Date: Fri 11-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-Aurelia-siding-project

Full Text:

Local Contractor Gives

Middle School A Facelift

Longtime Newtown resident John Aurelia, Jr, owner of Popular Siding and

Windows Company, seems at home on a second story scaffold where he is working

on a project to renovate the school's aging wooden trim.

-Bee Photo, Evans

A nice bit of work: separate strips of vinyl-clad aluminum are joined

perfectly at the corner with their edges folded back under the overhang.

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Over many seasons, time and the weather have not been kind to the aging wood

trim that decorates the windows, cornices and overhangs at Newtown Middle

School on Queen Street.

When school officials decided that the already blistering white paint could

only be followed by dry rot, it became clear that a face lift was needed.

So when the project to restore the trim by adding a vinyl-clad aluminum

covering went out to bid, many area contractors sought the job. But for once,

it was a local, Newtown resident who won the bid.

"I told my wife, it's about time I did some work for the town I grew up in.

When my bid was right, I can tell you, I was very happy about it. It's the

first job I've ever done in town after 18 years in the business," said John

Aurelia, Jr, owner of the Popular Siding and Windows Company.

"My grandparents moved into Newtown in the 1930s, and I went to Newtown

schools," Mr Aurelia added.

He was interviewed April 3 during a brief pause in his work during which he

descended his ladder to exchange one hammer for another and to grab another

piece of aluminum. High up on the scaffolding, his helper, Raymond Poirior,

continued working on the second story trim.

About the job itself, Mr Aurelia admitted it was "a creative challenge."

"I do all my own finishing work," he said, pointing with pride to a

particularly difficult cornice where two pieces of vinyl trim had to join

perfectly at the corner and where he had folded the projecting edges back

neatly under the overhang.

"Most contractors wouldn't bother to do that extra bit of work," Mr Aurelia

said.

He began the renovation project March 7 and said he should finish within two

weeks, working on the main part of the school while the students are on

vacation from April 14 to 18.

After that, Mr Aurelia has his eye on an even more challenging job -

restoration of the school's cupola and the front entryway.

"They'll have to do something. I'm thinking I'd like to tackle those projects

next," Mr Aurelia said, then climbed his ladder and went back to work.