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Indiana Landmarks urges cautious use of substitute materials for Logansport historic buildings
Summary
Indiana Landmarks presented updated National Park Service guidance on 'substitute' building materials to the Logansport Preservation Commission, stressing durability, visual compatibility and economic considerations and offering a statewide contractor directory and trades training resources.
The Logansport Preservation Commission heard from Deborah of Indiana Landmarks on Nov. 13 about new guidance for using substitute building materials in historic structures.
Deborah told commissioners that “the National Park Service updated their preservation brief 16 which is addressing substitute materials,” and she explained the difference between imitative materials (meant to mimic other materials) and substitute materials (new materials used to replace original fabric). “Sometimes it looks really, really good,” she said of substitutes, but warned that longevity can be uncertain.
She gave a concrete durability example: an artificial slate roof that appeared realistic when installed but “about less than 5 years into it, they started curling and then some of them just started falling off,” which left the building owners with expensive repairs and reduced confidence in the product.
Deborah said reviewers now weigh multiple factors when deciding whether to allow a substitute: the economic feasibility for the owner, the placement on the building (less-visible upper facades may tolerate substitutes more readily), close matches for profile and texture, and proven durability. She noted that some historic materials are no longer available (asbestos shingles, for example), and that code-required fire- or flood-resistant solutions sometimes make substitutes necessary.
To address skill shortages, Deborah described Indiana Landmarks’ workforce initiatives, including a pilot trades training program in Kendallville and a planned preservation curriculum with Ivy Tech to credential workers in masonry, wood and window repair. She also offered the commission access to Indiana Landmarks’ statewide directory of contractors who specialize in preservation work, and said the organization can email the listing to local property owners or staff.
Why it matters: many downtown Logansport buildings are in National Register districts and may seek state or federal tax credits. Deborah said reviewers will examine substitute materials when projects pursue tax credits, making durable, compatible choices important to access limited incentives.
The presentation concluded with a reminder from Deborah that even thoughtful replacement diminishes some material integrity — a trade-off the Park Service guidance acknowledges while giving reviewers a structured way to assess proposals.
