Further to my first post on this ... I tend to lean
towards Michael's philosophy, but then this has
probably been evident from my discussions about
sandstone / brownstone conservation!

Cheers

david

> I guess if we are looking at the stucco as a
> commodity without intrinsic value, and that the
> original workmanship is also undistinguished and
> unworthy of consideration, the decision to
> periodically replace 100% of the stucco could be
> supported. Then you can fight with the owner about
> why he should spend the money.
>
> But if you just keep replacing, at some point you
> end up with a copy of a copy of a copy which bears
> less and less resemblance to the original, and then
> it's back to the story of the historic axe which has
> had seven new handles and three new heads over the
> years. What's left that's historic about it?
>
> If you build a new house in the style of the
> original would it be historic? Isn't some element of
> the value we place on historic buildings the notion
> that "these are the walls within which George
> Washington slept" and not "this looks just like a
> place where George slept" or "on the site of this
> colonial theme/amusement park there used to be an
> historic building within which George slept"?
>
> Maybe a few tons of stucco isn't worth all the fuss,
> but I would tend to cling to it for as long as it is
> serviceable, like my fragment of goobered-up Roman
> cement. If the right coating can stabilize the
> original material for a few more decades, maybe
> someone smarter than we are can figure out what the
> right thing is to do with it in 2037. Remove it and
> that option is gone.
>
> I have been told that some Mayan ruins have been
> buried because their exposure to the elements had
> been leading to their rapid deterioration and
> burying preserves future preservation options. I'm
> not advocating painting Mayan ruins (at least not
> yet), but paint would sure give us a lot more to
> look at.
>
> Michael P. Edison
> President
> Edison Coatings, Inc.
> 3 Northwest Drive
> Plainville, CT 06062
> [log in to unmask]
> Phone: (800) 697-8055 or (860) 747-2220
> Fax: (800) 697-8044 or (860) 747-2280
> Internet: www.edisoncoatings.com
>

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