Wren’s Nest Conservation Update – Painting the House Part 3 and the Copper Pipe Dilemma
We’re just about finished painting the Wren’s Nest. The painters are detailing the porch and should be done within a day or two.
The monsoon season that Atlanta has seen this spring slowed our roll a little.
Like the yellow, the trim color is a little bit different than before –
Some of the color difference is due to weathering, but some of it is also due to our historical paint analysis, completed after the house was last painted.
The paint job has made a tremendous difference. Here’s what one back corner used to look like –
And here’s the same area now –
If you’re using your eyes, you might notice that we now have copper drain pipes. If you’re using your brains, you might wonder if this is a risky proposition.
I’m here to tell you — it is! Depending on the price of copper, theft can be a serious issue.
Before, we’d had a mix of copper and galvanized piping. We decided to install the copper pipes after much deliberation.
If the copper gets stolen, it’ll be my fault. We’ll replace ‘em with galvanized metal, and chalk it up to stupidity, idealism, or mismanagement. All of the above is another option, but it’s one that I’m more comfortable with than not trying at all.
Here are some rather leading questions you may have –
- Say, isn’t copper historically accurate?
- I could understand installing copper in a swanky neighborhood like Buckhead, but in West End?
- Isn’t this proposition a little bit like the moral dilemma Alexander Hamilton faced when dueling with Aaron Burr?
And here are my answers –
- You betcha.
- I don’t think that criminals discriminate; we probably shouldn’t either.
- Maybe a little bit, yes.* At least at the 1:40 mark.
Anyway, copper? What copper? Nothing to see here. Just new paint.
* The Wren’s Nest does not condone binge drinking, not even for the sake of history or telling a good story. Well, maybe this one time.
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Amber Suitt
Program Director
Lain Shakespeare
Executive Director
7 Comments to Wren’s Nest Conservation Update – Painting the House Part 3 and the Copper Pipe Dilemma
Lain, the price of copper is up about 64% from its 52 week low, reached on 12/23/08. But its still down about 44% from its 52 week high reached on 7/2/08. I’m currently pretty bullish on precious metals, so if I were a copper thief, The Wrens Nest would be looking mighty tempting right about now.
Looks awesome. I wouldn’t say it helps you that the new copper is EXTREMELY shiny…
We have outdoor lighting for additional security, but I’m starting to wonder if that helps or hurts our cause.
In the mean time, I’ve done various internet searches like, “how do I weather copper quickly?” and haven’t come up with much.
My Mom used to use a product called Jax Green Patina to quickly put a green patina on copper trellises she made for her garden. My guess is there is a similar product for a black patina. Another possible solution would be to ask the guys who installed the pipes if they have any advice.
I remember one time in art class we used something that weathered it quickly – maybe it was eggs or something weird like that (probably not though).
I bet they would know at an art store though!
the house looks beautiful! I can’t wait to see it in person. Hope the copper lasts and doesn’t get stolen but more importantly (and this coming from a seemingly expert victim!) if it is stolen will there be damage to the house (besides emotional distraught of course)? While we don’t want to invite theft, we do want to minimize the damages we have to pay to fix if it happens. I’m assuming the damages would be minimal. But then again I assumed that my house wouldn’t have been broken into 3 times in 9 months. Yes, I know what they say about assuming.
Jodi, I feel like your house accounts for 80% of the crime in Dekalb County.
Kirk, the copper guys came and went very quickly last week. The only interaction I had with them really was as follows –
Them: “Hey! Can we use our metal detector on your lawn?”
Me: “…”
Them: [looking expectently]
Me: “…yeah why not.”
I’ll ask the contractor and our restoration architect about our options.
Really, the best thing we could’ve done was completed this morning — clearing away the overflowing dumpster. It had been attracting a lot of, um, attention.