I agree. The more I study this or most other alternative materials I find it
is almost always best to replace in kind. Most of my research into
alternatives is to respond to a client or less than knowledgeable contractor
trying to do "state of the art" but not really "getting it" that what is
best for the building and often most cost effective especially in the long
run is the real thing.

Eric Hammarberg
Associate Director of Preservation
Associate
LZA Technology
641 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011-2014
Telephone: 917.661.8160 (Direct)
Mobile: 917.439.3537
Fax: 917.661.8161 (Direct)
email:  [log in to unmask]


-----Original Message-----
From: M. P. Edison [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 2:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Terra Stone - Microcotta


John Fidler's article, "Plastic Dreams", in the current issue of the
APT Bulletin does not address this system in particular, but is a very
interesting retrospective on glass reinforced plastics in general. As
much as I am inclined to really like "goop" based systems, in their
proper place, it is my impression from looking at a wide variety of
substitutes over a long period of time, that few things weather and
look like real terra cotta after some time. I would be inclined to
recommend new terra cotta to the maximum extent affordable, and repair
of whatever else is left.

Mike E.

> Well., Yes I can tell you what I know. Microcotta was installed on
the
> Ritz Carlton in San Francisco in one of the more extream weather
areas
> about 12yrs ago. The pieces were about 4ft high,3 1/2ft long and a
foot
> thick, making up a railing for a deck over the entrance. They were
> installed to match color and patina of the Terra Cotta which makes up
> the rest of the building. The pieces of what were called Microcotta
> were foam filled fiberglass with a gellcoat over them. They do not
look
> any different today than when installed. As far as freeze/thaw
goes..as
> long as the joints are calking you are ok. Same thing as a fiberglass
> hull on a boat.There is a Co. that I visited near Chicago a cupple of
> weeks ago and they had some pretty state of the art stuff.
> www.greatlakesmillwork.com
> Good Luck..

Edison Coatings, Inc.
M. P. Edison
President
3 Northwest Drive
Plainville, CT 06062  USA
Phone: (860)747-2220
Fax: (860)747-2280
email: [log in to unmask]
Internet: www.edisoncoatings.com

--
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>

--
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>