Roofing for Historic Buildings

We try to provide useful and timely information here on The Durable Slate Company blog. However, there are times when you might need more detailed and thorough information about your historic roof. We encourage our readers to visit the National Park Service Preservation Briefs for such information.

We follow the Secretary of Interior’s standards on all of our projects and we encourage our clients to become more knowledgeable about their roofs, no matter which contractor they hire.

Visit this link for Preservation Brief #4: Roofing for Historic Buildings:

http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief04.htm

Hauck Mansion gets another chance

The Hauck Mansion has lived many different lives since its construction in 1904. At first it was used as a residence and farm for Louis Hauck of the John Hauck Brewing Co. There, draft horses could catch some rest and recover before being sent back downtown to pull wagons for the Dayton Street Brewery. Most recently it was used as a music school. But more than one hundred years later, it has fallen into disrepair and found itself up for sale in a Sheriff’s auction last summer. That’s when Andy Thul stepped in.

Mr. Thul, who spent the majority of his career in residential building, purchased the house at last summer’s auction and is restoring it back to its former beauty. "I couldn’t stand the thought of tearing it down," he said. "You just can’t rebuild that kind of craftsmanship."

And so the work begins. Mr. Thul started with the most important element of any house, the roof. After the chimney repairs were completed, he called The Durable Slate Company to repair the red flat slab shingle tile. The Durable Slate Company was recommended to Mr. Thul by a consultant from his local preservation society because of its commitment to historic preservation and reputation of excellent craftsmanship.

While the roofers from The Durable Slate Company are busy making their meticulous repairs on the red flat slab shingle roof, Mr. Thul is already thinking about the next thing on the repair list. Masonry and other external elements of the structure will be tackled before anything else.

Once the mansion is returned to its former state of beauty and usefulness, Mr. Thul envisions it being used for commercial purposes. Possibilities include another music hall, banquet facility or offices among others. Mr. Thul is even considering putting an addition on the back of the house if necessary. Paperwork is also underway to designate the property on the National Register of Historic Places.

Updated pictures of the house will follow as work progresses. What do you hope to see it used for?

Slate Roofing Contractors Assocation 2009 Conference

Last week we attended the 2009 Slate Roofing Contractors Assocation Conference in Frankfort, Kentucky. This year it was held in conjunction with the Preservation Trades Network and the Timberframer's Guild. As always, the event was educational, inspiring and fun.

(Image courtesy of Joe Jenkins)

Our very own John Chan gave a presentation on Wednesday featuring some of our latest and greatest slate roofing jobs. Surrounding ourselves with peers at events like this is a great, interactive way to keep up with the industry. We look forward to next year's conference already.

The clock is ticking

Homeowners only have so long to take advantage of the current energy-efficient tax credits. The folks over at Old House Web Blog have put together a really informative post to help owners of old homes navigate through the process.

Check it out here: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/blog/take-advantage-of-energy-efficient-tax-credits-now/

Side note: We have been busy with a lot of amazing projects lately. We will update soon with pictures and descriptions of all the exciting things happening at Durable.

Why you should feel good about your roof

Homeowners with slate and tile roofs are doing something good for the environment, without even knowing it.

You don’t think about it much. It’s just there, protecting your home, family and valuable possessions. But did you know that having a slate or tile roof makes your home more environmentally friendly than one covered with asphalt or other synthetic roofing materials? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. manufactures and disposes approximately 11 million tons of asphalt shingles each year.

By choosing to maintain a sustainable roofing material with a lifespan lasting decades, you’re making the greenest choice possible. In fact, if you double the lifespan of a building [or material], you cut its environmental impacts in half.*

So feel good about the roof over your head and keep it at its best by calling the slate and tile experts at The Durable Slate Company for all your maintenance needs.

*Source: Wilson, Alex (November 1, 2005) “Durability: A key Component of Green Building”. Environmental Building News, Vol. 14, No. 11, BuildingGreen, Inc.

Is your roof leaking around the chimney?

This guest post comes to you from Mark Sherby, Director of Quality Control at The Durable Slate Company:

Chimney leaks are some of the most difficult leaks to diagnose. There are many reasons for chimney leaks, and it is not always possible to identify the specific reason for the leak. Even when an estimator sees an obvious reason for a leak, there can also be factors that contribute to the leak which are not obvious.

Therefore, it may take several different remedies to completely repair the leak. The following are the most common reasons for leaks around chimneys.

• Flaws in the roofing material above or adjacent to the chimney
  There may be a broken slate or tile nearby that is causing a leak. For tile roofs, the underlayment, which keeps water out, may be deteriorated.
  
  
• Flashing problems
  The metal flashings around chimneys deteriorate and cause leaks. The old metal must be removed and replaced with hand-soldered flashings.
  


• Poor joint between the masonry and counterflashing (the part of the flashing that is cut into the masonry joint)
  
  


• Condensation from a modern furnace
  Newer, energy-efficient furnaces may cause problems with the chimneys in old houses. The warm exhaust air cools quickly as it enters the wide chimney flue and some of it condenses into water and corrosive acid. Even though a chimney looks intact from the outside, it’s possible the water may cause leaks, and the acid will erode the mortar joints inside the chimney letting additional moisture in.
  
  
• Missing mortar
  Cracks in the crown, voids in the mortar joints and spalling (or crumbing) bricks can all contribute to a chimney leak. Masonry restoration with appropriate lime mortars will handle this problem.
  


• Faults in the crown of the chimney
  
  
• Gaps between the flue liner and the chimney
  
  
• Very porous bricks
  Chimneys in some newer homes are built with bricks which are so porous rainwater seeps through very quickly, causing leaks. Through-wall flashings should be installed to line the inside of the chimney and direct water out onto the roof.
  
  
• Problems with an adjacent gutter
  If a section of gutter near the chimney is not draining properly, the water may find its way inside and can appear to be a chimney leak. Unclogging the gutters and downspouts, relining box gutters or adjusting hanging gutters is required to fix this problem.
  


• Ice damming (click here to read our article about ice damming.)
  
  
• Capillary action (the tendency of a liquid to adhere to a solid surface)

It takes an experienced professional to correctly identify each faulty component that causes a chimney leak. Whether the problem is roof repair, flashing replacement or chimney repointing, The Durable Slate Company has you covered. That’s just one benefit of working with a contractor with such a diverse group of in-house tradesmen.

Another Opinion on 'This Old Wasteful House'

This op-ed piece in Monday’s New York Times has people all over the historic preservation community talking. So, I figured I’d chime in.

In said piece, Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, stresses the importance of energy efficiency to historic homeowners. While most were quick to agree with him (at least those I monitor), others had a different opinion.

Those over at Preservation in Mississippi voiced their disappointment with Moe’s slightly one-sided point-of-view pointing out what they considered an inappropriate use of the word ‘wasteful.’

“Twice with the word “wasteful”! Seriously, is this the best way for a preservationist to frame the issue of how preservation and environmentalism intersect? Why are we all buying into the notion that being an environmentalist or Green, whichever you prefer, pretty much exclusively means that your house is ‘energy efficient’?”

I have to agree with them on this point. It’s not all about energy efficiency. Getting an energy audit and insulating your house isn’t the ‘be all, end all’ to owning a green home. They then go on to talk about the importance of sustainable building products, which is where I get passionate about the subject. While I don’t think Moe was advocating the demolition of old buildings to replace with new, ‘energy efficient’ ones, I do think he missed an opportunity to point out that the materials these old houses were built with have a proven track record, unlike many of the newest energy efficient materials.

The fact is, historic buildings are sustainable buildings. It takes more energy to tear down an older building and erect a new one on top of it than it does to upgrade that existing building to today’s energy efficient standards.

On the flip side, the folks over at the Thin House blog agreed with Moe’s opinion about the importance of energy efficiency.

“We agree with the author, Richard Moe, when he points to what he thinks is the most important first step in greening an older home. It is not screwing in CFLs or putting a stake through the hearts of energy vampires, or tossing bricks in your toilet tanks or even wrapping your water heater. It is easier than any of those, and cheaper.

In fact it’s usually free. The answer is . . . (drum roll, please): Get a home energy audit from your local utility company. This is not a sexy, techy, go-out-and-buy-a-new-gadget solution, but it is a solid and necessary first step. A good audit will uncover issues you didn’t know you had, pinpoint effective solutions, and inform you about programs in your area that might help cut the cost of putting those solutions in place, from tax breaks on solar to incentives for energy-efficient appliances. It will put you in touch with people who are on your side, give you a sense of perspective about your projects, and will, we hope, inspire you.”

I must say I stand somewhere in the middle and identify with both opinions on the subject matter at hand. I say, let’s make the conversation a little more well-rounded and discuss the incredible sustainability of our historic buildings over time AND tell people how to make older homes more energy efficient while we’re at it.

I think this discussion should continue as everyone sees these issues in a different light. What do you think of Moe’s piece? What would you like to see added to the conversation?

Restoring Grandeur

Have to point out that Durable Slate's work at the Zion Lutheran Church in Akron was profiled in this month's issue of Professional Roofing. Visit the link below to check it out.

http://www.professionalroofing.net/article.aspx?id=1456

Spring is in the air

Every year it seems as though it will never come for us Ohioans. But with a high today of 58 degrees, it seems we have hope that spring is finally on its way. This time of year is popular for spring cleaning and de-cluttering the house. But what about making sure those things on your home maintenance to do list are taken care of? Your roof is one thing that should not be overlooked. You know what they say, "April showers bring May roof leaks." Ok, that's not really how the saying goes. But that may be what you're thinking if you don't bother to inspect your roof before the spring showers come pouring in.

We've created a spring roof check-up list to help make sure your roof is in tip-top condition before the rainy season swings into full effect.

1. Grab your binoculars an head outside - This can give you an up-close view of your slates, tiles, chimneys, flashings and gutters without climbing up on a ladder.


2. Take a lap - Walking around the perimeter of your property can help you locate any fallen or broken slates you might not have noticed were missing with your binoculars.


3. Respond quickly - If a serious problem, like a leak, does occur, time is of the essence. The sooner you call in to make an inspection appointment with your roofing contractor, the sooner they'll be able to provide you with an estimate and schedule the work to be done. If the leak is an emergency, crews can be sent to your home to perform an emergency dry-in. This will keep the interior of your home safe and dry, without damanging any of the roofing components, until crews are able to fix the problem completely.

Important note: Proper maintenance is essential to getting the full service life out of your slate or tile roof. With the current state of the economy, you can't afford to not invest in your home. By performing necessary maintenance today, you will avoid unexpected emergency repairs down the road.

Any tips you'd like to see added to the list?

Dear Mr. President

Remember my Obama on Preservation post back in December? Well, it turns out those of you who responded shared some pretty inspirational stories.

Read the follow-up post by Judy Hayward, publisher of Traditional Building, here:

http://www.traditional-building.com/Previous-Issues-09/FebruaryForum09.html

Judy suggests that President Obama make the following list of projects and programs a priority:

• Reinvest in neighborhood schools


• Reinvest in infrastructure, public transit and pedestrian ammenities for communities


• Support education for traditional building craftsmanship


• Make the tax credits for historic preservation stronger and support states in their efforts to do so


• Reinvest in our national parks and government buildings

What do you think of Judy's list? Would you like to see any projects added?

How to Handle Storm Damage on Your Roof

Our advice to homeowners experiencing storm damage on their roofs: Call your roofer IMMEDIATELY if you suspect there might be a problem. You will want to get on a roofing contractor’s schedule of inspections as soon as possible. The quicker you get someone out to look at your roof, the sooner repairs can be scheduled and insurance claims can be made. The Durable Slate Company has more than twenty years of experience assisting customers with insurance claims and making sure they get the assistance they deserve.

The Durable Slate Company has 140 employees and can respond to emergency situations much faster than many smaller, local companies. During the September windstorm in 2008, we handled each and every estimate call that came in. Many other local companies stopped taking storm-related calls after a few days because they simply weren’t equipped to handle that volume of clients. The Durable Slate Company is experienced in handling extreme natural disasters (Hurricanes Ike, Katrina, Gustav, etc.) and knows how to best protect your home after extreme storms.

Important note:

A mistake homeowners made after the September windstorm- they waited until a few days after the damage had been done and it started raining. Leaks were pouring through their homes and they had to deal with interior damage on top of roof repairs because they didn’t call to get repairs done soon enough.

If you have serious damage, like a fallen tree or a gaping hole in your roof, make sure you let your roofing contractor know right away so that they can come out and install an emergency dry-in. An emergency dry-in will keep the interior of your home safe and dry and will not damage any of the components of your roof.

A Little Yankee Ingenuity

You might not know it now, but I have some very fond memories watching Bob Vila on This Old House with my Dad growing up. While my Dad didn’t always embody Vila’s calm, kind demeanor when doing projects around the house, he taught me the importance of “do it yourself” projects and how rewarding they could be. Check out Boston Magazine’s article on every historic homeowner’s favorite program:

http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/this_old_house/page1

An interesting point to make: the creators of This Old House basically came up with the concept “do it yourself” during the housing slump of the late 70’s and early 80’s on the premise that “viewers didn't need to buy new homes to be happy. All they needed was a little Yankee ingenuity.” How refreshing is that?

Maybe we’ll see a resurgence in this way of thinking as the economy and housing market continues to worsen. What do you think?

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress Names Durable Slate Foreman MVP

It’s not every day that field employees in the construction industry get recognized for their hard work. Unless, of course, it’s a historic election year and your name happens to be, “Joe the Plumber.”

That is why The Durable Slate Company is proud to announce that one of its top foremen, Chad Chambers, has been presented with a national MVP award, recognizing his expertise and dedication to the roofing industry.The award was presented last night, Feb. 4, at the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas. Chambers is currently in Nevada with colleagues from The Durable Slate Company.

Chambers has been a roofer for the past nine years. He has been with The Durable Slate Company for about five of those years. On working for The Durable Slate Company Chambers said, “I consider what I do to be much more than just roofing. I love the fact that the projects my crews and I complete will last a lifetime. It makes us feel great about the work we do.”

Chambers said that receiving this award proves that positive thinking and hard work really does pay off. Chambers has always been inspired by his grandparents and their strong work ethic. “I think there’s a generation gap in work ethic, faith and values. I’ve always aimed to be at the same level as my grandfather. He’s lived through wars and depression and doesn’t take things for granted," he said.

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress sponsors the Roofing Industry’s Most Valuable Player Awards Program, which annually identifies and honors a maximum of ten outstanding roofing workers. These individuals serve as esteemed role models, and demonstrate higher work-related and personal goals to which others may aspire.Judged on his work ethic, workmanship, creative problem solving, contribution to employee retention, leadership qualities and safety record on the projects he runs, Chambers was selected, along with nine others in the roofing industry from across the nation as an MVP by the NRCA.

Chambers is the third Durable Slate employee to receive an MVP award.

Are You Investing in Your Home This Year?

As I was reading the Angie’s List Company Connect newsletter this afternoon, I came across a surprising figure: 60 percent of members polled say they plan to invest more money in their homes this year than they did in 2008. Additionally, most members say they will hire a professional to do the work for them. Most also plan to pay for the work outright rather than to finance it.

More than 50 percent of the members polled say now is a good time to make these investments, whereas only 19 percent say it’s a bad time to spend on home improvements.

Of course, this is all according to a poll by Angie’s List. I want to hear from you. If you are a homeowner, do you agree with those who plan to take on home improvement projects this year? If so, what home improvement projects are priorities to you? Does it have anything to do with the slumping housing market?

Prevent Harmful Ice Dams on Your Roof

Did you know that many older homes are either without felt or have deteriorated felt between their slate and wood deck? This does not provide adequate protection during harsh winters. When there is a heavy snow accumulation on the roof, the warm temperatures from inside the house can melt the snow at the bottom of the accumulation causing water to run toward the eaves. As this water runs to the eaves, it refreezes because the soffits are unheated. This can result in an ice dam at the perimeter of the house. Subsequent melting can run into this ice dam and leak into the house behind the fascia board or through the roof decking if there is not adequate dripedge or high-back gutters along with ice and water shield around the perimeter.

The Durable Slate Company has been keeping homes safe and dry with reliable underlayments and high-back gutters for more than twenty years. This type of preventative maintenance is crucial to the upkeep of your slate roof and is a permanent fix. Make sure you rely on an experienced and trusted company to protect your home from this kind of damage.

Tim Carter talks about gutter ice, a similar problem, here.

Helpful information on insulation and venilation can be found here.

Stimulate the Economy while Creating Jobs

Old House Handy Man, Alan Miller, posts about historic preservation's benefit to the economy.

Miller links to a story from The Journal Record in Oklahoma City. The story quotes a study conducted by Preservation Oklahoma and says that historic preservation work generates $166 million in labor income, $243 million in gross state product, about $194 million in in-state wealth and $25 million in state and local taxes. We're on the forefront of a whole new way of thinking about our built environment. The sooner decision-makers embrace concepts like historic preservation, the sooner our economy will start to reap the benefits. What do you think?

When Life Hands You Lemons...

This article in Traditional Building strengthens our prediction that people are going to start looking at historic restoration as a more viable building option as the economy worsens and people continue to express their concern for the environment.

As the article so eloquently put it, "problems are opportunities" in this case. We're just glad people are now realizing it.

Taking adaptive reuse efforts to a whole new level

A mobile island floating on 250,000 recycled plastic bottles... You have to check out this unique collection of sustainable architecture:

http://weburbanist.com/2008/11/16/adaptive-reuse-recycled-architecture-2/

Restoring history at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Check out this great article about the beautiful Zion Lutheran Church in Akron currently being restored by The Durable Slate Company. It's written by Ann Kagarise at The Suburbanite.

http://www.thesuburbanite.com/communities/x1621233102