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Feature Articles
HERITAGE CANADA FOUNDATION: CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF HELPING CANADIANS KEEP HISTORIC PLACES ALIVE
Repairing Wood Siding on Historic Buildings—
Runciman House: A Case Study
Keeping Wood Siding on Historic Buildings
HERITAGE CANADA FOUNDATION:
CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF
HELPING CANADIANS KEEP
HISTORIC PLACES ALIVE
by Lori Anglin and Natalie Bull
“On Monday, April 2,
1973, the formal
announcement of our
launch was made on
Parliament Hill in the
historic Privy Council
Chamber of the East
Block. The cheque for
our first year’s budget
was handed over and
instantly deposited
so as not to miss a
day’s interest. We
were on our way.” - R.A.J. (Bob) Phillips,
HCF executive director
(1973 to 1978)
It was the tenacity of an
active few that led to the
creation of a national
body committed to the
preservation of Canada’s
heritage. Widespread
government support
eventually followed, and
in 1973 the Heritage
Canada Foundation
(HCF) was launched.
It was an important
outcome of the “identityshaping”
period of
Canada’s Centennial
celebrations, which
had focused Canadians
on the values of the
past as never before.
A National
Trust with a
Difference
The Heritage Canada
Foundation was created
as a national trust
with a federal endowment
and Crown Trustee
status. The foundation
(the term “National Trust”
had been trademarked
by a financial institution)
was mandated to:
“...preserve and
demonstrate and
to encourage the
preservation and
demonstration of the
nationally significant
historic, architectural,
natural and scenic
heritage of Canada with
a view to stimulating
and promoting the
interest of the people of
Canada in that heritage.”
The founding board of
ten governors included
leading Canadians like
Hartland MacDougall
and Pierre Berton.
Because Canada was
late in creating a national
trust, the new board
members were able to
learn from other mature
national trusts worldwide.
With help from staff
they looked at conservation
organizations
in 36 countries as well
as existing programs and
policies here at home.
What they found was
that Canada already had
a world-class system
of parks and laws to
protect the country’s
natural landscapes, with
agencies like Parks
Canada and the Nature
Conservancy of Canada
leading the charge. Yet
there was very little in
place at the national
level, as compared to
other countries studied,
to ensure the protection
of the built environment.
Heritage Canada Commemorative Plaque
Many buildings across Canada bear this plaque,
indicating that HCF intervened to purchase, invest
in or apply protective covenants to the property.
Based on these findings,
HCF focused on the
preservation of heritage
buildings and historic
places. The board of
governors was also
explicit in stating that
the organization would
define a role for itself
that would complement,
and not compete with,
the work of existing heritage
groups. And instead
of creating a national
trust predicated on a
collection of preserved
house museums or
tourist attractions, HCF
launched an innovative
program of Area Conservation
that invested
in individual buildings
and groups of buildings
in order to attract
private investment and
spark the revitalization
of entire communities.
The board also believed
that in a country as
large as Canada, the tide
of widespread demolition
and neglect could
never be turned by
simply acquiring a collection
of historic sites.
HCF’s Property Program
The Yukon Hotel in Dawson City is just one of 75 heritage
properties that benefited from HCF acquisition or investment.
Another is the Heartz-O’Halloran Row on George Street in
Charlottetown, just a block south of Province House.
“It was the first time that large amounts of money were committed
to heritage restoration. And let me tell you—after
that, people started to sit up and take notice,” remembered
long-time P.E.I. heritage activist Catherine Hennessey.
HCF’s current collection of five properties in three provinces
includes two held in trust for the federal Crown.
In 1975, the Area
Conservation program
invested in Newfoundland’s
capital city of
St. John’s to stem
the tide of destruction
resulting from a
bulldozer-era urban
renewal project.
“The Area Conservation
program will result in
streetscape preservation
of a district which will
help retain and enhance
the character of the
area, greatly increasing
its tourist potential
and its attractiveness
for commercial enterprises,”
wrote Shannie
Duff, then HCF governor
for Newfoundland. Even
more important it will
preserve for all the
citizens of St. John’s
an oasis of familiarity
where they can go back
and touch their roots.”
Other Area Conservation
projects benefited places
like St. Andrews-By-
The-Sea, New Brunswick,
Annapolis Royal,
Nova Scotia, Barclay
Square in Vancouver,
The Winnipeg Exchange
District and Old Strathcona
in Edmonton.
HCF’s Area
Conservation
Program
Edmonton’s Old Strathcona
area faced possible
destruction in
the 1960s in favour of
a freeway. The boom
town-era neighbourhood
became one of the first
participants in HCF’s
Area Conservation
Program in 1974. Today,
the Old Strathcona Area
Community Council is
active in promoting a
vibrant, people-oriented
destination that takes
pride in its significant
heritage assets.
The Area Conservation
pilot morphed into the
very successful Main
Street Canada program
in 1979. Its purpose
was to help revitalize
the central core of
small and mediumsized
towns, and at the
same time preserve
their historic buildings.
“Our task was to mobilize
the growing reaction to
the unthinking construction
boom of the postwar
years … we are
watching the pendulum
swing in favour of
preservation,” stated
Pierre Berton, chair
of HCF at the time.
Main Street Then... and Now
“Recently a colleague asked, ‘What comes after a Main Street
program?’ Fort Macleod, Alberta’s 25-year-old Main Street office is
proof that the process never ends. It can’t. These places help define
our identity, our sense of place. They should and can remain viable
for generations. We can all play a role in ensuring that they do.”
-
Jim Mountain, first coordinator of the
Fort Macleod Main Street office.
By 1991 Main Street
Canada operated in
every province and
territory. Seventy communities
had taken part
and achieved remarkable
success: thousands of
jobs, new businesses,
and more than $90 million
in private investment.
Main Street Canada
spawned ongoing
programs in Alberta,
Ontario and Quebec—
and even inspired the
creation of a Main Street
program in Australia.
The national program
wound down in the early
1990s when the federal
government’s contribution
ended. HCF entered
into a partnership with
La fondation Rues
principales to continue
the Main Street legacy in
the province of Quebec.

National Heritage Awards Program
HCF confers National Heritage Awards created in
collaboration with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales,
Madame Gabrielle Léger, and Canada’s Lieutenant Governors.
The program recognizes and celebrates
excellence in heritage conservation.
Engaging
Canadians in
Celebrating
and Visiting
Historic
Places
Building awareness and
advocacy have always
been core HCF activities.
A range of programs
has developed over the
years to raise awareness
about heritage and to
engage Canadians.
Heritage Magazine
HCF has published
a bilingual quarterly
magazine continuously
since 1973.
Historic Sites
HCF holds a modest portfolio of historic properties and
collections open to the public.
HCF members benefit from reciprocal agreements that allow
them free access to national trust properties in Australia,
England, Scotland, Wales and the U.S.
Doors Open Canada
Launched in 2002, Doors Open Canada
recognizes the potential for increasing
Canadians’ understanding
and enjoyment of their local architectural
environment while encouraging
awareness of their built heritage.
Heritage Day
HCF leads the nation in celebrating Heritage Day on the 3rd Monday in February each year.

Strengthening
the Heritage
Sector
Since its first conference
in Ottawa in 1974, HCF
has always recognized
the value of bringing
people together to talk,
learn and exchange. To
build on the conference
experience and to rally
and connect heritage
groups and advocates
across the country, it
organized the Canadian
Heritage Network in
1982. Today, the Built
Heritage Leadership
Forum represents a
return to that early
networking strategy.
The Built Heritage Leadership Forum
A group of leaders from province- and territorywide
heritage organizations is evolving as a
new opportunity for exchange, networking and
continuing education. It’s also stimulating collective
action to influence public policy.
The world wide web
has revolutionized the
way people connect.
Thousands of Canadians
now receive HCF
Communiqués and stay
connected through the
organization’s website.
In 2007 HCF launched
a new way to connect
and protect: AGORA-L
is a free, email-based
tool for discussing
issues and exchanging
ideas about heritage
conservation in Canada.
Members connect
with peers across the
country and share
questions and solutions
without ever leaving
their desks. AGORA-L
is quickly becoming
a source of success
stories and advice.
Annual Conferences
HCF conferences provide the opportunity for a
national perspective and a national conversation
about the challenges and opportunities facing historic
places and their owners, managers and advocates.
Young Canada Works
YCW gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to acquire
valuable work skills and experience in the field of heritage, as well as
help heritage organizations complete important projects. HCF distributes
program funds on behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Community
Revitalization
HCF’s subsidiary,
La fondation Rues
principales, has been
delivering expertise in
community revitalization
and socio-economic
revitalization since 1984,
and more than 150
cities and towns have
benefited. Currently,
the Rues principales
network encompasses
nearly 50 municipalities.
Main Street Community Revitalization
La fondation Rues principales, a subsidiary of the
Heritage Canada Foundation, continues to help
hundreds of communities in Quebec and New
Brunswick make heritage conservation a vital tool
for economic development. From 1997 to 2002, its
Main Street approach has benefited more than 700
historic buildings, and generated more than 1,200
new jobs, 360 new businesses, $31 million in public
investment and $98 million in private investment.
www.fondationruesprincipales.qc.ca
Saving Places
The Heritage Canada
Foundation takes a
multi-pronged approach
to helping Canadians
keep historic places
alive: awarenessbuilding
programs like
the National Heritage
Awards, Heritage Day
and Doors Open are
celebratory in nature,
but threatened buildings
need a different
kind of attention.
Three years ago, the
Heritage Canada
Foundation began the
tradition of announcing
an annual Endangered
Places List, calling
Canadians’ attention to
the 10 most endangered
historic places on our
national radar screen.
The list is a powerful
tool for attracting
media attention and
for strengthening the
resolve of local groups
and officials working
to find a solution.
South House Preserved!
Included on HCF’s 2005 Top Ten Endangered Places List, South House is a picturesque 150-year-old
Gothic Revival-style house on the grounds of the historic Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick.
Its preservation was the result of the tireless commitment of alumni, community members and local groups.
The national attention that HCF brought to the cause added to the pressure placed on the school’s board of
governors to find a way to save South House.
The Save South House Committee organized campaigns, sought and received injunctions to prevent
demolition, and then found a cooperative approach with the board of governors in finding a restoration
solution. In the end, the board of governors agreed to a compromise proposal to save the original section
of the house without its later additions. The committee then launched an incredible campaign to raise
$400,000 toward its restoration.
Each endangered place
tells a unique story.
But many share one or
more root causes, and
it is these common
issues that have helped
to shape and focus
HCF’s public policy
advocacy efforts.
Protecting Railway Stations
From 1982 to 1988 HCF worked tirelessly to see
The Heritage Railway Stations Protection Act
become law.
Changing
the System
In 1974, HCF developed
a “Brown Paper on
Legislation.” Its three
major recommendations
called for a Canadian
Register of Heritage
Property, adequate
provincial laws to
protect listed property,
and federal-provincial
programs to give financial
aid to the owners of
heritage property. This
became a blueprint for
subsequent HCF work on
building codes, recycling,
mortgage financing
and tax incentives for
heritage buildings.
Since its inception,
HCF has researched
and advocated tax
measures to put historic
buildings on a level
playing field with new
construction in the eyes
of developers. The U.S.
federal rehabilitation
tax credit, introduced in
1976, has encouraged
the rehabilitation of
over 31,000 historic
properties, representing
over $31 billion in
private investment.
In 1999, Parks Canada
launched the Historic
Places Initiative, a
federal/provincial/
territorial collaboration
designed to promote
the conservation
of Canada’s built
heritage. A key element
was the Commercial
Heritage Properties
Incentive Fund (CHPIF),
a $30-million pilot
contribution program
modelled on the U.S.
rehabilitation tax credit.
CHPIF successfully
demonstrated the
impact a modest
federal incentive could
have in stimulating
private investment
in historic places. A
total of $21.5 million
spread across the first
49 projects leveraged
more than eight times
that amount in private
sector investment, giving
empty, derelict buildings
vibrant new uses.
Recently, HCF has
moved to a more
public campaign
around the need for tax
incentives. Working with
representatives of local
heritage groups and
developing accessible
electronic petitions, a
wider and more vocal
constituency has
emerged. Over the past
two years provincial
and territorial ministers
responsible for culture
and heritage, along
with seven major
municipalities (including
Vancouver and Toronto)
have passed resolutions
supporting the call
for federal financial
incentives to encourage
private sector investment
in the rehabilitation
of historic buildings.
Online petition
HCF members and supporters participated in
an online petition calling for financial incentives
to encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings
that might otherwise end up as landfill.
The Next
35 Years
The Heritage Canada
Foundation’s mandate
has always seemed
enormous, given the
complex legal, financial,
political and physical
environment within
which historic places
exist. The present and
the future require an
even larger view. To
address the most
pressing new challenge
of our time, HCF
will align itself even
more closely with
the environmental
movement. Recognizing
that historic places are
part of a continuum
of existing buildings,
old and new, HCF will
contribute to creating
a sustainable future by
helping Canadians make
“landmarks, not landfill”
over the next 35 years.
Back to top
Repairing Wood Siding on Historic Buildings—
Runciman House: A Case Study
Text and photos by Andrew Powter
The historic Runciman House, Annapolis
Royal, N.S. is an excellent example of the
early 19th-century Regency cottage style. In the last issue, “Keeping Wood Siding on Historic Buildings”
described some of the advantages of retaining historic siding
materials and pointed out some of the disadvantages of installing
modern materials such as aluminium or vinyl over top of the original
siding. It also described the repair and refinishing of wood siding.
This article is a case study of some siding repair methods used in the
restoration of Runciman House.
Over the past two years, the Heritage Canada Foundation has been
carrying out repairs to the exterior of Runciman House, a 200-year-old
historic property it owns in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia.
Repair of the exterior siding (including wood shingles on the sides and
rear of the building and horizontal bevel siding on the front) is part of
the work being handled by Annapolis Royal contractor Sefton Squires
of Renaissance Property Services.
The Siding
Evidence of failed paint can be
seen on the rear wall shingles. The side and rear elevations of the house are clad with tapered, sawn, randomwidth
standard shingles made of eastern white cedar. The front elevation is clad
with 125 mm bevelled wood siding.
Judging from the paint accumulation on the siding, the hand-planed surface and
the forged nails, it is safe to say that most if not all of the siding is original to the
building. All four walls were finished in a scheme of yellow body with white trim.
Siding Condition
Original forged siding nails. The nails had
corroded in the siding area, but remained
sound where they were nailed into the
framing. A survey of the building
revealed a range of conditions.
The wood shingles
were in generally good shape.
By far the biggest issue was
loss of finish as areas of paint
and primer had peeled away,
leaving bare wood.
The bevel siding on the main façade was a different matter.
In discussion with Sefton Squires, it was concluded that this
surface was due for life-cycle rehabilitation. Not only were
some boards distorted from the horizontal (indicating failure
of fasteners), but there were also examples of decay on the
ends (mostly on short sections in shady areas), checks and
splits, popped fasteners and accumulated layers of paint.
Previous selective paint removal had caused damage to lower
edges, contributing to a lack of sharpness in the horizontal
lines of the building.
Finally, the colour of the siding had faded away to a pale
yellow from the earlier, stronger contrast between trim and
body.
Treatment
In consultation with the contractor, a treatment regime for the siding was
developed. The shingled surfaces would receive a basic prep, prime and a twotopcoat
paint treatment. If there were defective or missing shingles they would
be replaced in kind, fastened with galvanized nails and refinished along with the
rest.
As for the siding, it was decided that the time had come to strip the existing paint
back to bare wood—not only because of the accumulated thickness of paint, but
also to allow proper inspection and repair of the many small and large defects in
the siding. Small defects could be covered with epoxy adhesives, but repairs to
cavities and gaps would require gluing and clamping or carpentry repairs. Siding
boards would be left separate from each other and free to expand and contract as
necessary.
The objective was to replace an absolute minimum of siding material. Criteria
for replacement and repair were discussed. It was decided that repairs would be
carried out on the building wherever possible; materials would be removed to the
shop for repair only when absolutely necessary.
HCF’s intention was not to restore the exterior of the building. Considering the
changes over time, that would have been impractical, if not impossible. However,
physical evidence and historical photographs guided the decision to change the
colour to a deeper, stronger, slightly mustard shade in place of the rather anaemic
yellow on the building.
Execution
Paint removal was achieved using the “Silent Stripper” infrared system and scrapers.
Silent paint removers soften paint and varnish from wood after 20 to 40
seconds of exposure to heat without the use of chemical solvents.
(See www.swedepaint.ca).
Paint residue was collected and disposed of according to provincial standards.
The side and rear walls were stripped of loose paint, all the bare wood was then
primed and the entire wall given two topcoats of paint.
The front wall siding was more complex and, in some places, in a more fragile
state. For example, in this type of wall it is not enough to simply drive a popped
nail back in. Usually it must be removed, a new fastener installed to the same part
of the frame and the old hole filled with putty.
The paint removal process proceeded steadily if slowly and resulted in very little
damage to the surface and edges of the siding.
After the wall was clean of paint, it was evident that many of the short sections of
siding in the shadow of the porch had to be replaced. Clean spruce boards were
used. Since the siding pieces were small and easily shaped and installed, this task
presented no real problems.
Fortunately, most of the longer boards had enough structural integrity to remain
in service. In the end, repairs to individual siding boards were all done in place,
including gluing and clamping splits. This saved the work of cutting nails and
reinstalling the long, unwieldy boards.
If larger patches had needed to be done, Dutchman repairs would have been used
and spliced in. Repairing woodwork with large volumes of epoxy or other nonwood
materials is not recommended due to their different expansion and contraction
characteristics.
This type of work is a lot like repairing the hull of a boat, which can often be
achieved by a combination of shop and on-site repairs and a lot of careful fitting.
All new material received a coat of primer on all surfaces before being installed.
The usual three-coat system was applied to the siding. (The finish paint is Benjamin
Moore Exterior Alkyd Latex, medium base, soft gloss, colour #cc210 Dijon).
Pricing and Scope of Work
It was important that a firm price be set for budgeting purposes. But given the
unknown extent of the repairs, the budget also had to have enough flexibility to
accommodate possible changes in the scope of work. With this in mind, a fixed
price for easily quantifiable work and unit prices for siding repairs were negotiated.
Conclusions
Repair of traditional siding systems requires patience, care and knowledge of
traditional construction methods. It also requires a high level of finishing carpentry
skill and some specialized equipment. As described above, the project on the
Runciman House siding was probably the most extensive in the 200 years since
the house was built. Aside from routine maintenance every five years, buildings
like this in humid environments should receive major work of this sort at least
every 50 years.
Developing
Specification Clauses
Here are some
guidelines for
developing price
quotes and work
specifications
when dealing with
contractors on
traditional siding
systems.
Bidding
Provide one lump sum price broken down as follows:
- Preparation and repainting of all exterior walls, siding and trim.
- Repair and replacement of siding and wall shingles. (Provide a price for an estimated number
of repairs, joints, Dutchman repairs and unit replacement for the exterior siding, shingles and
trim. Provide an hourly rate and unit price for required repairs over and above the estimated
number, based on site conditions.)
Materials Requirements
- Wood conditioner: double-boiled linseed oil thinned 50 per cent with turpentine.
- Knot sealer: Zinser Bulls Eye knot sealer.
- Primer: Benjamin Moore top quality oil-based primer.
- Finish paint: Benjamin Moore top quality, oil-based, semi-gloss topcoat.
- Paint colours: estimate windows, sash, trim and body.
- Nails and fasteners: contractor’s recommendation in consultation with client’s representative.
Procedures
Exterior siding and trim: The goal is to remove all existing accumulated finishes from the siding
and trim to bare wood; make all necessary repairs to ensure the siding is stable and sheds the
weather—while removing no more historic fabric than absolutely necessary—and refinish.
- Remove all existing finishes to bare wood using a non-damaging procedure approved by the
client’s representative. Protect all surfaces, profiles and edges from damage. Collect, remove
and dispose of all removed paint in accordance with provincial and local codes and regulations.
(This work is to be based on a lump sum price.)
- Repair or replace deteriorated, cracked, displaced or failed siding in consultation with
the client’s representative by inserting Dutchman repairs, mitre splicing in new lengths of
siding. Date stamp all new material on the back side. Retain labelled samples of removed
historic siding in storage in the garage. (This work is to be based on a time- and materialsbased
price.)
- Refinish with three-coat work applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions with
regard to moisture, humidity and temperature. Back prime all surfaces of new material.
Exterior shingles and trim: The goal is to remove all loose, alligatored or flaking paint down to
sound, well-adhered paint or bare wood. Make all necessary repairs to shingles to ensure weather
shedding. Refinish.
- Remove all loosely bonded material, sand lightly and finish with three-coat work.
- Replace any failed shingles with new to match. Maintain exposure and pattern of width.
(This work is to be based on a lump sum price.)
Andrew Powter has been
involved in national and
international heritage
programs and projects.
His main areas of interest
include historic wood
structures, building envelope
performance and sustainable
heritage conservation
practice.
Back to top
Keeping Wood Siding on Historic Buildings
by Andrew Powter
We think of siding as a modern phenomenon, but it has been used in one form or another for
centuries. Preserving the historic character of traditional siding on older buildings can be a
challenge for heritage professionals.
Siding is typically used to cover vertical (or nearly vertical) wall surfaces.
Its usual function is to protect the building from weather, but it
can also be decorative.
Siding appears on buildings in a wide variety of materials, shapes
and sizes. One type of siding is sometimes used in combination with
another. Types include horizontal or vertical boards, shingles, asphalt
materials like insulbrick, asbestos cement shingles, and sheet and
panel metal.
Like any component of a building, siding is subject to various natural
forces that cause it to deteriorate, requiring periodic maintenance and
repair. Many owners want to avoid the expense and trouble of maintaining
siding, so it’s covered with lower maintenance materials like
vinyl or aluminium. What are the pros and cons of this controversial
approach to siding historic buildings?
Wood Siding and Heritage Character
Siding is a product of its period of construction, available technology, materials
and skills, and reflects stylistic trends, fashion, climate and industrial development.
More recently, the choice of siding has been influenced by marketing and
available transportation. For example, in 19th-century Canada, western red cedar
shingles from British Columbia substantially replaced others after the construction
of the railway.
Siding choices on historic buildings are therefore major contributors to establishing their place in a community,region and time period, and consequently their heritage character. For example, surviving pre-World War I residential buildings in the west end of Vancouver are among the few reminders of Vancouver’s earlier timberbased economy.
Maintaining and Repairing
Authentic Wood Siding
Siding “Systems”
A wood siding “system” usually consists of a weather-shedding surface (the siding
itself) that is attached to a surface (such as planks, battens or girts) with fasteners
(usually nails). The siding is usually coated with a protective
coating such as oil, stain, limewash or paint. Some form
of wind protection (bark, kraft paper, Tyvek, etc.) is often
installed behind the siding. Putty covers and protects fasteners.
Wood siding is usually installed horizontally (such as
bevelled, riven, short plank, long plank, edge profiled, cove,
drop and shiplap), vertically (such as plain board, board-andbatten,
tongue-and-groove) or as shingles.
Threats and Forms of Deterioration
Siding deteriorates because of trapped moisture and lack of
ventilation, leading to decay and insect attack. Vertical siding
is particularly susceptible if the bottom end grain is not
sealed. If siding is not protected by a well-maintained coating
such as paint, it deteriorates from weathering (cycles of wetting
and drying, ultra-violet light and windborne abrasives).
It slowly changes from the colour of fresh wood to the warm
grey of barn boards.
Other forces, such as impact, are far less damaging.
Perhaps the most problematic agent of deterioration is paint. Paint accumulates
over time to form a thick, impermeable, inflexible layer that can prevent the
natural expansion and contraction of the siding, causing it to split and crack.
Alternately, a thick paint layer itself may crack and split (called alligatoring) as
it expands and contracts at a different rate than the wood below. If a building
has been painted too frequently or improperly prepared for new paint, the time
comes, possibly after 100 years or more, when the excessive accumulations of
paint must be removed to start from bare wood. Repainting, let alone stripping to
bare wood and repainting, can itself present a threat. At this point, many owners
resort to calling the aluminium or vinyl siding contractor.
Repair and Conservation
A siding repair program gives owners an opportunity to get up close and personal
with their building and check for splits, reset popped nails, reputty over nail
heads or carry out other maintenance. Although small repairs can be performed
with the siding board in place, it is often advisable to repair the board on a bench
to effect a better fit and clamping.
Siding board units can be spot repaired by removing deteriorated material back
to a sound, straight edge and patching using Dutchmen and other insert repairs.
Always use wood of similar species, density and grain direction. Be sure to use
moisture-resistant adhesives for the most enduring repairs.
If a siding board is loose, nail it to its stud with a fastener similar in size to the old
fastener. Remove the old fastener and fill the hole. Be careful of nailing slightly
cupped boards too tightly as they may split.
Remove siding boards by removing exposed fasteners and using a hacksaw blade
to reach behind to cut concealed nails. Do this gently to avoid damaging adjacent
boards.
This is easier with bevelled siding than with coved or tongue-and-groove siding.
With these more complex profiles, in situ repairs may be best. To make a number
of repairs, it may be necessary to demolish a short length of board below to gain
the necessary manoeuvring space for the boards above. Also, the inside of the
groove may have to be sacrificed to install the final new board. Once the board
is repaired or the new board made, it can be slipped up behind the board above
and fastened into place. Stick with one nail per stud to allow for movement.
Remember, siding should always be back-primed before being installed.
Refinishing
When painting exterior woodwork, preparation is the most important step.
Scrape loose paint and sand the surface to give the new coat a “tooth.” Wipe away
dust. Apply a top quality knot sealer to exposed knots. Even a 100-year-old knot
will bleed through, so be sure to seal it. Apply an oil-based primer and then two
coats of oil-based or latex finish.
If the wood has lost most of its paint and is heavily weathered, sand well to
remove loose wood fibres. Brush the surface clean, and then apply a coat of
50/50 boiled linseed and thinner to condition the wood.
The paint you are removing may contain lead, so test it to ensure you comply with
health, safety, containment and disposal requirements.
Owners may apply new siding directly over old. Stucco, insulbrick and fibre
cement tiles have all had their periods of popularity. Indeed, some of these
materials have begun to be appreciated on their own merits. Since the 1960s,
vinyl and aluminium siding have been frequently considered to maintain historic
material. The vinyl siding industry markets extensively to the owners of heritage
properties (see www.vinylsiding.org).
This trend is controversial. What are some factors to consider?
Maintenance and Cost
Preparing and painting a wooden house can appear daunting, but spot repainting
after five years with general repainting after seven years or longer can
mitigate this.
Vinyl or aluminium siding lasts about 20-25 years, equal to two to four paint jobs.
Figures from the U.S. indicate that vinyl siding costs about the same as two and a
half paint jobs.
Furthermore, vinyl and aluminium are not maintenance-free, especially on heritage
buildings that were not designed for these materials. Mould may grow under
the siding. Many owners try to deal with this by using pressure washers to clean
it out. However, siding is designed to shed water from above, and washing from
below can force water up behind it, leading to wood decay.
Physical Impact
Opponents of vinyl and aluminium siding often say these materials are susceptible
to impact and difficult to repair. While replacing siding is extremely difficult,
the need to do so is probably rare.
Environmental Considerations
Paint, vinyl and aluminium are manufactured from non-renewable resources.
How does the embodied energy required to manufacture and ship paint compare to producing aluminium and vinyl? That’s hard to say, but we know wood that
was cut and installed 100 years ago uses no energy or non-renewable resources.
Aluminium and vinyl siding will not reduce your heating bill. The R-value of
siding with backing ranges from R-0 to R-2.5 at best. This is about the same as a
pane of glass.
There is no energy payback on these materials. Aluminium can be recycled. Vinyl
cannot. Vinyl also emits toxic fumes and carcinogens when it burns.
Protection
Some say that oversiding products protect historic materials, but this is a red herring.
Installing oversiding is very damaging due to the number of fasteners and
the blocking, trimming and removal of detail necessary for a decent fit.
Concealment
Oversiding a historic building conceals damage that should be repaired. Oversiding
requires many non-standard fittings and connections. Often, caulking plays
an important role in the new finish. Eventually, these details will fail, admit water
and contribute to deterioration underneath. I once found a failed porch beam
and column beneath a 20-year-old aluminium job.
Heritage Character
Oversiding a historic building means the building’s heritage character will be
affected for the next 20-30 years. This occurs in several ways.
Aluminium and vinyl siding are manufactured in a wide range of widths and
colours, but historically accurate profiles are rarely available. The optional grained
finish is more characteristic of sandblasted wood than historic siding. The doubleboard
profile is an inaccurate detail no craftsman would replicate.
The biggest concern is the dramatic effect these materials have on the details of
a building. If sufficient care is not taken, the board width will change to nonregional
dimensions or will reduce window and door trim projections and force
the blurring of historic mouldings and removal of inconvenient projections.
For more information on the vinyl siding issue, see Vinyl Siding: The Real Issues by
the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation at www.cttrust.org.
In 2007, the Heritage Canada Foundation is carrying out a project to repair the
siding on the historic Runciman House in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. The
building is clad with wood shingles on two sides and the rear, and with beadedged
cove siding on the front, including two curved bays. A follow-up article will
report on the full range of repairs described in this article.
Andrew Powter has been involved in
national and international heritage
programs and projects. His main areas of
interest include historic wood structures,
building envelope performance and
sustainable heritage conservation
practice.
References
Fram, Mark. Well-Preserved: The Ontario
Heritage Foundation’s Manual of Principles
and Practice for Architectural Conservation.
Boston Mills Press, 1992.
Cunningham, Jan. Vinyl Siding: the real
issues. Connecticut Trust for Historic
Preservation, 2001.
Information Brief: Maintaining Vinyl Siding.
Washington, Vinyl Siding Institute, 1994.
Information Brief: Vinyl Siding and Historic
Restoration. Washington, Vinyl Siding
Institute, 1994. Online at www.vinylsiding.
org/vsic/historic/index.htm
Meyers, John H. Revised by Gary L. Hume.
Preservation Briefs Volume 8, Aluminium
and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings, The
Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for
Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings.
U.S. Department of the Interior, National
Park Service, Washington, D.C., 20402, Oct.
1984.
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