After careful review of competitor's estimates that included removal and disposal of perfectly good tile, the owner of this relic chose the common-sense approach offered by the industry leader in old home exterior restoration.
The competitors offered such amateurish and unproven materials as composite and rubber tiles and vinyl siding for the dormers. Clearly these were proposals not worthy of this relic of turn of the century architecture.

Over the years, the endless trips up the ladder by painters in efforts to paint the third-floor dormers had caused irreversible damage to the roof. The integral guttering had been lifted and contorted because it was connected to the cornice, which was, in turn, connected to the brick veneer walls. The brick walls were subject to heaving from the rusting of the ferrous metal lentils.

An engineer brought in by the company estimated a seven-fold growth in the rusting areas of lentil and sill supporting angles. This thrusting of the brick caused major damage that was capitalized upon by major vine growth and the continuing water infiltration caused serious damage to the building. The original cornice was built upon the brick. These details, along with the integral gutters were thrown out of alignment and the pitch of the guttering was skewed. The drop-type integral gutters began to split and this caused major leaks that were serviced with stop-gap tar and patching over the years.

Through the wisdom of a discerning owner and steward of this property, FSI Restorations. was able to service this mansion of history. The contract was awarded to FSI in late 2006. The estimation of approximately 30% loss of the original tile was dead-on accurate.

The constant and feudal maintenance of the dormers and cornice ended with the fruition of a carefully pondered plan to restore the wood siding and cornice details. Hundreds of Fypon Dentil Brackets, bands of AZEK mouldings, ribbons of James Hardie Fiber Cement Lumber Frieze and Fascias and Clapboard were carefully used to restore the original details. A "Bulletproof” finish was factory applied to the products before installation.

First the overhangs, cornice, and integral gutters had to be gutted to remove them from the pressure of the brick that has been raised from the rusting of the lentils. Rebuilding these elements proved to be challenging. The first segment of the job was the third floor and the new cornice had to be free of the brick. Future brick replacement is planned for 2007-2008.

The cornice was restored, gutter removed, and the siding was restored. The siding work was done over the underlayment. The siding was raised off the roof plane on a 2x4, which was counter-flashed in copper and prepared for the roofing base flashing. James Hardie recommends that siding not be installed right onto a roof. This method proved not only functional, but beautiful, as the exposed copper lends value to the building.

Copper treatments were added at the Colonial Return Roofs, Pent-Eaves over the Dormers, edgings, etc. A custom ventilation plan was followed to allow the proper ventilation of the building. Copper 6” Half-Round Gutter was installed, with 4” Smooth Copper Downspouts, with new custom Leader-Heads.