What Flagstaff’s Historic Homes Need That Newer Ones Don’t
A lot of Flagstaff’s oldest houses were built to outlast almost anything — if you know what not to “fix.”
Flagstaff’s Southside neighborhood has a documented period of significance running 1884–1948, with the heaviest building during the 1910s–1930s bungalow era, and downtown still has commercial buildings dating to the 1880s. A lot of that original stock is still standing and still lived in — built with materials and methods a newer repair doesn’t always account for.
- 1884–1948 core building era
- 1897 ordinance: brick/stone/iron
- Lath & plaster common
- Single-pane wood windows common
What makes a historic Flagstaff home different
Real local building stock, not just “old”
Southside’s documented period of significance runs 1884–1948, with bungalows — Classical, California, and the locally distinctive Basque-influenced “Amerikanuak” style — making up most of the 1910s–1930s peak. Downtown still has commercial buildings like the 1888 Babbitt Brothers Building and the 1895 Coconino County Courthouse standing and in use.
A real ordinance shaped what got built downtown
After a series of fires, the city passed an ordinance in 1897 requiring brick, stone, or iron for downtown construction — which is exactly why so many of Flagstaff’s oldest commercial buildings are red brick or local malpais (volcanic) stone instead of wood frame.
Lath and plaster, not drywall
Older interior walls here are often wood lath strips with plaster pressed through the gaps to form small “keys” that lock it in place. Those keys can break loose as the house settles, causing cracks — but plaster also outperforms drywall on soundproofing and fire resistance, so it’s not automatically something to rip out.
Original wood windows, often single-pane
Old-growth wood windows are usually denser and more repairable than people assume. A properly weatherstripped original window with a storm window added can match a new replacement’s efficiency at a fraction of the cost — and individual parts can be repaired instead of replacing the whole unit.
What it means for repairs
Plaster cracks don’t always mean the wall’s bad
A cracked plaster key can usually be patched and keyed back in place without a full tear-out to drywall — worth checking before assuming the whole wall needs replacing.
See Drywall Repair →Old windows are usually worth repairing, not replacing
Weatherstripping, reglazing, and sash repair on an original wood window is often cheaper and longer-lasting than a full vinyl replacement.
See Window Repair →Older framing and trim need their own approach
Old-growth lumber sizing, original trim profiles, and older fastening methods don’t always match what a modern lumber-yard 2×4 assumes — matching it right matters for both looks and structure.
See Carpentry Services →Brick, stone, and older stucco need matching materials
Repointing old brick or patching original stucco with the wrong modern mix can trap moisture and cause more damage than it fixes — matching the original material and technique matters here.
See Siding & Stucco Repair →This shows up across almost everything we do
An older home is one of several conditions that make Flagstaff houses age differently — see how it combines with freeze-thaw, elevation, and the rest.
See all Flagstaff conditions →FAQ
How old are Flagstaff’s oldest homes?
Southside’s documented period of significance runs 1884–1948, with the heaviest building during the 1910s–1930s bungalow era. Downtown has commercial buildings as old as the 1888 Babbitt Brothers Building.
Why are so many of Flagstaff’s old downtown buildings brick or stone instead of wood?
After a series of fires, the city passed an ordinance in 1897 requiring brick, stone, or iron construction downtown — which is why so many of the oldest commercial buildings are still red brick or local malpais stone today.
Should I repair or replace my home’s original wood windows?
In most cases, repair. Old-growth wood windows are denser and more repairable than modern vinyl, and a restored window with proper weatherstripping and a storm window can match a new replacement’s efficiency for a fraction of the cost — and it’ll likely outlast it too.
Why do my plaster walls keep cracking?
Lath-and-plaster walls hold together through small “keys” of plaster that lock around wood lath strips. Those keys can break loose as the house settles or the wood moves with humidity and temperature, causing surface cracks — it doesn’t necessarily mean the wall has failed.
Does my house being in a historic area affect what repairs I can do?
It can, if the property sits inside one of Flagstaff’s designated historic districts or design review overlays — some exterior changes may need a heritage sign-off. Interior work and like-for-like repairs are almost never affected.
Work with the house, not against it
If a wall’s cracking, a window won’t close right, or you’re not sure what’s original and what’s been changed, call (928) 438-0436 — we’ll take a look and tell you honestly what it needs.
Call (928) 438-0436