Hi,
I live in a 100+ year old house in Yonkers, NY. We need to replace our roof which now consists of cedar shakes plus two asphalt shingle roofs on top which means starting with a new plywood deck. Just to make things more interesting, we have wooden gutters which are in very poor condition, especially the moldings. The moldings are an essential and lovely feature of my house. No one and I mean no one wants to replace the gutters with wood. I would prefer copper at this point. My questions are 1. How do I replace my wooden moldings with out using Yankee gutters? and 2. how do I find someone who knows what he is doing? I have started looking for a roofer and have not been encouraged by the responses to my questions. Either the roofers look at me like I am from another planet when I tell them that I want to replace the rotted moldings or they just never get back to me with an estimate.
Thanks. Alan
Edited 12/14/2002 9:54:49 AM ET by al
Replies
You aren't too likely to find a roofer with the skills needed to do classical detailing. Even a lot a carpenters would give you a blank stare. You are in renovation/restoration territory here. And you are right to want it done right! A lot of the older places around here had wooden gutters which require maintainance. The last time they roofed, a line of cedar shingles was placed to span the gutter gap, and then eave edge and asphalt shingles laid right over so that the house looks like it was trimmed in crown molding instead of gutters.
One problem you will run into is that many wood gutters are an integral part of the fascia, and replacing them will also involve replacing the rest of that trim. Wish I could see a picture of yours to be more specific. There was an article in the mag a few months ago.
Here are some options to consider;
Repair, using wood consolidators and epoxy with fillers
Line the existing gutters with copper
Totally re-build with wood gutter. Properly maintained, they can last a lifetime.
To find help to do it, you need to look for a contractor that does restorations, not a shinglke layer whose only interest is in covering as many square feet as possible in a day.
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit.
The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are."
--Marcus Aurelius
Thanks for the nice response and you are right about not finding any one that wants to do the job right. I would send you a photo but can't get it attached to my reply.
Alan
You want to size the photo file to something under 100 or less.
Then when you attach it hit upload and then wait - it takes awhile..
Excellence is its own reward!
last attempt to send you the picture.
Alan
Did you get my picture?
Alan
Not that I know of..
Excellence is its own reward!
Look in the yellow pages for PANA Roofing. they are in Danbury CT and do a lot of high end copper and shingling. 203 797 1937
I am in Putnam, work in Westchester a lot. I can probably help you find someone if PANA doesn't work out.
I don't know how long you have been in the area, but be careful, your locality is full of less than reputable contractors. And some beautiful older homes!
Let me know if I can be of help.
[email protected]
Eric
Edited 12/14/2002 3:56:25 PM ET by eric
al... multiple threads tend to confuse teh response.. you'd do better to delte this one and concentrate on your other thread.. you are the only one who can delete it
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore