[MassHistPres] Material Alternatives for Historic Rehabilitation

[Richard Casella]

Ward,

Thank you for taking the time to clarify and provide very useful guidance for those less experienced; it was not clear if the gutters were in the CPA funding which motivated me to enter the discussion of this vexing topic.

 

I was vice-chair of the East Greenwich, RI HDC during the 1980s. It led me to get reeducated and I have since been a historic property consultant on Section 106 issues to state and federal agencies. But I keep my ear to the ground and the same tough questions that HDCs, faced 40 years ago remain today. You won't find me pining to rejoin you on the "front line" of preservation; I call you folks the first responders of preservation.  

 

Many of those that seek and accept taxpayer support for their historic property rehab - either grants or tax credits - continue to be under the misconception that the financial help is an incentive to help offset the rehab costs of taking on a difficult real estate development project with an uncertain profitable outcome. They may carry airs of bravery; of doing everyone a favor. To them I say, it is not an incentive at all; the taxpayer help is to offset the additional costs of reusing the existing historic fabric and using the proper replacement materials that are missing or beyond saving (as determined by someone else who can reasonably qualify as an architectural conservator). Its a net zero exercise. I recently explained this to a group of investors who wished to "restore" a property in a district in Maine using tax credits; I could not advocate for the slew of incompatible changes and additions they had in mind and thankfully they walked away from the project. The building is in use and in no danger; someone better suited will come along eventually.   

 

For homeowner projects in LHDs, I agree that "the HDC may consider alternative materials that make the project more affordable and encourage the homeowner to do the work. Most less-than-perfect alterations can be undone and upgraded in the future by a more affluent owner. Consider if the compromised alteration would disqualify the property as a contributing property to the National Register district. If the work on the property is largely improving its historic appearance in the district, then I would certainly vote with you for leniency on the small but highly expensive details like copper gutters.

 

Good luck with it all,

Richard Casella

Portsmouth, RI

 

From: Ward Hamilton [mailto:melrosehistcomm at gmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2021 6:10 AM
To: mastermasonmcgrath <mastermasonmcgrath at gmail.com>
Cc: Richard Casella <rcasella at historicdoc.com>; Masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Material Alternatives for Historic Rehabilitation

 

This is a very interesting topic and it occurs to me that I better qualify my earlier responses. To go back to the original post, the first question asked was:

 

"Can anyone recommend alternatives for a slate roof on historic rehabilitations that would be funded through CPA funds and acceptable per the Secretary of Interior Standards?"

 

The short answer is no, there are no acceptable alternatives to natural slate. According to the Secretary of Interior's Standards, replacement in kind is the standard that guides historic rehabilitation work. The relatively high cost of a slate is sometimes cited as a prohibitive factor by applicants for certificates of appropriateness. However, that argument should not be considered for a CPA-funded project.

 

The second question posed was:

 

"Also, what can be used in place of copper gutters again that would be acceptable to use on a historic home."

 

In this instance, the imagined reason for the question is that a homeowner in an LHD needs to replace existing copper gutters that are either trough-style, applied to the fascia or half-round, hanging at the eaves. If this project is also CPA-funded then no substitute for replacement in kind is acceptable. 

 

However, if it is privately owned and funded, the HDC may consider alternative materials that make the project more affordable and encourage the homeowner to do the work. Such gutters are considered character-defining features and care must be taken to select an appropriate looking substitute. For example, there are sheet metal products available that mimic the look of lead-coated copper.

 

In some building styles, wooden gutters are historically a component of the massing at the eaves of the roof. Such gutters are high maintenance and prone to failures that extend beyond the gutter and into the cornice assembly. One option is to line the gutter troughs with copper sheet metal.

 

However, it is very costly to replace wooden gutters in and have them lined with copper. And finding a qualified contractor capable of successfully performing such work is yet another obstacle. Neither of which will do anything to improve the relatively low volume of runoff that wooden gutter troughs can handle.

 

For these reasons, fiberglass or sheetmetal gutters that are identical in profile and outside dimensions to traditional wooden gutters are sometimes allowed. Once properly installed and painted it is nearly impossible to tell the two apart. And the new gutters will allow the roof drainage system to catch and move a greater volume of runoff away from the building.

 

The introduction of contemporary materials and technologies into traditional systems of the building envelope is more than an issue of aesthetics. Whether it's a breather mat between the cedar shingles and ice & water shield, the use of closed cell (spray foam) insulation, or PVC composite materials vs. wood, it is critical that the materials used are not detrimental to the preservation of historic building fabric. 

 

 



Ward Hamilton 
Chairman
Melrose Historical Commission 

 

 

 

On Fri, May 21, 2021, 8:26 AM mastermasonmcgrath <mastermasonmcgrath at gmail.com <mailto:mastermasonmcgrath at gmail.com> > wrote:

The alternative to quality is cheap, permanence to failure. Stone or plastic, natural or contrived. Material or product. There is no acceptable alternative to the proper materials. Using plastic would just be kicking a can down the road a short way where there would be more bills. QUALITY COST LESS IN THE LONG RUN!!!!  Find the money to do a proper job.

 

Richard McGrath, Chair Lunenburg APDC,  Chair Lunenburg Historical Commission, 3d generation master bricklayer and stone mason

 

 

 

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

 

 

-------- Original message --------

From: Ward Hamilton <melrosehistcomm at gmail.com <mailto:melrosehistcomm at gmail.com> > 

Date: 5/21/21 7:50 AM (GMT-05:00) 

To: Richard Casella <rcasella at historicdoc.com <mailto:rcasella at historicdoc.com> > 

Cc: Masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> > 

Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Material Alternatives for Historic Rehabilitation 

 

You make a good point that fiberglass gutters are not an acceptable alternative to copper. 



Ward Hamilton 
Chairman
Melrose Historical Commission 

 

On Thu, May 20, 2021, 9:02 PM Richard Casella <rcasella at historicdoc.com <mailto:rcasella at historicdoc.com> > wrote:

I agree that use of CPA funds ups the requirements, but what Standard or reasoning considers fiberglass an acceptable substitute for copper but synthetic slate not a substitute for slate? 

 

Richard Casella

Portsmouth, RI

 

From: MassHistPres [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> ] On Behalf Of Ward Hamilton
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2021 8:13 PM
To: Lyons, Pamela
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu <mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> 
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Material Alternatives for Historic Rehabilitation

There is nothing, in my opinion, that is an acceptable alternative for slate in a project funded through CPA funds and acceptable per the Secretary of Interior Standards.

 

Fiberglass gutters, in lieu of copper gutters, may be acceptable for use on a historic home.




 

 

Ward Hamilton

Chairman

Melrose Historical Commission

 

 

On Thu, May 20, 2021 at 8:03 PM Lyons, Pamela <plyons at city.waltham.ma.us <mailto:plyons at city.waltham.ma.us> > wrote:

Hi All:

Can anyone recommend alternatives for a slate roof on historic rehabilitations that would be funded through CPA funds and acceptable per the Secretary of Interior Standards?

Also, what can be used in place of copper gutters again that would be acceptable to use on a historic home.

 

Thank you, 

 

Pamela Lyons

Administative Assistant 

Building Maintenance / Historical Commission

P: 781-314-3191



 

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