There are as many different kinds of carpentry as there are people who perform the work, which is not unique to carpentry by any means, one could say the same things about the preparation of food or the practice of law. When it comes to historic work, as it relates to the field of carpentry more broadly, there are ethical choices to be made which are perhaps less common in other areas of the trades.
If historic buildings lasted forever in perfect condition, there would be no need for my profession. In a temperate but harsh environment like Vermont, where fortunes wax and wane, and prosperity blooms next to abject poverty, the fortunes of Vermont’s buildings can diverge wildly.
More often than not, when I am called to examine a structure I’m tasked not only with forensically examining the original building, but also determining what repairs and alterations were made, and, most importantly, why. I have seen some truly extraordinary barns patched together with repairs that convey an almost frantic feeling, as generations of farmers on tight budgets did whatever they had to do to keep the building up, even as they became obsolete.. The barn was kept alive for one more year, then another, then another. It is immensely gratifying to finally be the one to come in and do substantial, long-lasting repairs, to give a building a chance to breathe, and to vindicate the struggle to keep the building intact.
Given that, it can be tough to look down on poor-quality work being done to historic buildings in Vermont, because whatever the outcome, one would hope that it at least is in service of extending longevity. Problem is, bad repairs by well-meaning contractors can destroy originality, or irrevocably obfuscate important information. Ultimately the work will have to be redone. Not in 10 or even 20 years perhaps, but eventually. Worst case, the work can seem as though it were done with an almost malicious intent, and undermines the building’s structural whole. I have seen this. We are lucky to be in a state with a caring populace and a vibrant preservationist movement, and we need to better establish that historic buildings are fundamentally different, and need specialist treatment. A tax lawyer may be ill suited to jump into a murder trial, a pastry chef might hesitate at working a pit BBQ, an F1 driver might not feel prepared to race in the World Rally Championship. Every field has its specialists and specializations, and I’m grateful so many know that our field even exists.