br />understand later — both for yourself and for any professionals you might <br />share it with. <br />A simple table, like the one below, is a great tool for keeping track of a <br />building’s features, their condition, and their location. Try to identify the <br />material (like wood or terracotta), describe the type of damage (such as <br />rusting or cracking), note whether the area is wet or dry, and watch for signs <br />of insects like termites, changes in color, and other clues. <br />Let’s get ready for the assessment