[MassHistPres] Slate Roofs and Insurance Issues

[Sam Bird]

I won't advise on the legal issues here but my practical sense is  
that asphalt shingles, under the right conditions, will also shed  
snow and ice. Snow guards (http://www.snowguards.com/? 
gclid=CMTcuqyB1psCFcZM5QodkUPhLA)  are easily retrofitted to slate  
and the ultimate solution would be a snow fence at the eave - however  
that involves a bit more work. To show my professional bias,  I would  
suggest spending money on architecture rather than lawyers. I would  
think that if the homeowner takes accepted measures to mitigate the  
problem per construction "best practices" that would go a long way  
toward defusing a claim should some extraordinary meteorological  
event happen and snow fall off the roof despite the guards - but  
that's the legal part and only my guess. He clearly can't at this  
point "do nothing" having been put on notice.

Samuel Bird AIA, LEED AP
Concord HDC


On Jul 14, 2009, at 3:39 PM, Kristi Chase wrote:

> I have received a call from a homeowner whose neighbor would like  
> him to remove his Munson slate roof because it sheds snow where the  
> neighbor parks his car.  The property is not listed as an LHD but  
> retains much of its original character.  The homeowner has received  
> a threatening letter from the neighbor's insurance company stating  
> that he is liable for any damage done to the neighbor or his car  
> and requesting that he replace the roof with asphalt.  Does anyone  
> have the names of lawyers who might deal with this type of issue or  
> have any advice I can pass on?
>
> Thanks to all,
>
> Kristi Chase
>
> Preservation Planner
> Historic Preservation Commission
> Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development
> City Hall
> 93 Highland Avenue
> Somerville, MA  02143
>
> 617-625-6600 x2525
>
> ******************************
> For administrative questions regarding this list, please contact  
> Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us directly.  PLEASE DO NOT "REPLY" TO  
> THE WHOLE LIST.
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres
> ********************************






-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/private/masshistpres/attachments/20090714/bd3e1095/attachment.htm>