Re: [at-l] "The Place" in Damascus needs Help.

[tmcginnis@ucclan.state.in.us (Thomas McGinnis)]

*******WildBill posted this from the Damascus site:

To Friends of "The Place"
<snippage>
Until now donations by the people who stay at "The Place" have been 
sufficient to pay the operating expenses and for various maintenance 
projects to the interior and exterior of the one hundred year old 
structure. Now, the condition of the paint, siding, trim, etc. has 
reached the point that, if the structure is to be maintained, permanent 
repairs must be made. The installation of vinyl siding is the only 
reasonable solution. To complete this project the cost has been 
estimated at $10,000. Funds for a project of this size are not 
available, and we are asking for donations from anyone who is capable 
and wiling to contribute to the preservation of "The Place".


     I feel strongly that vinyl is NOT the proper choice, either for The 
     Place or for Damascus.
     
     1) Architecturally (and Datto, feel free to step in here), vinyl is 
     the ruination of any building's original lines. It pushes out the 
     walls without similar emphasis on the windows or trim. I remember one 
     operation (in giving me a $17000 estimate on my house) showed me 
     before and after pictures of one of their "signature" homes -- the 
     windows were reduced to dimples, and the structures looked fake and 
     cheap -- and this from 100' away. I MUCH preferred the original. Vinyl 
     belongs designed on, not added on.
     
     2) Vinyl does not keep its shape through its advertised "lifetime" -- 
     which is to say, some parts of it warp and expose the building 
     envelope to water, insect, varmint incursion *long* before the 
     majority is problematic. The result is hard to repair (in fitting and 
     in color matching), and hard to (cost-justify) replace. Reasonable 
     estimations rate vinyl siding lifecycles at 40 years.
     
     3) Thus, the $10,000/40 years amounts to about $250 per year, with NO 
     present value impact of having the whole business having to be paid up 
     front in year 1. This also assumes that NO OUTSIDE LABOR is utilized. 
     (E.G., nobody from the Church, AND NOBODY FROM THE MASSES OF 
     THROUGHHIKERS)
     
     4) A decent powerwashing/trim refitment/caulk/paint (using high 
     silicone "30year" paint) should be doable for between $3,000 and 
     $4,000, again NOT USING THROUGHHIKER LABOR). A good paint job -- 
     especially in that environment -- should go 20 years. (Yes, with the 
     so-called 30year paint.)
     
     5) Thus, without present value considerations, a refit/paint job will 
     go MUCH farther than the claimed "economies" of a vinyl job, and 
     again, this is without any use of hiker labor. ANYBODY WANT TO GUESS 
     just how many hikers passing through The Place in springtime have ever 
     professionally slapped a paintbrush? With that consideration, you just 
     took 80% of the cost of the paint job OUT.
     
     6) I would really like to contribute to the efforts of The Place, but 
     in good conscience, I can't throw money at a vinyl job. My own house 
     (at 109 years old) is about the same exterior size as The Place, and 
     the estimates I received ranged from $13,000 to $22,000 for a vinyl 
     job. I went -- five years ago -- with the refitment/paint job, and 
     have never ONCE regretted it. A five color paint job, at that. 49 
     window/door openings over two stories to be 
     scraped/inspected/refitted/caulked. Makes me tired just to think about 
     it. And the paint looks like new to this day.
     
     I feel strongly about this, folks. We -- none of us -- have so much 
     money that we can afford to throw it away. But with hikers AND A 
     CARING HIKER INSTITUTION involved, I feel a real need to speak up.
     
     Anybody got any *specific* suggestions? Phone numbers? Email 
     addresses?
     
     Sloetoe
     (Proving once again that
     *real* economists make it work at home.)
     
     
     
     
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