“I have a Victorian that’s missing several decorative spindles. Where can I find replacements?”

— Carmela, downtown Napa

Most people who own an older home are faced with dry rot at some time or another. When it affects decorative elements, replacement is often difficult and pricey as many historic homes feature elements that can’t be found in stock catalogues and require custom reproductions.

For starters, be certain of your style before embarking on any restoration project. If a home appears to be more than 100 years old, many presume it to be a “Victorian.” Similarly, if a bottle of wine has a screw top, many presume it to be cheap. Both assumptions may have had some validity back in the 20th century, but times change.

Victoria’s name is bandied about by both proud homeowners on one end of the spectrum and less-than completely upstanding real estate agents more interested in evoking the elusive charms of a bygone era. The vast middle is largely made up of the well-intentioned.

Queen Victoria’s reign lasted from 1837-1901 so the great variety of styles encompassed by her long tenure — including, but not limited to Stick, Queen Anne, Gothic Revival, Neoclassic, Second Empire, Italianate and early Arts and Crafts — may legitimately be categorized eponymously. More accurately, the term “Victorian” simply refers to an era. Should you find that your home was built during this time, or in any other period, you still need to dig deeper to identify its specific style. If your contractor, architect, or a municipal official characterizes your California bungalow or vernacular cottage as a “Victorian” challenge him or her to be more particular. Why does it matter? Such broad, unexamined claims of provenance may be innocuous enough in weekly real estate marketing circulars, but they can point you down a perilous path when embarking on a remodeling project.

As my husband often reminds me whenever I’m tempted to add a new bag of cat food to a bin that’s running low: New plus old equals old. Unfortunately, that precept doesn’t always hold when upgrading or remodeling a historic home. For instance, adding elaborate fixtures or detail work associated with one Victorian style to a home from the same era that exhibits simpler lines won’t necessarily have the desired affect of authenticity. And pursuing alterations without any consideration of your home’s original style can easily become a very costly mistake.

If your home has decorative spindles or elaborately cut (aka “gingerbread”) trim, it may be of the Stick-Eastlake style defined by the use of millwork made possible by the invention of the wood-turning lathe in the late 19th century. But don’t take my word for it. Do your research. Go to the library and local bookstores and consult architectural references containing photos and floor plans. Surf the Internet — Wikipedia is just one site that includes some excellent examples and descriptions of predominant styles. The more you become familiar with both the “high end” as well as the more vernacular manifestations of your home’s style, the more you will educate your eye and be able to confidently select designs, materials and colors that add to its overall appeal and retain its original character and spirit — be it replacing a spindle or adding square footage.

That being said, one reliable source that specializes in period replacements is San Francisco Victoriana, Inc. They carry a wide inventory of stock architectural ornaments for traditional and contemporary buildings, including wood moulding and plaster castings and can also create custom reproductions. Visit their Web site at www.sfvictoriana.com for more information and access to their online catalogue.

If it looks like a custom reproduction is your only option, woodworking artisan Doug Barnett at Madrone Construction here in Napa is a great resource. He just matched some exterior window moulding for my turn-of-the-century Craftsman bungalow at a fraction of what it would have cost elsewhere. Contact him for an estimate at 257-3054.

Salvage yards are another avenue worth exploring, and are by far the more cost-effective option. Eco-Organize at 1924 Yajome St. opened this year as an architectural salvage resource in downtown Napa (www.eco-organize.com). While founder Toni Renee Vierra suspended recycling operations last month, the good news is that the business may be reopening as a non-profit in the near future. In the meantime, head to Berkeley for extensive on-site inventories at Ohmega Salvage (www.ohmegasalvage.com) and Urban Ore (www.urbanore.com), the mother lode of Bay Area architectural salvage yards.

For more extensive inventories, head to Berkeley and visit Ohmega Salvage  and Urban Ore www.urbanore.com, the mother lode of Bay Area architectural salvage yards.

Marie Dolcini is a cultural heritage commissioner for the city of Napa, vice president of Napa County Landmarks, and owner of an historic home in downtown Napa. Do you have a specific preservation-oriented question you’d like to see addressed? Send your preservation/restoration queries, conundrums, success stories and insider tips to marie.dolcini@gmail.com.