We are happy to report that we have gutters on the Stone House. In an earlier post on the 31st of October 2020 we addressed historical gutters and the brackets that were used in the period to hold them in place. On the 8th of October 2021 we posted on how we installed the gutter brackets prior to the installation of the shingles. With the crown and eaves painted, we finally were able to start getting those gutters installed on the 25th of November 2024. We would like to thank James Loveless of the firm Loveless & Mabe Inside Out Repairs & Guttering, LLC for his assistance and patience over the last four years as we completed the work that needed to be done prior to this final part of the project being finished. This phase concludes what we have affectionately called the “Lid Job” for the Stone House Restoration Project.
Photo above courtesy of James Loveless
We used wires looped around each end of the cups in the gutter brackets to hold the gutters in place. The gutter sections were soldered together as were the downspout sections at each corner. This method will ensure that the gutters will stay in place during weather events with high winds.
This gutter system employs the basic technologies that were available in the 1830 period, with a few exceptions. We used mild steel instead of wrought iron to make the gutter brackets. The gutters themselves are copper coated with FreedomGrey® by Revere. This will ensure they last longer than galvanized steel coated with the same material. For all intents and purposes, they look just like the terne metal (sheet iron coated with an alloy of lead and tin) gutters that were commonly used in that period. To prevent bimetal corrosion between the gutters and the brackets, we had the brackets powder coated. We also used wire with black rubber insulation as a buffer between the gutters and the steel wires.
Additionally, we have an update to report on the progress we have made with our rear porch/buttress design project. On the 6th of September 2024 Ken Livingston of Main Street Architecture in Berryville, VA and Alicia McCormick of McCormick Engineering of Shepherdstown, WV made a site visit to study the east wall of the stone side of the structure. Ms. McCormick made a second site visit on the 25th of October 2024 to assess issues with the floor joists that rest in masonry pockets of that east wall. We look forward to sharing more about these plans for the porch/buttress when they are complete.
