37 Siding ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR THE H-2 DISTRICT CITY OF ROANOKE

GUIDELINES FOR PRESERVATION AND REHABILITATION • Recommended actions or treatments are indicated by √. • Actions or treatments not recom mended are indicated by X..

Retaining Existing Siding √ Identify and keep the original exterior siding materials as well as any unique siding. Important character‐defining fea‐ tures include: • decorative shingles, • texture, • pediments, DEFINITIONS Clapboard siding was popular in the H‐2 Dis‐ • cornices and frieze boards, Architrave. An ornamental trict during the late nineteenth century. molding used around doors • beaded or novelty boards, and windows. • architrave moldings, and Caulking. A rubber‐like Residences of the H‐2 Historic District compound used to seal demonstrate the diversity of siding materi‐ • examples of quality craftsmanship. cracks and joints and pro‐ als available in the late nineteenth and X Do not replace sound historic siding vide waterproofing. withw ne materials to achieve an Clapboards. A type of early twentieth centuries. Novelty siding wood siding, thicker along (also known as German or drop siding), ʺimprovedʺ appearance. the lower edge than along popular during the late nineteenth century, the upper edge. appears frequently as an exterior material. Cornice. Decorated trim work placed along the top of Many district Bungalows and American a wall. Foursquares exhibit the wide, sawn clap‐ Entablature. The beam boards characteristic of the Mid‐Atlantic carried by columns, com‐ and Southern states, while many Queen monly decorated by trim molding. Anne styles possess geometrically pat‐ Flashing. Pieces of sheet terned wood shingles. These types of sid‐ metal or flexible membrane ings help to define the visual character of a used to protect joints from building. water penetration. Pediment. A decorative IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS... molding, typically triangu‐ lar shaped, placed over doors and windows. Shingles. Siding or roofing Historic wood siding is a distinctive feature of piece typically made of many Roanoke residences. The H‐2 District has a variety of siding and wood, tile, concrete, or slate, wood features and decorative details. used as a covering and ap‐ Changing or covering siding can often alter or plied in an overlapping destroy the authentic character of a building. pattern. Both new and historic siding require periodic Weatherface exposure. The maintenance to give a building proper weather side of overlapping wood siding boards that is visible. protection.

such treatments include: • plywood or wood paneling, • simulated stucco, 38 • exposed aggregate board, and

• simulated brick, asphalt, and asbestos shingles that cover original wood clap‐ boards or shingles. √ Assess the impact of removing any cover‐ up materials by first removing a small area of the material in an inconspicuous location.

Wood shingles are often an important defining feature of a building’s style.

Preventing Deterioration √ Protect siding from water damage by: • repairing leaking roofs, gut‐ ters, and downspouts, • securing loose flashing around chim‐ neys and other roof openings, • grading the ground to slope away from the building, • protecting against insect or fungus in‐ festation, • replacing deteriorated caulking in joints, • replacing missing downspouts, • unclogging gutters, • using splash blocks, and • priming both sides of new wood. √ Select good‐quality, quarter‐sawn siding free from knots, checks, or wild grain to prevent warping of replacement materi‐ als. X Do not use chemical preservatives that change the appearance of exterior siding and wood features.

Removing Inappropriate Treatments The before, shown above, and after, shown below, Some owners may wish to remove inappro‐ illustration demonstrate how removing cover‐up priate treatments and restore the property siding helps to restore the character of a building. to a more historic appearance. Examples of Repairing Damage X Do not replace missing siding with new sid‐ √ Repair cracks and splits by gently open‐ ing that is incompatible with the remaining 39 ing them, removing debris, and sealing materials. with a waterproof glue. √ Consider using epoxy consolidants to re‐ New, Replacement, and Substitute build deteriorated elements. Siding √ Repair any deteriorated siding that is Χ The application of synthetic sidings over exposed following the removal of inappro‐ original siding materials is inappropriate for priate treatments. Rot and insect infestation these reasons: may have occurred. • Radical change in appearance can result √ Remove deteriorated wood by cutting when original materials are covered. This out damaged areas or removing affected is particularly true when wood siding is elements, such as individual clapboards. covered with synthetic siding; these mate‐ Retain as much of the sound original mate‐ rials can never replicate the patina, tex‐ rial as possible and repair it by splicing in ture or reflective light qualities of wood. new materials of the same species. The thickness of added siding also re‐ X Do not replace a deteriorated feature if it duces the depth between the exterior wall can be repaired. and the window and door frames, thereby X Do not caulk the gap between overlap‐ eliminating natural shadows and creating ping clapboards when painting or making a “flat” look that diminishes the architec‐ repairs. This traps interior water vapor tural character, within the wall and can lead to deteriora‐ • When synthetic siding materials are used, tion. original architectural features are often removed to facilitate the installation of the Replacing Missing Siding new material. The results in change of appearance and style of the building, and √ Replace missing siding using established case cause damage to the original siding. preservation techniques, such as patching • Installation of synthetic siding without or piecing in. Materials should conform proper vapor barriers and ventilation can exactly to the original in: cause excessive moisture building in the • size and shape, cavity between the original wall and the • color and texture, and new material, • joint and weather‐face exposure. • Synthetic siding is often marketed as be‐ DEFINITIONS Caulking: A rubber‐like √ Replace missing wood elements by using ing “maintenance free” and therefore compound used to seal identical ones taken from an inconspicuous cheaper than traditional materials. Alumi‐ cracks and joints and pro‐ location, such as the rear or side of a build‐ num siding may chalk or fade after instal‐ vide waterproofing. lation, and dents and scratches easily. Checks: Shallow, irregular ing. Replace the borrowed elements with cracks. newly fabricated ones of the same design. Vinyl can get brittle and break in very Clapboards: A type of cold weather or melt and warp int ho wood siding, thicker along weather, and if painted, it will have to be the lower edge than along painted as often as wood, the upper edge. Cornice: Decorated trim • Synthetic siding is often applied to a work placed along the top of building in need of maintenance and re‐ a wall. pair. New cladding may cover up poten‐ Shingles: Siding or roofing tial problems that can become more seri‐ piece typically made of wood, tile, concrete, or slate, ous once they are no longer visible,d an it used as a covering and ap‐ may create the perfect atmosphere for the plied in an overlapping establishment of decay and rot. pattern. Weatherface exposure: The side of overlapping wood siding boards that is visible. Replace wood siding with siding to match the original.