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WHEN DETAILS, SUCH AS WINDOW TRIM, IS <br />LOST <br />RETAINED WHEN ASBESTOS SIDING WAS <br />INSTALLED <br />POPULAR IN THE 19405 <br />THE HOUSE DETRACTS FROM THE ORIGINAL <br />CHARACTER <br />Synthetic Materials <br />With the advent of plastics and modern <br />methods of forming materials, which <br />were not available until after World War <br />11, home owners have been influenced by <br />the promise of never having to paint or <br />perform routine maintenance. In the late <br />1930s, asbestos shingles were the first <br />modern no -maintenance products, <br />followed by alumiinum siding andl vinyl <br />siding for the main skin of a house. <br />There are several houses in the historic <br />districts which have asbestos-shing]e <br />siding and many with other, more recent <br />synthetic siding materials. <br />Asbestos shingles that were installed <br />over existing siding have not been <br />detrimental to the siding underneath <br />because they breathe. Asbestos siding is <br />only hazardous if it is removed, and then <br />special disposal precautions must be <br />observed. <br />However, steel, aluminum, and vinyl are <br />so, air -tight they can trap moisture <br />causing the material underneath to rot. <br />The installation of a foam insulation <br />before the vinyl causes even greater <br />damage because all moisture is sealed <br />into the siding envelope. <br />Houses within a historic district which <br />may have a synthetic material applied to <br />them may retain the synthetic material <br />without penalty. However, they would <br />not qualify individually for state or federal <br />historic designation. As renovations <br />occur, consider removing the synthetic <br />siding and restore the original siding. <br />Stucco is nota synthetic material, except <br />in the most recent advent of so-called <br />synthetic stucco which is, made as an <br />insulating and finish system. This product <br />Design Standards for the City of Paris, Texas 131 <br />