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HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF SOUTH BEND AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTY <br />Phone: 574/235.9371 Fax: 574/235.9021 Email: hpcsbsjc@southbendin.gov <br />A. BUILDING MATERIALS <br />Original exterior wall materials in the district include limestone, flagstone, stucco, clapboard, wood shingles, sandstone and <br />masonry block. In some instances, vinyl or aluminum siding has been applied over the original surface. <br />Required <br />Original exterior building materials shall be retained. Deterioration of wood materials shall be prevented through repair, c lean- <br />ing and painting. The existing or original architectural detail around windows, porches, doors and eaves should be re- <br />tained 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 sta ins, <br />and shall be done with a method acceptable for the preservation of the surface: i.e. low pressure water and soft natural bris tle <br />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 <br />only alternative to maintaining or replacing the original surface material. When used over wood surfaces, this siding should be <br />the same size and style as the original wood. Every effort should be made to retain the original trim around windows, <br />doors, cornices, gables, eaves, and other architectural features. Ample ventilation must be afforded the structure when <br />metal or vinyl siding has been installed in order to prevent increased deterioration of the structure from moisture and/or in sects. <br />Mortar joints should be repointed only when there is little evidence of moisture problems or when sufficient mortar is missin g <br />to allow water to stand in the mortar joint. Existing mortar shall be duplicated in composition, color, texture, joint size, method <br />of application, and joint profile. It is emphasized that, prior to initiating any restoration or rehabilitation effort, the property <br />owner should contact the Historic Preservation Commission of South Bend and St. Joseph County which is located in the Coun- <br />ty/City Building of South Bend. The Commission is an invaluable source of information about all facets of rehabilitation and <br />restoration. <br />Prohibited <br />Wood siding shall not be resurfaced with new material which is inappropriate or was unavailable when the building was con- <br />structed, 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 sur- <br />face material and accelerates deterioration. Brick surfaces shall not be painted unless they had been painted unless they ha d <br />been painted originally. Repointing shall not be done with a mortar of high Portland cement content which can often create a <br />bond that is stronger than the building material. This can cause deterioration as a result of the differing coefficient of e xpansion <br />and the differing porosity of the material and the mortar which can result in serious damage to adjacent brick. Paint shall not be <br />removed 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 re- <br />quired to solve a specific problem that has been studied and identified. Coatings are frequently unnecessary and expensive, and <br />can accelerate deterioration of the masonry. Mortar joints which do not need repointing should not be repointed. <br />[…] <br />C. 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 alu- <br />minum 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 new <br />sashes or doors are installed, the existing or original materials, design, and hardware should be used. When metal storm doo rs <br />are used, they should be painted, anodized or coated to match the existing. When awnings are used they should be of canvas <br />material. <br />Prohibited <br />Original doors, windows, and hardware shall not be discarded when they can be restored and reused in place. New <br />window and door openings which would alter the scale and proportion of the building shall not be introduced. Inappro- <br />priate new window and door features, such as aluminum insulating glass combinations that require removal of the original win- <br />dows 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 exist ing <br />character or appearance of the building. <br />III. NEW CONSTRUCTION <br />New construction includes any new building or structure constructed within the boundaries of the historic district, or any ne w addi- <br />tion to an existing building. New construction should be designed considering the appearance of the other buildings in the n eighbor- <br />hood. <br />A.HEIGHT AND PROPORTION <br />The majority of structures in the district are two stories high and are square, rectangular, or irregular in plan. There are a few <br />story-and-a-half residences. The prevalent façade proportions are between a 1:1 and a 1:2 height-to-width ratio. <br />Required <br />The height of a new structure and its height-to-width proportions shall be consistent with adjacent buildings in the district. The