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Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair,
<br />cleaning and painting. The existing or original architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves should be
<br />retained or replaced by replicas of the same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Masonry including
<br />brick, limestone, flagstone, sandstone and stucco shall be cleaned only when necessary to halt deterioration or to remove
<br />stains, and shall be done with a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low pressure water and soft
<br />natural bristle bushes. When repairing stucco, stucco mixture compatible in composition, color and texture shall be used.
<br />Recommended
<br />Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored. Metal or vinyl siding may be used when it is the only
<br />alternative to maintaining or replacing the original surface material. When used over wood surfaces, this siding should be the same
<br />size and style as the original wood. Every effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, doors, cornices,
<br />gables, eaves, and other architectural features. Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when metal or vinyl siding has
<br />been installed in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and/or insects. Mortar joints should be
<br />repointed only when there is little evidence of moisture problems or when sufficient mortar is missing to allow water to stand in the
<br />mortar joint. Existing mortar shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of application, and joint profile.
<br />It is emphasized that, prior to initiating any restoration or rehabilitation effort, the property owner should contact the Historic
<br />Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County which is located in the County/City Building of South Bend. The
<br />Commission is an invaluable source of information about all facets of rehabilitation and restoration.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with new material which is inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was
<br />constructed, such as artificial stone, brick veneer, asbestos, or asphalt shingles. Sandblasting or the use of harsh detergents shall
<br />not be used on masonry including brick, stucco, limestone, flagstone, and sandstone. This method of cleaning erodes the surface
<br />material and accelerates deterioration. Brick surfaces shall not be painted unless they had been painted unless they had been
<br />painted originally. Repointing shall not be done with a mortar of high Portland cement content which can often create a bond that
<br />is stronger than the building material. This can cause deterioration as a result of the differing coefficient of expansion and the
<br />differing porosity of the material and the mortar which can result in serious damage to adjacent brick. Paint shall not be removed
<br />from masonry surfaces indiscriminately.
<br />Not Recommended
<br />Waterproof or water repellent coatings or surface consolidation treatments should not be used on masonry surfaces unless required
<br />to solve a specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and expensive, and can
<br />accelerate deterioration of the masonry. Mortar joints which do not need repointing should not be repointed.
<br />B. WINDOWS AND DOORS
<br />Window and door frames are in most cases wood. Brick structures have stone sills and brick lintels. In some cases where
<br />aluminum siding has been applied window trim has been covered. About half of the structures in the district have aluminum storm
<br />windows, the other half wood windows.
<br />Required
<br />Original windows and doors shall be retained including sashes, lintels, sills, shutters, decorative glass, pediments, hoods,
<br />and hardware. When deteriorated beyond repair, they shall be replaced with units and trim resembling the original.
<br />Recommended
<br />Wood frame storm windows and doors painted to match the original should be used should not damage existing frames. If
<br />new sashes or doors are installed, the existing or original materials, design, and hardware should be used. When metal
<br />storm doors are used, they should be painted, anodized or coated to match the existing. When awnings are used they
<br />should be of canvas material.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Original doors, windows, and hardware shall not be discarded when they can be restored and reused in place. New window
<br />and door openings which would alter the scale and proportion of the building shall not be introduced. Inappropriate new
<br />window and door features, such as aluminum insulating glass combinations that require removal of the original windows
<br />and doors, shall not be installed.
<br />Not Recommended
<br />Awnings, hoods, and fake shutters made of metal, vinyl, or fiberglass should not be used if they would detract from the existing
<br />character or appearance of the building.
<br />ENTRANCES, PORCHES AND STEPS
<br />Most houses in the district have either an open or enclosed porch across the front. Most porches have either hip or gabled roofs or
<br />are covered by the main roof of the house.
<br />Required
<br />Existing or original porches, stoops, patios, and steps, including handrails, balusters, columns, brackets, tiles and roof decorations,
<br />shall be retained or replaced by replica of the same design and materials when deteriorated beyond repair. Porches and additions
<br />reflecting later architectural styles and which are important to the building's historical integrity, shall be retained.
<br />Recommended
<br />When enclosing porches for heat conservation or for other reasons, it should be done in a manner that does not alter the
<br />architectural or historical character of the building.
<br />Prohibited
<br />Front porches, stoops, patios, and steps that are important to the building's style and development shall not be altered or removed.
<br />Not Recommended
<br />Original porch details should not be replaced with materials representing an earlier period or style from the original.
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