John Rodgers
Phoenix Preservation & Consulting
This month’s post is centered around a man I’ve heard about for the last few years, but had yet to officially meet.
Originally based in Louisiana, John has been working in the St. Joseph area for years, and recently moved to the city to set up shop.
Tell me a little bit about your business.
My business is Phoenix Preservation and Consulting. We specialize in restoring windows and doors pre1930s.
Why specifically 1930s.
The 1930s and 1940s is when a lot of the window industry changed both in materials and techniques. Pre 1930s, they were all, for the most part, the same. They were a rope and pulley system, they were counter balanced with weights and were designed to be rebuilt if a pain of glass broke, or, if fully broken, a homeowner would know what they could do to keep them working indefinitely. Since then, pulley systems have been replaced with modern versions, but they break. They are made out of plastic or inferior materials, and once they break you have to replace the whole window. Whereas, back then you could take it (the window) apart and basically rebuild anything.
So what made you want to specifically get into repairing older doors and windows.
It fell into my lap honestly. I was doing mostly traditional lime plasterwork because no one else was doing it. Windows and doors are pretty much the same thing. Since there aren't a whole lot of people that specialize in old windows and doors there is such a misconception around the system that almost everyone has fallen for. There’s this marketing of replacing windows for energy efficiency, and really that’s code for, we don’t know how to work on them but we know how to install new windows. So that’s what we’re gonna sell the customer.
You’re now part of the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation board, is that correct.
Yes, I’m quickly finding myself involved with more boards, but I am a part of the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation board, the Main Street Saint Joseph board, and the St. Joseph Landmark Commission.
Why did you find it important to join these boards. Since this is more work outside of work.
There’s a shortage of people that are pushing it. Maybe it’s me not being from Missouri, where Louisiana has structured programs, Missouri Preservation is more of a non-profit and it’s important to get that information out. St. Joseph is a prime example, when you grow up around these buildings it doesn’t register how important these structures are. You become so used to it that you see things as “just that building” that then continues to deteriorate for 10, 20, 30… however many years. There isn’t enough people pushing the information, the history, the uniqueness. I mean there are cities who have thriving cultural tourism that have 5% of what we have in St. Joe.
“It also is a green way to do things where you’re not adding to waste, and, once restored, old windows can last another hundred years versus new, petroleum based windows that once broken you have to be replaced.”
With what you do as Phoenix Preservation how does that affect the community?
There are generally two different types of people who own historical buildings. There are those who love the history and want it restored to museum quality, and there are people who care less about the history, but it was cheap and they could buy it. Then they find themselves fighting astronomical electric bills, or utility bills, or cold air blowing through the windows, and what I do restores their quality of life. It’s restoring windows to where it’s not museum quality, but it is weatherstripped, keeps the elements out, and is not going to continue to deteriorate.
It also is a green way to do things where you’re not adding to waste, and, once restored, old windows can last another hundred years versus new, petroleum based windows that once broken you have to be replaced. Continuing the cycle of waste.
What inspires you.
Locally, it’s the people who continue to push for preservation and recognition of it in town. There’s a younger movement of people in their 20s who are pushing and starting off, and there are people who are still pushing after 20 years that haven’t given up.
Nationally, since window and door restorationists are spread out around the nation it’s great to see the quality of work others are accomplishing. Being a part of that network, it seems that anywhere I go I know someone near by. I have people that I’ve considered to be friends for years that I’ve never met, but I know if we are ever in the same area we can connect. It’s inspiring to see how many people are doing it, including the homeowners who are learning to do it.
