what will happen to 200 + year old wood if vinyl sided? horror stories welcome. help stop historic destruction

Question

historic church in S.C. has voted to vinyl side the church. the church was built in 1694, moved 200 yards and remodeled in the late 1700's. several church members would love to stop this insane act. any ideas or help welcome. thanks

Answer 1

I don't know exactly what will happen to the wood, we can only hope maybe it will protect the wood until the time comes when people care enough about historic preservation to rip the vinyl siding off and expose the true way the church was meant to look.

I hate vinyl siding I don't care how much people say it looks like wood or whatever I think it makes buildings look cheap and disgusting and it makes me want to puke when I see a vinyl sided building, especially ones that were once beautiful and historic.

Answer 2

Actually, when vinyl siding is applied, there is usually a thin insulating board also applied, over the surface. Between this and the vinyl siding it would actually preserve the wood underneath, lol. The only 'damage' to the original wood siding, would be a few nail holes, which can be minimized by using furring strips, instead of nailing directly to the wood.

Our church had old masonite siding... over 50 years old... and it looked it. It was rotting and peeling... we had to paint it every year, it was in such bad shape. One visiting little girl mentioned it looked like it had leprousy, hehehe. So, we put vinyl siding over it.... it looks like a new building! And, unexpectedly, that little bit of insulation was a real cost savings for us with our utilities.

Something for you to keep in mind.... the building is only a building... it is where you are meant to come before God to worship him, and learn of him. Don't let something as petty as 'historic' title create a rift in the members.... God doesnt care what's on the outside....only about what's on the inside.

Yes, with a building that old, it would be nice to keep it looking as it did originally.... but do not lose sight of the fact that you're there to meet God....not brag about how 'old', or how much 'historic' value the building has.

The vote to use vinyl siding was probably prompted by skyrocketing maintenance costs..... If there is a group that genuinely wants to retain the historic look and feel of the church... I would suggest that you all put some muscle behind your desire, and volunteer to take on the upkeep yourselves. Have some workdays scheduled... replace rotten boards, scrape, paint, etc. Remember tho, whatever you do... do it as unto the Lord.

And a friendly tip here.... if you want to preserve peace in the congregation... avoid attacking the members with comments like 'insane'....what's that old saying... you can attract more bees with honey, than vinegar?

If you want to save the look of the church.... volunteer to take on it's preservation.... if you're not willing to help... don't complain. There are too many people who want to tell a pastor, and his council 'how to run' the church, and not enough willing to work.

;) That's probably not what you wanted to hear.... but think it over, seriously -- an offer to help would be much more welcome, and they would be much more receptive to it, than complaints, and attacks.

(Scripture also says a church should take care of its problems internally... so that the gospel might not suffer reproach... to air your grievance in such a public forum as this.... tsk tsk)