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I recently discovered that the old (irreplaceable?) wooden gutter that runs along the front of my house has pulled up by more than an inch at the end. I assume that this is because of an ice dam or because the wood is so dried out or both.
Someone once told me that I should give the inside of the gutters a coat of linseed oil yearly. I had assumed the oil was to waterproof the wood and keep it from rotting (so I’ve regularly cleaned out the gutters), but now I’m thinking it might also have been to keep the wood from getting dried out. I’ve owned the house now for two years and haven’t yet oiled the gutters. Do you think that if I gave it a good coat or two now it might “relax” the wood so that I can “bend” it back down and nail it into its original position? Is linseed oil the best thing? What about putting a heavy weight on the end and leaving it up there for a few rains — is that just silly?
The gutters were carefully designed to be part of the decorative molding along the roof (even around the corners) and I would just hate to lose them.
Any ideas appreciated.
Replies
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I recently discovered that the old (irreplaceable?) wooden gutter that runs along the front of my house has pulled up by more than an inch at the end. I assume that this is because of an ice dam or because the wood is so dried out or both.
Someone once told me that I should give the inside of the gutters a coat of linseed oil yearly. I had assumed the oil was to waterproof the wood and keep it from rotting (so I've regularly cleaned out the gutters), but now I'm thinking it might also have been to keep the wood from getting dried out. I've owned the house now for two years and haven't yet oiled the gutters. Do you think that if I gave it a good coat or two now it might "relax" the wood so that I can "bend" it back down and nail it into its original position? Is linseed oil the best thing? What about putting a heavy weight on the end and leaving it up there for a few rains -- is that just silly?
The gutters were carefully designed to be part of the decorative molding along the roof (even around the corners) and I would just hate to lose them.
Any ideas appreciated.
This post will bump your question up to where someone who knows the answer will see it and be able to help you.
Welcome to Breaktime.
http://grantlogan.net/
"he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho
How long is the gutter run?
What kind of wood is the gutter made of?
How is the gutter constructed....single piece or laminated pieces?
Is the gutter lined with metal?
Not that i have an answer for your question, just more information might garner more potential for a response.
My experience is limited to some few discussions and specifications for a restoration of a historical building in mid state Illinois by the firm I do on-site observations for.
....................Iron Helix
Take a jaunt over to http://www.historichomeworks.com, under one of the forums there is a discussion on how to install/maintain wooden gutters.
OPD
Bump, this seems like it's up your alley.
Did you notice the date on the original post - I was searching for wooden gutter threads and found this. Bunch of you took the bait.http://grantlogan.net/
"he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho
I'm hungry this morning.
dude,
you is soooo bad.
be badbad to the bone.
seeyou invented the bone
oil my gutters...
I just love it when posters talk dirty....
"there's enough for everyone"
I saw the old font on the from line then saw the date..and being as it was you, I figgured you were up to something LOL
sounds hopeless anyway.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
WOW!........Snookered Again! Almost like getting married! ;~)
...............Iron Helix
Wendy Clark
Oil is not going to last very long. every rain will do it's level best to wash off the oil, but something is going to be better than nothing.. I oil my gutters but they are copper not wood and I do it for a very differant reason.. My gutters go into a drain tile and along my retaining wall untill they exit onto the driveway.
This is misquito country and recently several particularly nasty misquito's have been harming, even killing some people and I want to do my bit to ensure that no misquito lays it's eggs in a low spot in the drain tile. So I use a little oil a couple of times a year and a slight film of oil will prevent misquito's hatching.
I wouldn't get up on a ladder to do that instead I'd figure out a way to put a long wand on a hudson sprayer curved like an upside down J. PHHHHisiisssttt! oil applied !
"every rain will do it's level best to wash off the oil,"It seems that poor Wendy left long ago without an answer. Rez finally let one slip through the cracks.But there is still plenty of time to pick a bone with you over this comment - "every rain will do it's level best to wash off the oil,"Linseed oil on wood will cure up hard within a few days and not wash off
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Linseed oil on wood will cure up hard within a few days and not wash off
Frenchy's talking about oiling copper gutters for some reason I have yet to comprehend.http://grantlogan.net/
"he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho
Every 3 months or 3ooo miles to end that annoying gutter squeak.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
10W30 or WD40?
TGNY
Neither! It would eventually get into the ground water and contaminate it.
I use vegitable oil to kill misquito's!
Sphere,
Kill misquito's.
seeyou,
misquito's
read what I said please..
misquito's read what I said please..
Sorry Frenchy. I got bored and quit reading before I got to the most important part - that part being the part where the reason for the oiling of the copper gutters was revealed to us all. Or at least revealed to the stout hearted ones who decided to stay the course and find out the true reason for the oiling of the copper gutters for a different reason than the OP asked about.
In fact, when I found out in 7th (or was it the 9th?) paragraph that the advice you were giving had absolutly no bearing on the original question, I jumped ship and moved on.
Now, don't let me piss you off, because I often enjoy your posts and appreciate the sharing of your telehandler knowledge. I often somewhat agree with your political stances, and you often give me something to consider when I don't agree. But, you tend to circle the block several times before you pull in the driveway.
Cheers.http://grantlogan.net/
"he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho
seeyou,
Guilty as charged.
I learned sumthing tho'..In MInasota they have MIsquitoes, so in Texas they must have MEsquiteos, but in Iran, they have Mosquetoes.
So, Frenchy is cool. Yeah, Frenchy is cool. Who'da thunk it? A geography lesson on BT.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
In MInasota they have MIsquitoes
Your sure it's not MISQUOTEOS?http://grantlogan.net/
"he ot the placed closed down whyyy thhhattt nnooo gooodddd" - sancho
Piffin,
Would it have helped if I said rain will do it's level best to remove any finish?
I'll let you say anything you feel like, frenchy!
You've earned the right
and it is a never ending source of entertainment!;)
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!