[MassHistPres] a hex on plastic gutters

[Sam Bird]

While I agree that PVC (Azek et al) is an environmental disaster,  
let's stop to think about LCC (lead coated copper). Eaves and gutter  
bottoms are subject to great wear and erosion over time - where is  
all that water and lead going? I believe the manufacture of LCC is  
now all offshore as domestic companies can't do it and comply with  
environmental regs - that has to tell us something about LCC.

Also, sealing one side of a piece of wood and not the other (in this  
case the inside of the gutter) is not a great idea in terms of  
preserving the wood long term. This leads to differential drying and  
premature checking and failure.

This is a situation where there may not be an ideally historically  
correct and green solution except for the way it has been done for  
ages - ie. a wood gutter, well pitched, faithfully cleaned and oiled  
at least twice a year and then replaced every 20 to 30 years. If the  
push is to create "green jobs" perhaps the job of maintenance of the  
green replacements for "maintenance free" materials is one place to  
start.

Sam Bird AIA, LEED AP


On Aug 4, 2008, at 9:41 PM, Deane Rykerson wrote:

>
> On Aug 2, 2008, at 11:45 AM, James Hadley wrote:
>
>> There is a wood replica gutter available from Azek. It may be one  
>> of the
>> better uses for Azek.
>> Jim Hadley, Orleans Historical Commission
>
>
> please, please, please don't use plastic (except maybe mixed with  
> wood for decking).  What an environmental disaster in manufacture.
>
> We are using doug fir gutters at Hancock-Clarke in Lexington.  One  
> section was bought at the lumber yard 30 feet long.  Here is a  
> detail to line the wood gutter with copper (in this case lead- 
> coated), adapted from Arron Sturgis and Rex Passion.
>
>
> Deane Rykerson AIA
> Rykerson Architecture
> 1 Salt Marsh Lane
> Kittery Point ME 03905
> 207-439-8755
> <Picture 7.png>
>
>
>
> and the real thing.
>
>
> <Picture 9.png>
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