Your House is a Money Pit --10 Common Mistakes People Make While Working on their Historic Building

Continued from 12/9/2011

     In addition, aluminum and vinyl siding is often applied to buildings in need of maintenance and repair, thereby concealing problems which are an early warning sign of deterioration. Cosmetic treatment to hide difficulties such as peeling paint, stains or other indications of deterioration is not a sound preservation practice. In addition, artificial siding makes it impossible to monitor the condition of the building because it is hidden from view.

   The questions of durability and relative costs of aluminum or vinyl siding compared to the maintenance cost of historic materials are complex. One consideration is repair cost. All siding materials are subject to damage and all can be repaired. However it is much easier to repair wood siding, and the repair, after painting, is generally imperceptible.

    Because aluminum and vinyl can be produced with an insulating backing, they are sometimes marketed as improving the thermal envelope. In reality, the thickness of any insulating backing would be too small to add to the energy efficiency of a historic building and should not be a consideration when choosing synthetic siding. 

   Finally, artificial siding removes the unique details and distinctive qualities of your building and can reduce its value in the marketplace by making it look like every other house.

   Historic Building materials, when properly maintained, are generally durable and serviceable materials. Their existence on tens of thousands of historic buildings is proof that they are the good selection.