[MassHistPres] Use of Non-traditional and Synthetic Materials

[Steven O'Shaughnessy]

Excellent suggestion on the "Blopentine"  The NPS has had a similar recipe
for decades which includes those ingredients as well as mildewcide, dryer
and marine spar varnish. These additional ingredients deter growth and shed
water. If a painted surface must follow, I would recommend a natural
Linseed oil based paint. No VOC's and lasts much longer. These primarily
Swedish products such as Allback and Ottosson are expensive but they have
much more pigment and so stretch further and you can go many more years
between re-painting.

Steven

Steven O'Shaughnessy
Dept. Head - Preservation Carpentry
North Bennet Street School
150 North Street
Boston, MA 02109


On Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 9:06 AM heartwood via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> morning...
> PVC=Polyvinyl Chloride also known as vinyl....
>
> a good alternative would be cedar posts and pickets...if the design is
> simple, the pickets
> will be easy to mill...I strongly encourage treating with a coat of
> blopentine (boiled linseed
> oil/turpentine) prior to priming and painting with oil based
> products....painting every 5-7 years
> will offer many decades of functionality....for stabilization, plant posts
> in concrete...
>
> ......jade
>
> jade mortimer
> heartwood window restoration
> po box 114 1605 mohawk trail
> charlemont, ma 01339
> 413-625-8680
>
> *From:* Nancy Dole
> *Sent:* Monday, August 7, 2023 8:15 PM
> *To:* heartwood
> *Cc:* Garrett Laws ; MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [MassHistPres] Use of Non-traditional and Synthetic
> Materials
>
> Thank you all, and what would you suggest instead of pvc fencing? And how
> to maintain it. I think we need to offer alternatives, since the Town seems
> to feel there aren’t any. Its an extremely simple picket fence. Is pvc
> truely vinyl?
>
> On Aug 7, 2023, at 7:28 PM, heartwood <jade at heartwoodrestoration.com>
> wrote:
>
> 
> concurring with garrett regarding vinyl fencing...I saw some this weekend
> in upstate ny that I recall
> being installed about five years ago...there are broken sections, the
> posts are leaning considerably causing
> boards to fall out and it is covered in mildew...PVC introduces toxins
> during manufacture and is not
> recyclable...additionally, fences shouldn’t shine in headlights at night
> time ;)
>
> I understand that budgets are a big concern for most homeowners and
> organizations...that said, we are
> stewards of history especially those buildings owned and managed by
> municipalities...nothing will outlast
> wood with a maintenance plan...triple paned windows with argon gas are a
> gimmick...in new england, the
> windows are open 5 months of the year...draft and heat loss originate at
> the perimeter of the opening not
> through the glass...even in a new ell, I would encourage wood—mahogany or
> spanish cedar—for a new
> window...there really is no comparison in performance and longevity and
> authenticity...
>
> .....jade
>
> jade mortimer
> heartwood window restoration
> po box 114 1605 mohawk trail
> charlemont, ma 01339
> 413-625-8680
>
> *From:* Garrett Laws via MassHistPres
> *Sent:* Monday, August 7, 2023 3:59 PM
> *To:* Nancy Dole
> *Cc:* MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [MassHistPres] Use of Non-traditional and Synthetic
> Materials
>
> Heidi,
>
> We are lucky to be a contractor that is replacing a lot of materials (in
> kind) that fail in 100 year cycles for copper and multiples thereof for
> slate. There are pros and cons to all situations but taking into account
> the longevity of a proposed material in a specific application, location,
> use and maintenance requirement is really very important.
>
> PVC (taking into increased expansion and contraction) has benefits where
> high moisture is a concern but using it to replicate intricate details in
> very sunny locations can have detrimental effects. PVC fences tend to have
> poor structure, become brittle over time, end up with a chalky surface and
> don't last well. As crazy as this idea might sound, I'd choose a colored
> chain link fence over a PVC fence... Why not do another wood fence and
> implement a maintenance program with a natural rot protectant?
>
> I don't have any personal knowledge with Fibrex, how does it weather? What
> happens when it breaks down?
>
> Many Thanks,
> Garrett Laws
>
> www.copperandslate.net
> The Copper & Slate Company, Inc.
> Fine Roofing and Historic Carpentry
> 238 Calvary Street,
> Waltham, MA 02453
> (781) 893-1916
>
> *LEAD FREE SINCE 2008*
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 7, 2023 at 3:23 PM Nancy Dole via MassHistPres <
> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
>
>> West Tisbury has the same question. We are allowing aluminum clad and
>> fibrex high quality windows with simulated divided lites in some cases, not
>> in others. And we are having an issue with pvc trim repair. Getting a lot
>> of requests but it doesn’t blend well with wood. We would love a list of
>> manufacturers and models that other historic districts consider on a case
>> by case basis.
>> The Town had recently applied to replace a wooden picket fence around the
>> cemetary with a pvc fence. They are concerned about longevity. We wish
>> there were other options.
>> Any thoughts?
>> Thank you.
>> Nancy Dole
>> WTisbury HDC
>>
>> On Aug 7, 2023, at 2:58 PM, Heidi Fieldston via MassHistPres <
>> masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:
>>
>> Greetings:
>>
>> We have a question about the policies of other Historical Commissions
>> concerning the use of non-traditional and synthetic materials in new
>> construction in historic districts:  Are they allowed?  Are there
>> limitations on materials?  Does the context make a difference, e.g., dense
>> vs. more spread-out?
>>
>> Thank you for your response.
>>
>> Heidi Fieldston, Commissioner
>> Dedham Historic Districts Commission and Historical Commission
>> hfieldston at mac.com
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-- 
Steven O'Shaughnessy
Dept. Head  - Preservation Carpentry
North Bennet Street School, 150 North Street | 617 227 0155 *270


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