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Greetings!
This weekend kicks off the unofficial start to summer. Hopefully you will find time to reflect to the sacrifices that have been made by our military over the course of our country's history. I know that there are several events in Lancaster this weekend including: patriotic concerts, dinners with guest speakers, and cemetery ceremonies. We are traveling to DC on Monday for the official ceremony to add Chuck's brother-in-law to the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
May is also preservation month - the theme for this year is "Old is the New Green!". At our Energy Conservation class a few weeks ago we had a lively discussion regarding the use of new "green" materials on older buildings - I think a converted a few people into at least pondering that repairable and durable should be green considerations.
Have a great holiday weekend!
All the best,
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| Unseen Maintenance Problems |
Internal Gutter Systems
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What we call internal gutter systems are also known as Yankee Gutters, built-in, or integral gutters. What ever you call them they can become an expense problem without careful monitoring and maintenance. These drainage systems have been used on houses from the 1700's through the early 1900's though they are most commonly found on buildings from the Victorian period.
Damaged Covered Up Until it is Too Late |
Typically they are incorporated into the cornice along the roof line, on a porch, or bay window. The usual construction is a wood trough lined with metal. Because of the cornice covering the system they are not easily visible creating unseen problems.
Signs your system is not functioning properly include: peeling paint, moist wood, and damage to masonry. On bay windows leaking into the house can also occur. Unfortunately once these symptoms are presented there is often damage to the structural framing, walls, or ceiling not to mention the decorative mouldings of the cornice making repair (restoration - replacement to match original) an expensive proposition.
One way to minimize the cost is to make sure the gutter is regularly inspected and the the solder joints in the metal are properly maintained. Never use roofing tar to seal the joints this will trap the water into the wood causing the same problems you are trying to correct.
Some people roof over their internal gutter system and use external gutters for their water management - this is an option for saving money but it does change the original appearance of the building by covering the decorative cornice. This solution also does not address the damage to the structural systems. Often times someone will wrap the problem in vinyl or aluminum using the "I can't see it, it's not a problem" approach to maintenance (as seen by the picture above). This actually creates larger problems and sometimes results in losing the entire front porch. |
| Upcoming Events |
Classes at Historic Restorations' Shop:
- Wood Rot Repair, June 5th, from 9 AM until 4 PM
- Wood Window Sash Repair, June 19th and 20th, from 9 AM until 4 PM
- Wood Floor Care and Refinishing (seminar), July 19th, from 9 AM until 1 PM
- Plaster Repair, July 24th and 25th, from 9 AM until 4 PM
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