In a message dated 99-05-06 23:39:55 EDT, you write:

<< I agree with david's comment that there is often a tendency to do too much,
 but that should not be taken as license to do nothing at all. Carefully
 thought out repairs can resolve basic materials and engineering problems
 which, if left unaddressed, can in fact lead to structural failures, unsafe
 conditions for the general public, and more serious economic penalties to
 the property owner. >>

Noted.  But:

1.  Out of 1000 "brownstone repair" projects in NYC, how many are carefully
thought out - and how many are just applying brown stucco with a howitzer?

2.  Out of the same 1000, how many are responding to any real failure -
except of imagination?

Christopher Gray