July - August 2003 !" Vol. 25, No. 4 KansasKansas PreservationPreservation

Newsletter of the Cultural Resources Division !" Kansas State Historical Society

Thirteen county courthouses were recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These second- and third-generation courthouses reflect three common styles: Richardson Romanesque, Classical Revival, and Modern.

Article on page 3 Vinyl is Not Final Have you ever heard the lifetime ible. Even when installation is carefully the overall physical integrity of any guarantees and unconditional satisfaction undertaken to avoid the removal or building. When original materials are claims made by vinyl siding companies destruction of character-defining features, lost, so is the evidence of past craftsman- and wondered if they were true? Have they are usually wrapped in new siding ship, quality of materials, and the connec- you ever groaned over the peeling paint and hidden from view. In these cases, the tion those materials had to the people on the exterior of your home and seri- new siding and wrapped trim project around them. ously considered giving those companies beyond the plane of doors and windows, Replacement siding does not correct a call? Most homeowners have probably giving them a recessed appearance. The existing problems, it only hides them. considered replacing the exterior siding of character of the building is not the same Often property owners decide to add their homes to reduce maintenance or as it was before. vinyl or aluminum give their property an updated look. It is And one must Replacement siding spoils a siding because they not an unreasonable consideration. remember that the dislike having to However, most homeowners do not know issue is not entirely building’s character and can paint every couple all the facts about replacement siding about the appearance of years. What materials and the damage they can cause. of a building. Even if destroy its physical integrity. many people do not The concerns are the same for buildings replacement siding realize is that a good 20 years old or 200 years old. The original materials can be made to look exactly like paint job on a properly maintained and siding materials are usually the best the original materials, they will never be prepared surface should last 5-10 years. materials for any building. Below are the historic materials. “If these walls There are a host of reasons why a paint facts on just a few of the serious prob- could talk, imagine what they’d tell us,” is job may only last a year or two on a lems that can be caused by replacement an old saying that reflects this idea. building. Some reasons include excess siding. Replacing the original materials reduces moisture from poor guttering or drainage, Original exterior materials contrib- ute to the overall historic character of a building. Be it wooden clapboards, shingles, metal panels, brick, or stucco, the original skin of any building is one of the biggest elements of its character. The size of the clapboards, their texture, and spacing are visible to even the most casual viewer. This is why buildings with non-historic siding are usually deemed non-contributing in historic districts. Replacement siding spoils that character and can destroy the physical integrity of a building. Replacement siding materials rarely have the same profile as historic This photograph wood clapboards. The simulated wood shows the warped graining found on some vinyl siding vinyl siding on the products does not even closely resemble rear of the Warren Wesley Finney wood siding. Wood does not have a House in Emporia. rough raised surface graining unless it is severely weathered or sandblasted. The installation of replacement siding often involves the removal of a building’s exterior character-defining features. These include door and window trim, porch detailing, and even the original siding itself. When features are not removed, they are often cut so the new siding lies evenly or they are hammered full of nail holes during the installation process. This type of damage is irrevers-

The original This article was prepared by Katrina L. clapboard siding is Klingaman, a historic preservation revealed as the specialist with the Cultural Resources vinyl siding is Division. Katrina’s principal responsibilities being removed. are the federal and state tax incentives. 9 Shown here are “before” and “after” photos of the house at 315 Woodlawn in Topeka, which became a contributing structure in the Potwin Historic District with the removal of the non-historic siding.

leaking roof, leaking foundation, or even you’ll never have to paint again, reduces humidity from everyday activities like Replacement siding energy bills, has a lifetime guarantee, showers and laundry. This excess mois- increases your property value, and saves ture causes paint to peel and fail as the also prevents property you money in the long run. However, moisture seeks an escape from the wood. there are several things that these ads do If moisture problems are corrected prior to owners from seeing not share. Vinyl siding has a realistic repainting, the paint adheres to the lifespan of about 15 years before it needs surface longer. Other reasons for paint new problems, hiding repair or replacement. As stated before, failure include poor preparation of the the problem until it wood clapboard lasts from 50 to 100 years surface and incompatible paints. Failure and beyond with proper maintenance. to remove all of the loose paint from a becomes severe. Vinyl siding can warp with high heat, surface means that the new paint does including hot summer days, and becomes not get a good anchor. Likewise, using brittle through exposure to UV rays and primers and paints that are not compatible gets into the walls, peeling paint would cold winter weather. Aluminum siding or trying to paint too quickly can lead to a quickly give a visible cue that something can dent and scratch. Damaged pieces poor result. is wrong. Replacement siding hides the cost more to repair than wood siding. Installing replacement siding over problem until it becomes severe. When pieces are beyond repair, they can problem areas, especially those involving Similar problems can occur with be replaced, but new pieces rarely match moisture, only exaggerates the deteriora- products known as “liquid vinyl.” These the old. This is because the color of the tion. Vinyl and aluminum are not vapor elastomeric paints also tend to hide siding fades over time. There is also a permeable. Any moisture that becomes problem areas and exaggerate moisture risk that siding manufactured will no trapped behind the siding cannot evapo- issues. Since they are relatively new on longer be in business. rate. Without proper venting, condensa- the market, no long-term studies have Aluminum and vinyl siding can be tion develops, which in turn can lead to been conducted to determine the effects painted if they fade or you get tired of the mold and mildew growth and accelerate after 15-20 years. Their lifespan is un- manufactured color, but the paint will wood rot. In the end repairs may cost the known, whereas we know that the have to be maintained just as if it had homeowner much more than if the prob- lifespan of properly maintained wood been applied to the original siding. Even lems had been addressed at the outset. clapboards typically exceeds 100 years. when aluminum or vinyl siding does not Replacement siding also prevents Is replacement siding really cost need to be painted, it must be thoroughly property owners from seeing new prob- efficient? We have all seen the ads washed down twice a year to keep it lems. If a roof leak develops and moisture claiming that replacement siding means looking fresh. 10 The Runyon House at 400 Osage in Manhattan is shown first with its asbestos siding and secondly after the removal of the asbestos and repair of the original clapboards.

There is no evidence that replace- While improper has helped fund the removal of non- ment siding adds any significant insula- historic siding from some properties with tion value to your building. Most heat is installation is a major the aid of the Heritage Trust Fund grant lost through the roof of a building. Since and State Rehabilitation Tax Credit pro- siding materials are so thin, they really do cause of problems with grams. Vinyl siding was removed from the not help lower energy bills. Even if rear of the Warren Wesley Finney House insulating panels are installed beneath the replacement siding, in Emporia after it warped and came loose siding, they rarely make a significant from the house. The few damaged clap- change. In fact, installing insulation or manufacturers’ boards beneath were replaced to restore moisture barriers on the exterior sides of the historic appearance of the house. walls can actually cause more problems. warranties rarely cover Asbestos shingle siding was removed Interior moisture from everyday activities, from the Runyon House in Manhattan to such as showers and laundry, can be problems associated reveal the original cedar clapboards trapped within the house, causing mildew beneath. Another project at 315 and mold growth if not properly vented. with installation. Woodlawn in the Potwin Place Historic A close look at the long-term warran- District of Topeka involved removal of the ties on replacement siding may show that sible future replacement against tradi- non-historic siding to reveal the original these are very limited. Most manufactur- tional maintenance of the original siding clapboards beneath. The house was ers’ warranties rarely cover problems should always be done prior to commit- previously listed as non-contributing to associated with installation since local ting to replacement siding. Take into the district, but has since been reevalu- distributors install most replacement consideration how long you expect to ated due to the removal of the siding. siding. Improper installation is a major own the building, how many paint jobs What are some other concerns? cause of problems with replacement you can expect in that time period, and Some other concerns include impacts to siding. Also, most warranties are only for how the costs for maintenance of the health and the environment. Studies have 20 years or they are prorated after 20 original siding will be spread out over shown that the PVC materials used to years to cover only a reduced amount of those years. make vinyl siding release toxic chemicals repair or replacement costs. While many Replacement siding does not neces- when burned in a fire and may release replacement siding products have been sarily make a building more attractive to potentially harmful gases throughout on the market for decades, newer prod- potential buyers. Buyers seeking historic their lifespan. That “new car” smell we all ucts have not been through long-term properties, especially those in historic like is actually the off gassing of plastics tests to really gauge their life expectancy. districts, will not appreciate a new siding and PVCs similar to vinyl siding materials. Replacement siding can be very job. The charm and character of original The replacement siding materials them- expensive. The cost is generally all up exterior material–whether it is brick, selves are not the only sources of health front or possibly financed out over shingle, clapboard, or stucco–is usually concerns. several years. Closely comparing the preferred to aluminum or vinyl. Cases have been cited of insects and initial costs, finance charges, and pos- The Kansas State Historical Society other small animals living between the 11 original siding and the new. The waste products of those animals can cause a variety of health concerns. Also, the manufacturing of PVCs has been linked to environmental concerns across the globe. This is in addition to the adverse effect that all of the old siding materials and failed replacement siding materials are having on landfills. Some original siding materials and replacement siding materials, such as aluminum or steel, can be recycled, but the vast major- ity are not. You can learn more about the consequences of PVCs at www.bluevinyl.org No matter the age of the building or the type of original exterior material on a building, repairing and maintaining that exterior is nearly always preferable to replacing it with an incompatible siding material. The siding is the skin of the building. Proper care and treatment will pay for itself in time. Valentine’s Little Chef Diner. (Photo Courtesy American Diner Museum.) Please contact the Cultural Re- sources Division of the Kansas State Historical Society for information on correcting moisture problems in historic buildings, proper surface preparation for painting, as well as the care treatment Do You techniques for other types of siding materials such as brick and stucco. Bibliography Remember? Craven, Jackie. “What you need to know about vinyl siding.” What you need to know Valentine Diners Featured on KSHS Web Site About…Architecture. www.architecture.about.com/library/weekly/ aavinyl (June 18, 2003) A new page on the KSHS web site (www.kshs.org/diners) explores the Cunningham, Jan. Vinyl Siding: The Real Issues. West Haven, CT: Kramer Printing Company, history of Valentine Diners, a brand of pre-fabricated enameled steel build- Inc., 2002. ings manufactured in Wichita beginning in the 1930s. Valentines were small eight- to twelve-seat diners with a limited menu, making them ideal for a one- Lattinville, Ann, and Carol DiNinno. “Techni- cal Assistance Tips: Vinyl Siding.” Preservation person operation. These Advocate. Massachusetts Historical Commis- buildings were designed sion, Spring 2003: 4-5. to provide customers with Leeke, John. “Q&A 3 at Historic Home affordable meals, and Works” Historic Home Works.com, www.historichomeworks.com/hhw/Q&A/qa03 owners with an indepen- (June 18, 2003). dent living. Myers, John H. (revised by Gary L. Hume). At the web site, you Preservation Brief #8: Aluminum and Vinyl can read about the his- Siding on Historic Buildings. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park tory of the Valentine Service, Technical Preservation Services, US company, view photo- GPO, 1984. graphs of diners, find locations of the buildings throughout the state, and Park, Sharon C. Preservation Brief #16: The learn about the character-defining features of the buildings. Use of Substitute Materials on Historic Building Exteriors. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Department If you would like to share information about a Valentine Diner in your of the Interior, National Park Service, Preserva- community, please contact Blair Tarr at (785) 272-8681 Ext. 427 or tion Assistance Division, Technical Preserva- tion Services, US GPO, 1988. [email protected].

Polson, Mary Ellen. “Debugging in Deland” Old House Journal, November/December 1998: 20-24. 12