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When the mastic siding was removed from this house in 2013, the contractor failed to do the necessary repairs to the clap -board as well as the transitional flashing and trim work. They merely painted the poor areas to match including the flashing and failed trim work. As a result, almost all four corners have sustained damage and rot where the mitered boards meet. There are also areas where flashing ran underneath the old mastic siding now remains and actually collects water and allows it to run under the clap -board or even roofing material instead. I entered the third floor attic and noticed daylight through many of the loose and damaged cedar shake. Although the shake itself was in a repairable condition, the transitions are loose, rotted, and would need to be replaced. The owner expressed a desire to replace both levels as the new siding would be able to transition in a way that the elements would flow more fluidly over it. The shakes would have to be removed and reinstalled with new wood transitional trim work that would consist of several "stepping" levels of trim. The rear of the house has a cement steps/landing from a since removed lean-to storage area and a set of cement steps at rear door. The owner proposes to butt up to the existing steps/landing and continue with a wood deck that will sit flush in height and sit in between the support posts of the second level deck and the house. He also suggests matching the upper deck by using the same lumber and railings on the lower deck. The current stairs/landings lack handrails and railings which the owner plans to rectify as part of the new deck. STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES: II. EXISTING STRUCTURES A. BUILDING MATERIALS Original exterior wall materials in the District include brick, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles and masonry block. In some instances, vinyl or aluminum siding has been applied over the original material. Required Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair, cleaning and painting. The existing architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves should be retained or replaced by replicas of the same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Masonry including brick and stucco shall be cleaned only when necessary to halt deterioration or to remove stains, and shall be done with a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low pressure water and soft natural bristle brushes. When repairing stucco, only appropriate stucco mixture shall be used. Recommended Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored. Metal or vinyl may be used as an alternative to maintaining or replacing the original surface material when it resembles the original surface material. When used over wood surfaces, this siding should be the same size and style as the original wood. Every effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, doors, cornices, gables, eaves and other architectural features. Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when aluminum or vinyl is to be installed in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and/or insects. Mortar joints should be repointed only when there is evidence of moisture problems or when sufficient mortar is missing to allow water to stand in the mortar joint. Existing mortar shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of application and joint profile. Prohibited Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with material such as artificial stone, brick veneer, asbestos or asphalt shingles, which is inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was constructed. Sandblasting or the use of harsh detergents shall not be used on masonry or stucco. This method of cleaning erodes the surface material and accelerates deterioration. Not Recommended Waterproof or water repellent coatings or surface consolidation treatments should not be used on masonry surfaces unless required to solve a specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and expensive, and can accelerate deterioration of the masonry. Mortar joints which do not need repointing should not be. Repointing should not be done with mortar of high Portland cement content, which can often create a bond that is stronger than the building materials. This can cause deterioration as a result of the differing porosity of the material and the mortar— the end result being serious damage to adjacent brick. Paint should not be removed from masonry surfaces indiscriminately. C. WINDOWS AND DOORS Window and door frames are in most cases wood. Brick structures have stone sills and brick lintels. In some cases where synthetic siding has been applied, window trim has been covered. Many structures in the district have aluminum storm windows. Some houses retain wood framed storm windows. Required