Twentieth Century Building Materials
Reviewed by Jim Sweeney
Art Deco buildings now have reached the age where many need some repair work. But with modern building materials, whether they're still being manufactured or not, it's often hard to know where to turn for proper restoration/repair techniques.
That's where Twentieth Century Building Materials: History and Conservation, edited by Thomas C. Jester, comes in handy (McGraw-Hill, $55 hardcover). Jester, an architectural historian with the National Park Service's Preservation Assistance Division, says in his preface that, "Contrary to popular perception, modern building materials are neither maintenance free nor more durable than traditional materials."
The book's essays outline the history of and conservation advice for a variety of interior and exterior' materials used on 20th century buildings. The essays were written by 47 architects, historians, and other preservation professionals. The book has 250 illustrations, plus a 65-page appendix offering notes, a bibliography, an index, and sources for research.
There are two audiences for this book. One is anyone interested in the history and production of these materials. The second is anyone who owns or is otherwise responsible for an Art Deco or other 20th century building.
The conservation advice is quite detailed. The essays cover common deterioration problems, diagnostics and condition assessment, conservation techniques, and replacement options. For example, while opaque structural glass such as Vitrolite is no longer made in this country, the authors point readers to some limited options from foreign sources.
The book repeatedly cautions that various techniques and treatments require trained professionals; this isn't a do-it-yourself book. In some instances, the available literature and research on a material is so skimpy that the authors can't recommend a treatment for a problem. For instance, there are no accepted techniques for conserving porcelain enamel, although several experimental techniques are available.
The technical advice also flags potential areas of confusion. Blueprints, construction documents, and careful testing may be needed to identify materials. The book notes that nickel silver, a copper/nickel/zinc alloy (that contains no silver despite its name), is often mistaken for Monel, a copper/nickel alloy.
As is often the case, past maintenance, or the lack thereof, can be a major factor in what options you have. Author Sharon C. Park says that rubber flooring that has been well maintained can usually be refreshed with cleaning and rewaxing. If it has been allowed to deteriorate, preservation can be problematic.
Even if you don't need restoration advice, the historical information should appeal to anyone who is interested in the technical side of Art Deco architecture. And you'll find surprising factoids. Did you know that Howard Johnson's signature bright orange shingles were made of porcelain enamel?
The glass block essay, by Dietrich Neumann, Jerry G. Stockbridge and Bruce S. Kaskel, is a good example of the book's approach. The authors warn that replacement blocks can be difficult to find. Many glass block styles are no longer produced, and there is only one glass block maker left in the United States (Pittsburgh-Corning), plus some foreign makers.
The essay stresses that glass block is fairly durable and weathers well. However, many blocks made in the 1930s were sealed with lead. These lead seals often fail, allowing water to invade and cloud the block. In later blocks the glass edges were fused, forming a better seal.
Replacement can be a costly option, "prohibitively expensive for all but the largest projects." The authors point out that restoration of the Hecht Co. Warehouse in Washington required fabricating 10,000 custom-made glass blocks.
The book covers many options and anticipates what readers might do. In case you're tempted to find a building that's being demolished to supply replacement glass blocks, the authors warn that many building codes bar the use of salvaged glass blocks. This is because defects or damage in older blocks (as well as damage caused by their removal) make them more prone to cracking.
Photos are used to illustrate problems. A close-up of the pitted gates of the Federal Trade Commission Building in Washington's Federal Triangle illustrates how badly corroded stainless steel can become after being exposed to large amounts of air pollution. Stainless steel in this condition is often mistaken for aluminum, the book says. (It also notes that stainless steel in this condition can be refinished.)
Here are the book's chapter headings, with essay topics in parentheses:
- Metals (aluminum, Monel, nickel silver, stainless steel, weathering steel
- Concrete (concrete block, cast stone, reinforced concrete, shotcrete, architectural precast concrete, prestressed concrete)
- Wood and Plastics (fiberboard, decorative plastic laminates, plywood, glued laminated timber, fiberreinforced plastic)
- Masonry (structural clay tile, terra cotta, gypsum block and tile, thin stone veneer, simulated masonry)
- Glass (plate glass, prismatic glass, glass block, structural glass, spandrel glass)
- Flooring (linoleum, rubber tile, cork tile, terrazzo, vinyl tile)
- Roofing, Siding and Walls (asphalt shingles, porcelain enamel, acoustical materials, gypsum board, building sealants)
This article originally appeared in Trans-Lux volume 13, number 4, January 1997.
Where to Find the Book
You can find Twentieth Century Building Materials in local bookstores or purchase it on-line at a discount from Amazon.com Books.
ADSW offers this book in association with Amazon.com Books and receives a small commission on sales referred to them.
Comments
Created Saturday, October 31, 1998; Modified Saturday, September 20, 2003.
