Formstone Ban?

[Just Pondering]

So what's wrong with Formstone?

Formstone would be banned on new buildings under proposal

What's next? Marble steps, painted screens, and white tire planters?

[funkateer]

What's next? Marble steps, painted screens, and white tire planters?

Well, marble steps are actually ORIGINAL details, so no, I don't believe there'd be any problem with those. Just an educated guess, but I think the issue with Formstone is that it covers over the originally intended architectural facade -- the thing which really says "Baltimore," which is red brick rowhouse facades. Marble is not only "ok", but should be protected similarly-- covering it over by paint or something godawful like that, should be a no-no. It already is in the locally-designated historic districts. Screens and planters aren't really permanent parts of the house itself, so that's apples and oranges.....they're tacky, but easily removed, so who cares.

The whole thing really is a tempest in a teapot, as the article said. The ban's been out there for 4 years, and no one seemed to give a crap. No one really wants the stuff anymore anyway...and this only impacts NEW construction. Not a ton of new rowhouses being built inside city limits in the first place, and when they are, they tend to be red brick, which looks better!

If Mr. Ibex was so concerned about the future of FormStone as he claims to be, then perhaps he shouldn't "take his formula to the grave", as he bragged he would, and should teach one of his kids, or someone else, how to use it. The stuff is not as durable as claimed, and does fail, and does need to be fixed/repaired....who will perform this duty when he's gone and taken his formula with him? Me, I'm glad to be living in my REAL stone townhouse -- made of beaver dam marble, which will be here LONG after me, my kids, and my kids's kids are gone.

[dogstarman]

At this point a ban on formstone for new construction is effectively pointless. As the article states, there's only one company (a one man show) who is installing the stuff, and he only performed ONE installation in the last three years.

[Wizard777]

Well, marble steps are actually ORIGINAL details, so no, I don't believe there'd be any problem with those. Just an educated guess, but I think the issue with Formstone is that it covers over the originally intended architectural facade -- the thing which really says "Baltimore," which is red brick rowhouse facades. Marble is not only "ok", but should be protected similarly-- covering it over by paint or something godawful like that, should be a no-no. It already is in the locally-designated historic districts. Screens and planters aren't really permanent parts of the house itself, so that's apples and oranges.....they're tacky, but easily removed, so who cares.

The whole thing really is a tempest in a teapot, as the article said. The ban's been out there for 4 years, and no one seemed to give a crap. No one really wants the stuff anymore anyway...and this only impacts NEW construction. Not a ton of new rowhouses being built inside city limits in the first place, and when they are, they tend to be red brick, which looks better!

If Mr. Ibex was so concerned about the future of FormStone as he claims to be, then perhaps he shouldn't "take his formula to the grave", as he bragged he would, and should teach one of his kids, or someone else, how to use it. The stuff is not as durable as claimed, and does fail, and does need to be fixed/repaired....who will perform this duty when he's gone and taken his formula with him? Me, I'm glad to be living in my REAL stone townhouse -- made of beaver dam marble, which will be here LONG after me, my kids, and my kids's kids are gone.

You've got that backwards. Endless miles of red brick rowhouse facades can be found in any and every city almost any where in the world. There is nothing more generic than red brick rowhouse facades. What REALLY says Baltimore and sets us apart from all these other generic red brick rowhouse facaded cities is our Formstone homes. Formstone was actually invented here in Baltimore. It's part of Baltimores heritage. They are trying to outlaw a unique part Baltimores Architectural History. It should be preserved and encouraged, not prohibited. The only thing that is more unique to Baltimore than Formstone is Painted Window Screens. There is nothing more beautiful than a Formstone home with Painted Window Screens.

[boink]

and then there was screen painter Johnny Eck....
-------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Eck

When sideshows lost popular appeal, the Eckhardt brothers returned to their red brick rowhouse at 622 North Milton Avenue, in the East-side, working-class section of Baltimore.[10] [15] This was the same house that the family had lived in since 1906, and is where the Eckhardt brothers resided for the rest of their lives.[16] In Baltimore they bought and ran a penny arcade until a business tax forced them out of business. In the 1950s, the brothers bought and ran a used children's train ride in a local park; Eck acting as conductor. Eck also became a screen painter, having learned the craft from William Oktavec, a grocer and local folk artist who invented the art form in 1913.

[Omaha Beach]

I thought Formstone had two purposes: fire retardant and water repellant. True or false?

[Arslan]

I thought Formstone had two purposes: fire retardant and water repellant. True or false?

I thought formstone was a less expensive alternative to repointing the brick.

[Sprightly]

The home that my grandparents bought in 1944 is at 1025 S. Bouldin St. in Canton. It had formstone. I remember a time when they and other neighbors got together and the guy came out and "blew" sparkling stuff all over their homes. Maybe they got a deal. I just had a look at the house online. Formstone is gone. Bummer. The home also had marble steps. I couldn't tell if they were still there but I spent many a Saturday out there scrubbing them with Lava soap and a scrub brush. Maybe I should say that I "helped" my grandmom scrub the steps. lol

[DGMcMAHON]

Formstone is as sacred to Bawlmer as is "HON !"

[RavnFreek]

I just don't understand why anyone would need to ban it? Its not THAT bad looking and if someone likes it and its THIER house who the hell can tell them they can't put it on? Just because they prefer brick?

[Bloomin Onion]

Well, marble steps are actually ORIGINAL details, so no, I don't believe there'd be any problem with those. Just an educated guess, but I think the issue with Formstone is that it covers over the originally intended architectural facade -- the thing which really says "Baltimore," which is red brick rowhouse facades. Marble is not only "ok", but should be protected similarly-- covering it over by paint or something godawful like that, should be a no-no. It already is in the locally-designated historic districts. Screens and planters aren't really permanent parts of the house itself, so that's apples and oranges.....they're tacky, but easily removed, so who cares.

The whole thing really is a tempest in a teapot, as the article said. The ban's been out there for 4 years, and no one seemed to give a crap. No one really wants the stuff anymore anyway...and this only impacts NEW construction. Not a ton of new rowhouses being built inside city limits in the first place, and when they are, they tend to be red brick, which looks better!

If Mr. Ibex was so concerned about the future of FormStone as he claims to be, then perhaps he shouldn't "take his formula to the grave", as he bragged he would, and should teach one of his kids, or someone else, how to use it. The stuff is not as durable as claimed, and does fail, and does need to be fixed/repaired....who will perform this duty when he's gone and taken his formula with him? Me, I'm glad to be living in my REAL stone townhouse -- made of beaver dam marble, which will be here LONG after me, my kids, and my kids's kids are gone.

I much prefer formstone to the red brick rowhouses, which to be honest is probably one of the most depressing architectural types out there. I do very much like historical architecture but I think Victorian houses and Southern antebellum architecture are MUCH better like what you see in Savannah or New Orleans. I think red rowhouses are much more depressing than than shopping centers, office parks, and McMansions that some people seem to hate so much.

[dogstarman]

I much prefer formstone to the red brick rowhouses, which to be honest is probably one of the most depressing architectural types out there. I do very much like historical architecture but I think Victorian houses and Southern antebellum architecture are MUCH better like what you see in Savannah or New Orleans. I think red rowhouses are much more depressing than than shopping centers, office parks, and McMansions that some people seem to hate so much.

I'm sorry, but I JUST CAN'T SHAKE the impression that you are some kind of parody poster.

A block of rowhouses with an occasional formstone facade is perfectly fine. Bonus points if the formstone is painted.

What is _really_ depressing, however, is non-stop formstone block after block for as far as the eye can see. It is so brutally ugly.

[ybnormal]

What's next? Lawn globes.

Interesting that someone can even come up with an idea so ludicrous as banning the use of formstone in any new rowhome construction, yet, you can put a hidious satellite dish anywhere you want. And how about all those crappy looking pieces of plywood nailed over all those windows and doors on those hundreds of abandoned properties?

Welcome to the Socialist Republik of Amerika.

[Seaweed]

Well, marble steps are actually ORIGINAL details, so no, I don't believe there'd be any problem with those. Just an educated guess, but I think the issue with Formstone is that it covers over the originally intended architectural facade -- the thing which really says "Baltimore," which is red brick rowhouse facades. Marble is not only "ok", but should be protected similarly-- covering it over by paint or something godawful like that, should be a no-no. It already is in the locally-designated historic districts. Screens and planters aren't really permanent parts of the house itself, so that's apples and oranges.....they're tacky, but easily removed, so who cares.

The whole thing really is a tempest in a teapot, as the article said. The ban's been out there for 4 years, and no one seemed to give a crap. No one really wants the stuff anymore anyway...and this only impacts NEW construction. Not a ton of new rowhouses being built inside city limits in the first place, and when they are, they tend to be red brick, which looks better!

If Mr. Ibex was so concerned about the future of FormStone as he claims to be, then perhaps he shouldn't "take his formula to the grave", as he bragged he would, and should teach one of his kids, or someone else, how to use it. The stuff is not as durable as claimed, and does fail, and does need to be fixed/repaired....who will perform this duty when he's gone and taken his formula with him? Me, I'm glad to be living in my REAL stone townhouse -- made of beaver dam marble, which will be here LONG after me, my kids, and my kids's kids are gone.

I totally agree with you. Formstone is terrible and it is hard to believe that it was once the latest craze in this town.

[Wizard777]

What's next? Lawn globes.

Interesting that someone can even come up with an idea so ludicrous as banning the use of formstone in any new rowhome construction, yet, you can put a hidious satellite dish anywhere you want. And how about all those crappy looking pieces of plywood nailed over all those windows and doors on those hundreds of abandoned properties?

Welcome to the Socialist Republik of Amerika.

Probably, I wouldn't put it past them. Morgan Le Faye has informed me that if Baltimore even tries to ban Lawn Gnomes she will declare war on behalf of the Fay.

[bystander]

I totally agree with you. Formstone is terrible and it is hard to believe that it was once the latest craze in this town.

Times change but it's better than those ugly Nehru jackets that were the craze way back when.

[Bloomin Onion]

I'm sorry, but I JUST CAN'T SHAKE the impression that you are some kind of parody poster.

A block of rowhouses with an occasional formstone facade is perfectly fine. Bonus points if the formstone is painted.

What is _really_ depressing, however, is non-stop formstone block after block for as far as the eye can see. It is so brutally ugly.

Nonstop formstone is still better than the depressing identical rows of red brick houses in Baltimore and so many other cities on the East Coast and Upper Midwest. I prefer modern suburban architecture over either brick or formstone rowhouses.

Honestly while cities like Savannah, Charleston, and New Orleans have a lot of historic charm, honestly Baltimore just feels old and crumbling. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and much of New Jersey is much the same. With Baltimore architecture, I would prefer the downtown and Inner Harbor skyscrapers over the rowhomes.

[jessup270]

Lots of stories behind the story.

My parents lived in a tiny row house on what is best described as an alley in Baltimore city.

My mom was so proud when she saved enough money to have the house form stoned in the 70s.

The problem was that the red brick on our house was very poor quality. In those days when you had your house painted, the painter would used a straight edge and PAINT thin white lines where the grout was suppose to show.

Speaking of brick problems, we had three story houses in the rear of us. Even in the 60s you could see the bricks in the rear of these homes sagging at the window areas.

Someone told me, that back in the day, the highly skilled masons did the front of the row houses and the lesser skilled workers did the sides and the rear.

I know that yuppies have done some great work rehabbing many city houses, but its not for me.

As old as most of these houses are, I would really be concerned with structural problems at almost every area of the house, not to mention the often wet basement issues.

[Seadog]

Living in a red brick house without air conditioning is pretty miserable. Formstone reflects the heat much better than red brick.
Also, red brick starts to crumble after a while. Form stoning is a way to protect what is left of the brick.

[dogstarman]

Formstone is incredibly durable stuff. Too bad it looks like hell.

Brick houses made with REAL bricks require periodic maintenance and this means re-pointing by a skilled professional. That said, the longevity of traditional row houses is impressive. Most are well over 100 years old and have survived a significant amount of neglect and are resilient enough to rehab to their original magnificence when the structure isn't compromised.

I would bet on the longevity of a properly maintained rowhouse from 1880 over the typical 1990's plywood and tyvek McMansion _any_ day.

One ironic good thing about formstone is that it has preserved the brick walls of countless houses from owners who would NOT have been willing to maintain the bare brick. So even though formstone removal causes damage, what you get in the end is probably something better than if it were never there.