I agree that materials are neither good nor evil and applaud the use of vinyl
for temporary protection with a monitoring program.  Good work John.

One should also note that we darn well better know something about the proper
uses of vinyl before we find ourselves with a large stock of historic late 20th
century buildings to preserve.

-jc

John Leeke wrote:

> Rob writes:
> >>Oh, and there is no justification for vinyl over historic material.  none.
> Forever opposed to vinyl,<<
>
> Of course, we all know that the "historic preservation
> community" is "death" on vinyl siding. My own personal view is somewhat
> moderated, since I hold that no building material is intrinsically "good" or
> "bad," and any building material might be useful.
>
> Last fall I gave a talk before 85 people at the annual conference
> of Certified Local Governments (for historic preservation) here in Maine. In
> response to a question about vinyl siding I told a story about a project
> where we put vinyl on an important 17th century historic building. Well,
> there was quite a silence punctuated with audible gasps and groans.
>
> My own philosophy is that there is no such thing as a
> good or bad product (or method or treatment). Each has its individual
> characteristics that we must understand. With that understanding we have the
> opportunity to apply
> any product to the solution of preservation problems. For example, I once
> advised the owner of a 17th Cen. house to cover it with vinyl siding (Lord
> Forbid!) which they did (GASP!). In this case it was an effective solution.
> They had two walls of original hand-riven clapboards, fastened with the
> nicest hand-wrought nails. They also had no money to carefully preserve
> these
> clapboards. We set up a 12 year program to protect the clapboards with vinyl
> siding and rent the house to raise the money to care for the clapboards. The
> siding was installed on firring strips to avoid damage to the clapboards,
> moisture monitors were installed inside the walls, and removable panels were
> installed to check for damage routinely. We also mitigated cellar moisture.
> They are in the 11th year and are now planning a well-funded wood clapboard
> project in which the vinyl will be removed and the original wood clapboards
> will be exposed and preserved . (No I can't tell you who or where this house
> is, I
> had to sign a non-disclosure agreement to avoid embaressment of the owner
> who is
> well known in the preservation community.)
>
> So, with the help of vinyl siding and a little open-minded thinking the
> historic clapboards are saved from 12 years weather exposure and will now be
> preserved.
>
> John (my own 1899 house is vinyl sided, but I'm taking it off) Leeke
> by hammer and hand great works do stand
> by pen and thought best words are wrought