Finish carpentry and crown molding in Fort Lauderdale
Crown molding, wainscoting, stairs, newel posts and wood entry doors for Fort Lauderdale homes, built and installed by Apperals Custom Woodwork. The city's historic review shapes some of it, since exterior changes to a designated property need a Certificate of Appropriateness.
- Historic review
- Historic Preservation Board and staff planner, using the Secretary of the Interior's Standards
- Historic districts
- Three, including Sailboat Bend and Himmarshee (H-1), plus 62 individual landmarks
- Wind zone
- Broward County HVHZ under the Florida Building Code
- Interior work
- The COA rules target exterior appearance, so trim and stairs inside follow the building permit path
- Good fits
- Crown molding, wainscoting, newel posts and railings, hardwood entry doors
Finish carpentry across Fort Lauderdale
Most finish carpentry in a Fort Lauderdale home happens indoors: crown molding, wainscoting, staircases and newel posts. Those follow the ordinary building permit path. Fort Lauderdale adds a step only on the outside of a historic property.
When the Historic Preservation Board gets involved
The city has three historic districts and 62 individually designated landmarks. Its pages name the Sailboat Bend Historic District, governed by ULDR Section 47-17, and the H-1 Himmarshee district under Section 47-16. Any work that would change the exterior appearance of a designated property, from alterations and additions to demolition and relocation, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.
There are two review paths:
- Administrative. Routine maintenance, repair or in-kind replacement can be approved by the Historic Preservation Planner. Approved applications then move on to the Building Division.
- Board. Other changes go to the Historic Preservation Board at its monthly meeting, and the applicant or an agent has to attend.
Both paths judge the work against the city’s Historic Preservation Design Guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards.
What this means for a historic front door
On an old house the front door draws the eye first, so it is where finish carpentry and preservation meet. Before ordering, know which path the job will take:
| Plan | Likely path |
|---|---|
| Repair and refinish the existing door | Maintenance, administrative |
| New door matching the old design and material | In-kind replacement, administrative |
| New style, new material or a changed opening | Board review |
A replacement entry door also has to meet the hurricane rules. Broward is in the Florida Building Code’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone, so the new unit must be approved for HVHZ use. The COA application may ask for that approval or a brochure, so have it in hand before the hearing.
Inside a historic house
Interior trim falls outside the COA rules, which are tied to exterior appearance. That leaves room to restore a stair with a new railing and box newel, or add paneled wainscoting in a hall, while the outside stays as the board approved it. Up the coast, our Lighthouse Point and Pompano Beach pages cover those cities’ own permit rules.
What we build in Fort Lauderdale
Quote for your Fort Lauderdale project
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Fort Lauderdale questions
Do I need historic approval to replace a door on a Fort Lauderdale landmark?
Yes, if the work changes the exterior appearance of a designated property, which calls for a COA. Routine maintenance, repair or in-kind replacement can usually be approved by the Historic Preservation Planner instead of the full board.
Is my Fort Lauderdale home in a historic district?
The city has three historic districts, including Sailboat Bend and the H-1 Himmarshee district, and 62 individually designated landmarks. Its interactive historic landmarks map is the quickest way to check an address.
What does the Historic Preservation Board look at?
The board and its staff follow the city's Historic Preservation Design Guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. For some features, the application may need product approvals or brochures for the parts being changed, such as a new door.
How much does crown molding cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Cost follows the room, not the city, so we quote once we have seen the space. The profile, the ceiling height, the number of corners and whether the crown is stacked drive the number. A plain rectangle with one profile is the simplest case.
Sources for the local notes on this page