The exterior of a chapel in a North Arlington local historic district will receive a deep cleaning and restoration work over the summer.
The county’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) voted 13-0 last week to allow Walker Chapel United Methodist Church to use PVC materials to replace rotted wood in some areas. In other places, wood will still be required.
Conversations between church leaders, staff, HALRB’s Design Review Committee and the full HALRB led to the compromise.
HALRB approval was required because the church in the Old Glebe neighborhood and its adjacent cemetery are designated a local historic district, established in 1978.
Lorin Farris, the county’s acting historic-preservation supervisor, said there were pros and cons to using PVC siding compared to wood for preservation purposes in the 4100 block of N. Glebe Road.
“Although design and other visual qualities of the PVC would match the existing wood, it would be a different material,” she said.
PVC is allowed in high-moisture areas and portions of the building that are prone to rot. In other areas, wood will be required, and the use of replacement wood will be mandated in high-visibility areas such as the steeple and portico gable.
Church officials anticipate a restoration period of one to two months. A contractor will scrape, sand and pressure wash all existing wood, then mark places where rot is found.
After that, church officials, another contractor and a preservation planner will inspect the affected areas to determine the best approach for each.
One estimate suggests no more than 5% of existing exterior wood will need to be replaced. Work is expected to be completed by September.
The existing church building dates to the early 1960s, but the congregation itself was formed in 1871 and the cemetery has burials dating back to the late 1840s.
