Historic HomeWorks Forum

johnleeke · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 9:57 am Post subject: New Materials or Methods

If a building owner wants me to use a material or method that is not part of my standard practice I ask them to sign an agreement that I am not responsible for any result. This helps them pay more attention to my standard alternatives I am recommending. I will sometimes use their method or material, considering it an opportunity to get paid to test out something new. Usually the results are less than satisfactory, but occasionally it's better than my standard practice. Then I may put it into my comparative field testing program. If the testing proves out, then I may include it in my standard practice. Over the decades this procedure has resulted in fewer callbacks, and a longer service life of my work. I'm now pushing out the durability of my sash glazing and painting from 18 or 20 years to 25 or 30+ years.