[MassHistPres] Seeking roofing alternatives

[heartwood]

gotta say...
I think this group of preservation minded folks is fortunate to have
professional craftspeople such as ward hamilton and garrett laws sharing their
knowledge and expertise on various topics principally roofing ....I always learn something new...

with appreciation......jade

jade mortimer
heartwood window restoration
po box 114 1605 mohawk trail
charlemont, ma 01339
413-625-8680

From: Ward Hamilton via MassHistPres 
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2023 8:04 AM
To: Marcia M Wengen 
Cc: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] Seeking roofing alternatives

Marcia, 

Greetings from neighboring Melrose, where I served as chair of the Historical Commission until last spring. I have driven by and looked at the library many times on the way to a family member's home in Stoneham. The red slate on the library roof comes from Granville, NY, ("Slate Valley" along the Vermont border) and is arguably the best slate ever quarried in North America. 

While the slate will last for centuries, the sheet metal flashing assemblies will not. Those shown in the picture (as well as what I can see from the ground) have reached the end of their useful service life. The historically appropriate treatment is replacement of the flashing assemblies and repair/replacement of broken and missing slate. 

The red slate roof is a character-defining feature of the building. Replacing it with standing seam or another type of metal roofing is not only inappropriate, it is an enormous waste of taxpayer money. As a final note, there is no such thing as a maintenance-free roof.

I would be glad to meet with you and/or others from the Town to answer questions and provide additional information. After that, the next step is to work with a preservation architect that has experience with traditional roofing systems. I strongly recommend the Spencer Preservation Group in Nahant.




Ward Hamilton

OLDE MOHAWK HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Slate Roofing | Masonry | Architectural Woodwork
877.622.8973                               OldeMohawk.com

On Wed, Feb 8, 2023, 7:46 AM Marcia M Wengen via MassHistPres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

  Stoneham's 1904 Library roof leaks (funded by Andrew Carnegie money & on the National Register).

  Town is interested in replacing slate and clay shingles with standing seam metal roofing (reportedly maintenance free and excellent color match BUT does not look like existing roof covering).

  Apparently there are metal shingles but they may not be as impervious to water - does anyone have experience using them or know about longevity?

  What other alternative beyond authentic slate might be available?

  Marcia M Wengen, Co- chair
  Stoneham Historical Commission 
    
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