An early precurser to cornice is wooden box gutters supported on wood 
brackets. We are currently getting paid fairly well to replace three of 
them that were originally made of unlined pine boards. Replacing with 
mahogany, marine-grade epoxy, copper & stainless fasteners, and lead 
coated copper liners. None of these materials being traditional to the 
era, the structures, or the history of the site. Not even, I suspect, 
the BM paint that hides the nice color of the mahogany primed w/ boiled 
linseed oil. All of this paid for by a grant from Lowes, which means in 
good conscience that I need to drive an extra hour to avoid getting 
stuff at the local Home Depot. I don't think that one can ever be too 
sure that a property steward when given the opportunity will not go as 
far as they can go on expense to do what they feel is a better option. 
It is up to me to decide to do the best we know to do a good job, no 
architect involved as far as I can see.

My current approach on cost is to try to give the customer a proposed 
cost that fits with what I have learned people expect of us to deliver. 
Then to try our damndest to deliver on their expectations. Oh, how many 
of us have lost heart along this way and gone into other business 
directions? Recently on a proposed project the conservator (who was to 
be the prime) told me that they thought our cost was too high, my 
response, well, you can get it cheaper and I don't mind if you do, but 
this is what it will cost for me not to fuck it up. I can list the 
architect of record and every consultant on the owner's side of the 
project as a personal friend. No way that I can use the, "I'm with 
stupid," defense on that one. These situations initiate a 'run' response 
in my gut! If it happens that we get the gig, fine, if not, I'm happy.

][<

> "nobody's willing to pay for it if they can avoid doing so"--this is 
> the kind of fatalistic hype the "throw-away" corporateers and their 
> underlings the plastic pirates depend on. Just because they depend on 
> it does not mean we have to go along with it. So, it's our job as the 
> preservationeers to provide the alternatives and help the building 
> owners make it happen. 

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