Laserfiche WebLink
Guidebook Chapin Park Local Historic District <br />Page 70 <br />intrusive to the public view of the building or are highly visibly from a public street, or ruled inap- <br />propriate after Commission review. <br />Utility poles with high-intensity overhead lights should be installed so that they cannot be seen <br />from a street. The Commission will evaluate all installations as well as any potential exceptions <br />resulting from special circumstances, before granting a C of A. <br />II. EXISTING STRUCTURES <br />A. BUILDING MATERIALS <br />Original exterior building materials in the district include brick, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles, <br />and brick or stone masonry. In some instances, vinyl, composite and aluminum siding have been <br />applied over the original material. <br />Required <br />Original exterior building materials shall be retained when possible. Deterioration of wood mate- <br />rials shall be prevented through repair, cleaning and painting. The existing architectural detail <br />around windows, porches, doors and eaves shall be retained or replaced by replicas of the same <br />design when deteriorated beyond repair. <br />Masonry, including brick and stucco structures, shall be maintained, and properly cleaned only <br />when necessary to halt deterioration or to remove stains and shall be done in a method acceptable <br />for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low-pressure water and soft natural bristle brushes. Brick or <br />masonry mortar joints should be repointed only when there is evidence of moisture problems, or <br />when sufficient mortar is missing to allow water to stand in the mortar joint. Existing mortar shall <br />be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method of application and joint profile. <br />When repairing stucco, stucco mixture shall be used. A professional shall make a study of the old <br />stucco, to determine the exact mixture and underlayment used in the original work. Some repair <br />methods are not compatible with the original techniques and may cause early disintegration of the <br />repair work and the original work. <br />Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when siding is installed, in order to prevent <br />increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and insects. <br />Recommended <br />Whenever possible, the original building materials should be restored. When maintaining or <br />repairing original siding is not feasible, aluminum, vinyl or composite siding may be used. When <br />used over wood surfaces, this siding should be the same size and style as the original wood. Every <br />effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, doors, cornices, gables, eaves <br />and other architectural features. <br />Property owners should contact the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph <br />County prior to initiating any restoration or rehabilitation effort. [Address and contact information <br />is listed in the front of the Guidebook.] The Commission is an invaluable source of information about <br />all facets of rehabilitation and restoration – materials, methods, contractors and the like.