If you’ve been in the construction industry for long, you
are no stranger to attending a convention. It seems like most associations that
have a significant presence will assemble the loyal following once a year to
learn more about surviving in the industry. I have been to large conventions
like AIA, CSI, IWF and NAHB as well as smaller niche gatherings like state or national
preservation conferences. They are often a good source of education and
entertainment as well as an excellent opportunity to network with others. So
with that as a backdrop, I attended the Window Preservation Standards Collaborative
(WPSC) Summit last week to speak on the topic of the business of window
preservation. The summit hosted 50-60 preservationists to the Campbell Center
in Mount Carroll, Illinois for four days of seminars on the science of window
restoration. Although this assembly pales by comparison to the thousands that
attend an AIA convention, it amazes me what can happen when a small group of
passionate people connect.
The members of the WPSC remind me of Martin Luther King’s
following as they marched across the bridge in Selma, Alabama. Here is a small
group of craftsmen and artisans who have assembled to conduct battle with the
mega-corporations of the window industry. Instead of using massive advertising
budgets to promote the message of window restoration, this collection of
skilled preservationists rely on a grassroots effort of educating the industry
on the economics and common sense of restoring historic windows. On one end of
the bridge you have this small group of craftsmen armed with the proven science
of historic window construction. On the other end you have the massive juggernaut
of the window industry promulgating the illusory economics of window replacement.
When one takes the time to study the facts, the truth of restoration prevails.
This assembly was more like Woodstock than a national
convention, and like Woodstock there were some of the best practitioners of the
trade represented. During the four days, attendees were exposed to the finer
details of wood and steel window restoration, storm window manufacturing,
business practices, and testing of restored windows. After spending four days
at the program one would definitely come to the conclusion that window
restoration makes sense because historic wood and steel windows are built to
last for centuries. The evidence proves that the act of replacing a window with
an expected lifespan of 300 years with a 20-year replacement is irresponsible
behavior. Since replacement windows are not designed to be repaired, the
collaborative has aptly renamed them “disposable” windows.
What amazed me the most about the summit was the subtle
message that many of our construction practices of the past have undisputed
validity in modern means and methods. The construction industry is constantly
being tempted by new technologies that promise performance and no maintenance,
only to prove to have spurious lifespans and overstated performance. Disasters
such as EIFS, aluminum wiring, plastic plumbing pipes, synthetic slate roofs,
and Chinese drywall are just a few examples of failed products that were once
paraded as technological breakthroughs. Maybe we just need to pay more
attention to the proven methods of the past and accept the fact that the
simplicity tested over time may be the most revolutionary solution for current
construction challenges.
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