[MassHistPres] preservation, painting, stripping and costly preservation reports.

[jade at heartwoodrestoration.com]

my initial response was to offer to strip and paint the building for  
$600,000 by myself in one year then retire to a tiny cottage on the  
beach in Harwich...then I recall what I purchased and eventually sold  
my condo for in provincetown...

I think there may be a couple of bottom lines here...first, modern  
paints do not last nearly as long as paints from just 20 years ago,  
never mind leaded paint from 50 years ago, as the chemical make up has  
been influenced by the EPA, etc...what has been removed (for the  
safety of the environment) are ingredients that promised longer  
life...secondly, often changes to ventilation and air circulation due  
to insulation increase moisture content in a building that eventually  
pushes its way out through the siding...

personally, I think applying a 50/50 blend of boiled linseed  
oil/turpentine to bare wood promises a longer paint life...dry wood  
will wick elements from the primer/paint causing failure in short  
order...of course preparation is of the utmost importance but if the  
final product has been reduced to an inferior liquid coating, we have  
quite the challenge on our hands...

I am aligned with your concern about the collective efforts of  
preservation regarding paint applications that are very costly and do  
not stand the test of time...

indeed, after 100 years of paint, the best practice may be to strip  
the finish to bare wood but it is not the only option...the town of  
Hadley Massachusetts chemically remove paint to bare wood prior to  
painting...the painters caulked between clapboard joints and at the  
trim (ugh)...the caulk has molded and the white paint on the entire  
building now looks a drab gray...

I look forward to reading other responses....

jade Mortimer
heartwood window restoration
po box 114  1605 Mohawk trail
charlemont,  ma  01339
413-625-8680


Quoting sally urbano <urbanosally at yahoo.com>:

>>> Greetings
>>>
>>> Recently our town library, a historic building, town owned and  
>>> within a historic district, hired an architectural preservation  
>>> planning firm to make an assessment of the building. The building  
>>> went through a 3 million preservation effort in 1998. Currently  
>>> the report is claiming the need for chemical stripping to 90 %  
>>> removal  of paint and then prime and 2 coats of paint. It is a two  
>>> story fairly square building. The library never appeared before  
>>> the historic commission.
>>> The cost to do 3/4 of the older portion of the  building is  
>>> $600,000+. I would love to hear of others experiences in this  
>>> regard. Aso  I am having trouble with that portion of the  
>>> department of interior standards for historic painting which  
>>> basically says  never chemically strip.  Below you will find a  
>>> direct quote from the consultants report on the library   
>>> building.assessment.
>>>
>>> "At about 100 years, the recommended long-term preservation  
>>> solution is to chemically strip all existing paint, to bring the  
>>> exterior wood to a nearly bare condition, apply a new prime coat  
>>> of paint and 2 finish coats of paint. Chemical stripping and the  
>>> required follow-up preparation of siding and trim are needed to  
>>> provide a substrate that primer and paint can adhere to."
>>
>>>  Again I am confused as the department of interior claims most  
>>> cases of paint flaking and peeling is moisture, and we do live on  
>>> the cape.The Provincetown Town  Hall beautifully done in its  
>>> preservation is already facing paint peeling and chipping.
>>>
>>     What will the effect of these very expensive painting projects  
>> for historical buildings do to the collective efforts of  
>> preservation?   I doubt my town will want to get involved in such  
>> an adventure again. We recently had to mount a volunteer effort to  
>> paint a town owned historic home on the National Register as there  
>> was no will from CPC or the town to paint it.
>>       Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
>
>> Best to you all in your efforts,
>> Sally Urbano
>> Harwich, Mass
>> an individual citizen.