The intent of this brief has been to delineate issues that should
be considered when contemplating the use of aluminum or vinyl
sidings on historic buildings and assessing under what circumstances
substitute materials such as artificial siding may be used without
damaging the integrity of the historic building or adversely changing
its historic character. Many property owners are faced with decisions
weighing the historic value of their building and its maintenance
cost against the possible benefit of aluminum and vinyl siding
materials. To assist in making these decisions, "The Secretary
of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines
for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings" have been published
and are available from National Park Service Regional Offices
and State Historic Preservation Offices. Further, since rehabilitation
projects for income-producing historic buildings often seek tax
benefits under the 1981 Economic Recovery Tax Act, as amended,
it is essential that all work, such as the replacement of exterior
siding, be carried out in conformance with the Standards and be
consistent with the building's historic character to insure that
the tax benefits are not denied.
 The inappropriate siding applied to the house on the right has altered the character of the urban setting. Photo: NPS files. |
As stated earlier, the application of aluminum and vinyl siding
is frequently considered as an alternative to the maintenance
of the original historic material. The implication is that the
new material is an economical and long-lasting alternative and
therefore somehow superior to the historic material. In reality,
historic building materials such as wood, brick and stone, when
properly maintained, are generally durable and serviceable materials.
Their widespread existence on tens of thousands of old buildings
after many decades in serviceable condition is proof that they
are the original economic and long-lasting alternatives. All materials,
including aluminum and vinyl siding can fall into disrepair if
abused or neglected; however, the maintenance, repair and retention
of historic materials are always the most architecturally appropriate
and usually the most economically sound measures when the objective
is to preserve the unique qualities of historic buildings.
The appropriate preservation decision on the use of a substitute
material in the rehabilitation of a historic building must always
center on two principal concerns: the possible damage or destruction
of historic building materials; and, the possible negative impact
on the historic character of the building and the historic district
or setting in which the building is located. Because applications
of substitute materials such as aluminum and vinyl siding can
either destroy or conceal historic building material and features
and, in consequence, result in the loss of a building's historic
character, they are not recommended by the National Park Service.
Such destruction or concealment of historic materials and features
confuses the public perception of that which is truly historic
and that which is imitative.
"Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings" an Historic Preservation Brief
