Pre-war New York City apartments — buildings constructed before World War II, typically between 1900 and 1940 — are among the most architecturally magnificent residential buildings in America. They're also among the most challenging to renovate. Understanding the specific issues involved before you begin saves time, money, and significant frustration.
What Makes Pre-War Different
Original Plaster Walls
Pre-war apartments were built with three-coat plaster systems over wood or metal lath — a process that produced walls of extraordinary quality and durability. Original plaster is firmer, denser, and more beautiful than modern drywall. It's also cracked, patched with incompatible materials, and occasionally in poor condition due to water damage or settling. Preserving original plaster wherever possible is worth the effort; replacing it with drywall is faster and cheaper but loses something irreplaceable.
Original Hardwood Floors
Pre-war apartments typically have thicker hardwood floors than modern construction — often 3/4 inch or more — which can be refinished multiple times over the life of the building. Original herringbone parquet, strip oak, and wide-plank formats are common. Refinishing, not replacing, is almost always the right choice.
Architectural Details
Original crown molding, plaster medallions, decorative door surrounds, wainscoting, and period hardware are worth preserving and restoring rather than removing. When these details are damaged or missing, skilled millwork contractors can reproduce them exactly from photographs or from details in other rooms.
Building System Constraints
Pre-war buildings typically have cast-iron or galvanized steel plumbing, knob-and-tube or early Romex electrical, and steam heat — all of which affect what's possible in a renovation and how it's executed. Electrical upgrades, in particular, are often required before other renovation work can begin.
The Right Finishes for Pre-War Apartments
The wall finishes that look most harmonious in pre-war apartments are those that have visual weight and depth — venetian plaster, limewash, roman clay, and high-quality matte paint in complex, historically appropriate colors. Cool, ultra-pale modern grays fight with the warm wood tones and rich architectural details of pre-war construction. The color palettes that Farrow & Ball, Donald Kaufman Color, and Fine Paints of Europe specialize in are almost all more appropriate than the flat contemporary palette of typical big-box paint brands.
Working with Co-op Boards on Pre-War Renovations
Pre-war co-op buildings often have particularly active and scrutinous boards, with detailed alteration agreements and specific requirements around approved contractors, working hours, noise levels, and dust control. Allow more time for board approval than you think you need, provide thorough documentation, and hire contractors who are experienced with co-op renovation requirements.