A number of years ago I built a replica Rangeley Lakes boat for my personal use. I didn’t realize at the time
that a few basic techniques I learned in the process would be invaluable in the
repair and restoration of older homes.
The average front porch of a house is
exposed to more weather and neglect than almost any wooden boat I know of. In
this region of the country the boating season is short and boats are hauled out
and put away for the winter indoors or covered. They are inspected and repaired
and refinished as is necessary. Porches with more horizontal wood surface than
any other part of a house enjoy all weather conditions year round.
Years ago, carpenters had what appeared to
be an inexhaustible supply of old growth lumber. This lumber was superior to
the lumber we use today in almost every way. Trees that grew in dense forest
with lots of competition over many years grew slower with annual rings that
formed much closer together. This produces a more dimensionally stable board. Some
species additionally formed organic compounds that fought the fungi and micro organisms
that cause decay. The inside of a tree after all is in fact dead. So much of
the wood on older homes is superior to most of the materials we can replace it
with unless cost is not a consideration.
So what needs to change? The method that
carpenters have employed in the application of lumber for exterior use. Some conscientious
carpenters already do this. Have you ever seen a carpenter “back prime” a piece
of wood? Essentially this is priming surfaces that will not be exposed. This
reduces and slows the amount of moisture wood can absorb on unexposed sides.
Wet one side of a board and it will expand producing a cupped shape. Watch deck
boards and how they behave when rained on and dried under an intensely hot sun.
This is a huge amount of stress to the boards surface. So back priming helps
keep a board stable and helps to keep the moisture content lower.
The carpenter of yesterday also did not
have elastomeric and polyurethane caulks that we have the available to us. Please
not that I have not included “painters” or acrylic latex caulk such for this is
an inferior product.
Additionally the principle and practices of
boatbuilding play largely here and contribute greatly to work that will stand
the test of time.
