At first when you were writing about extreme climates, I thought we
were talking Artic Circle.  Idaho shouldn't differ much from anywhere
else in the northern tier of states, or the southern tier of provinces.
  Most of the "mass market" paint failure I've seen is caused by the use
of powerwashers.  And most of what I've seen has been right here in my
neighborhood.  There's a real prejudice in favor of new fangled labor
saving gadgets, materals and methods.  But they don't last worth a dam.
  I find that if you scrape and sand and use a good primer and two
coats, paint is paint and it lasts a good long time.  It wears out
faster when it gets a lot of abrasion...sand and ice, wind and rain.
But you really have to scrape and prime.  The good news is that vynl
siding doesn't seem to last much longer than good paint.

Them damned power-washers, I've got neighbors painting their houses
every three years!  You'd think the black stuff growing on their siding
might be a clue.  But they think I'm a lunatic 'cause I'm out there
scraping.  Well I may be a lunatic, but the areas I've finished
painting have stayed painted.

-jc

On Wednesday, October 8, 2003, at 09:04  PM, Becker, Dan wrote:

> Calling all extreme northern pinhead brethren in from the cold...CP in
> BC, Callan, Leeke. Maybe Irene, I dunno...she might still be too close
> to the Mason-Dixon line.
>
> John L., and maybe John C., will recall my spouting off in a paint
> thread over there in Forum-L a couple of months ago. This email to me
> just showed up. What can you guys say about paint films in extreme
> climes? We weren't talking about extreme climes on Forum-L. John L.
> and I posited that preparation is critical for success; without good
> prep no matter the quality of the paint, it isn't going to last. Is
> there a point at which no matter the quality of the prep, a quality
> mass market paint product isn't going to last?  Mike E? For extremes,
> do we have to specify something more suited to extremes? Is it
> literally the cold leading to brittleness or the movement of the
> substrate due to contraction and later expansion that leads to
> failure? Is it the lack of elasticity in the film, or something more
> insidious?
>
> I have his permission to solicit all y'all's assembled wisdom on this.
> I don't understand why you can't get paint to stick in a town of 600
> buildings in Idaho. I'll report back to him whatall you think.
>
> dan cover the world below the 50th parallel becker
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   Larry Hoppe [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent:   Tue 10/7/2003 5:45 PM
> To:     [log in to unmask]
> Cc:     Ann Swanson
> Subject:        Paint is paint is paint, maybe.
>
> I read with interest your assessment on painting historic siding.
> Does your data reflect information on our issue in far northern?
> Idaho, namely, low humidity and extreme cold in winter; and snow 4' to
> 6' deep standing most of the normal winter.
>
> The paint here doesn't seem to last more than a few seasons ( Five
> years is typical) regardless of quality from what I've been advised by
> citizens who have lived here much longer than I.
>
> Are there any internet resources you can recommend that our Historic
> Preservation Commission might use to add to our self-help education
> efforts.
>
> For background, the entire City of Wallace, Idaho (approximately 600
> structures) is on the National Register of Historic Places.  Thanks
> for any info you can provide.
>
> Larry Hoppe
> Chairman,
> Planning Zoning, And
> Historic Preservation Commission
>
> --
> To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
> uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
> <http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>
>
>
John Callan, Architect, Inc.
Historic Preservation and Museum Services
784 Deerwood Circle
Lino Lakes, Minnesota  55014-5433

(651) 486-0890
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