Rear Cornice and Gutter
There is currently no connection between our flat brownstone roof and the leader or the downspout in the rear of the house. The previous owners did some work on the roof, removed the “cricket” (angled piece of roof which directs the water into the drain for the leader), and roofed right over the drain. Now…
There is currently no connection between our flat brownstone roof and the leader or the downspout in the rear of the house. The previous owners did some work on the roof, removed the “cricket” (angled piece of roof which directs the water into the drain for the leader), and roofed right over the drain. Now the rain pours off the rear of the house in sheets and pools onto our patio. i have spoken with a couple of roofers, who all suggest removing the wooden cornice (which is rotting) and adding a gutter. This seems sad from a detail perspective. I am told replacing the cornice would add at least $5K to the project. Any thoughts on how to make this look the nicest? We’re thinking perhaps a copper gutter.
There are several things in your post that do not make sense. Maybe some of the confusion stems from repairs (or speculative repairs) of previous owners. Flat roofs are not really flat. They are minutely pitched to one or more scuppers (which, in turn, lead to gutters and/or downspouts). Maybe your roof also had a cricket, but unlikely. Two layers of roofing material—not following that (insulation, substrate, sealant, membrane, who knows)? Also, if your building’s got a rear cornice, it is not a decorative device. If you remove the cornice, water penetration of your parapet and/or rear facade brick is a near certainty. (And, as you already know, if you let water cascade over the cornice, then the cornice will rot.)
It should not cost you that much.
call vince at 917-731-4388. He does lot of similar work.
I thought I posted a second time but doesn’t look like it’s here.
Your brackets look like they are in good shape. Can you save them and just replace the fascia board above and add the gutters?? Houses on my block don’t have that much detail (brackets and all) in the rear.
Thanks, DIBS!
Yes, I do have my very own water feature!
The roofer explained that these flat roofs generally slope to the back and have an angled piece called a cricket on one side of the rear that pitches toward the downspout since there is no gutter. The previous owners had removed this piece, so while it would be possible to just drill though the roof to the downspout, the water would still run directly off the other side of the rear. These guys just laid the two layer of roofing material directly over plywood over new 3×8 rafters.
Is there no possible way to have the roof that goes over the gutter/downspout hole to be removed? What’s under that roofing job the idiots did? The rain we just had the last days must have created a waterfall in your backyard!
I’d go with the copper gutter, the half round style is standard and will be the cheaper option. But, for a nicer look, but more expensive, use a copper gutter formed into the “K-style” or ogee type. Even a non copper brown aluminum gutter of this shape will look better.
http://slateandcopper.com/gutter.html?gclid=CIz7l6LC9qgCFU5qKgodkU6jUg