Ralph is correct. Not merely on the technical issues. But, if the
building is significant, then the hand of the workmen, the trades, the
materials, the practices of the time, these things are significant. If
you avoid protecting and preserving the historic construction methods,
and leave them in a state where they can no longer be studied, then
what you have preserved is a mere three dimensional graphic, not a body
of construction and design knowledge.
-jc
On Mar 14, 2005, at 9:57 PM, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> In a message dated 3/14/2005 10:38:47 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> I'm reviewing an application for a re-roof on a important and highly
> visible historic building. Applicants are repairing the historic clay
> tile roof, and are also proposing to waterproof (spray apply silane
> waterproofing to the roof-side of existing masonry parapet walls to
> reduce water infiltration) Exterior masonry walls have been previously
> waterproofed in the 80s.
>
> I'm not familiar with this product-- I'm going to check the web, but
> wanted to see if there were any words of wisdom from the list on this
> sort of application.
> Heidi,
> Absolutely no spray on applications to masonry, ever, under any
> circumstances (for the most part, which is to say 99.999999% of the
> time, and I can't think of any legitimate exceptions.)
>
> Spray-on applications are cheap-shit, half-assed attempts to avoid
> doing things the RIGHT way, and will eventually (and possibly
> immediately) bite you in the ass, wallet, and historic fabric. Have
> the parapets disassembled, flashed properly (using SHEET
> flexible-membrane flashing, not schmear-on crap with the potential
> for holidays which will leak) and rebricked. Make sure that flashing
> is installed under whatever the coping material is, also.
>
> DON"T try to save money on this.'
>
> Ralph
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