Conference/Public Meeting Agendas/Documents — Packet

Brick, clay and ceramic tile pavers. Slate, terne-metal, glazed ceramic and tile roofs. Concrete as lintels and columns. (Ord. No. 904-88 § 25-5.10M) 25-16.14 Inappropriate Finishes. Avoid artificial preservation finishes such as fiberglass, resin coating or laminated plastics. Avoid "rustic" or "antique" surface finishes. Avoid faddish or temporary surface finishes. It is important that the finish connote permanence and quality, rather than shabbiness or transience. Avoid any finish that calls excessive attention to itself and does not complement surrounding buildings. (Ord. No. 904-88 § 25-5.10N) 25-16.15 Appropriate Finishes. Quality materials do not guarantee a quality job. The method of finishing the chosen materials determines apparent quality. "Finish" means exactly what it says—it is the last thing done before use begins. The last thing done is the first thing people see and experience. a. Paint. Painted, well-finished wood and metal were the most characteristic finish materials of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Painted wood that has been properly prepared and finished presents a handsome, extremely durable and colorful surface for all buildings. Semi-gloss alkyd enamel paint, when applied to a properly prepared surface, forms the best protection possible for wood and metal. Semi-gloss finish is recommended because it is easily cleaned, it enhances the color, yet does not severely highlight defects or surface irregularities. Labor is the costly factor in painting. Buying good quality materials insures a lower labor cost over a long period because of the extended life that can be expected from good quality materials. Painting is as difficult to do well as any other aspect of the building trades. A roller does not yield the kind of finished, silky-painted surface that a good china bristle brush produces in the hands of a skilled craftsperson. The last coat of paint is the first thing seen. Good craftsmanship in this final step will guarantee a noticeable quality appearance. Recent years have seen the popularity of unpainted, unfinished wood increase. Unfinished woods tend to have a more rustic look, which is less appropriate in the traditionally business- oriented mercantile section of West Orange than it would be in the

wood increase. Unfinished woods tend to have a more rustic look, which is less appropriate in the traditionally business- oriented mercantile section of West Orange than it would be in the more rural areas of town. Well-finished materials give a more formal, "dressed" appearance to a portion of town where this "dress" has traditionally been the case. Color decisions, although very subjective, can use objective criteria for narrowing choices and reducing the possibility of random and harmonious selection. b. Color Surfaces. Color can be applied to almost any material and surface; walls, roofs, doors, windows, fascias, downpipes, cornices, lintels, brackets and sills. Generally two (2) basic colors need to be selected: the base color which is the predominating amount of color and usually will be applied to walls and the accent color for trim, hardware, doors, etc. c. Traditional Base Colors. Much of the color in downtown is the original color of the buildings. These durable colors are in the natural materials themselves, such as brick and stone. The natural color of brick and stone is beautiful and appropriate to downtown West Orange. 71