[Trexmix]

I'm working on repairing the porch on my fixer-upper built in 1890. The gutters, and supporting wood structure, need serious help. Here's a Flickr link to a photoset.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/sets/72157633694367732/

The curve is giving me a logistical headache. The gutters were cut in short sections to angle around the curve. They aren't sloped right, and water isn't draining to the downspouts like it should. How do I fix that?

Also, you can see that in front of the gutter, wood blocks were placed and roll-roofing nailed on top to cover the structure in front of the gutter. That looks HIDEOUS and most of it except the corner in the first pic is ripped off anyway. What can I do (that would look nice) to protect the area in front of the gutter?

The white plastic stuff was cut and wedged to fit the curve too. Is there a better way to do that, or should I just replace it as is, and do a better job cutting and nailing down? I guess it would be hidden under whatever I do to fix the roll-roofing issue.

I'm open to any creative, helpful suggestions. I love doing my own DIY work to repair stuff around the house, but I'm still in college and don't have much experience with big, puzzling projects like this.

 

[AndyWRS]

Thats something i would call a pro in to do, A gutter specialist, not a just a roofer ect.

I will have to look again, but it appears you have alum gutters inside a radius wood frame...but i cant really tell.

 

[Trexmix]

Yes, that's exactly what it is. It was originally an old style box gutter, and the previous homeowner "upgraded" it to aluminum gutters, but as you can see, that was an epic fail. I posted this question on another DIY site, and someone recommended PVC lumber to replace the wood blocks and roll-roofing in front of the gutter. I haven't heard of PVC lumber, so I'll have to look into it.

 

[roofingquotes]

I would suggest you already call the someone to do it for you. DIY won't work on this let the professionals do the rest.

 

[oh'mike]

 

[oh'mike]

 

[oh'mike]

Real slate roof?

I suggest reestablishing the old boxed gutters, if you have the money----that design worked for 100 years--fixed properly, you will be good until 2113----(give or take a few years)

 

[jagans]

These were probably built in Yankee Gutters, originally. You need a craftsman to do this work in copper, soldered water tight. I only know one guy capable of doing this type of work. They are truly a dying breed. The other option you might consider is having a good carpenter create the gutter in wood by kerf cutting plywood, then lining it with EPDM Formflash.

All of this type of work requires the kind of person that cleans up after themselves, turns around and admires their work on the way down the ladder, and works for a lot more than a paycheck.

Very hard to find today, that's why you don't see turret roofs anymore.

 

[1985gt]

^ What Jag said.

Option 1. Copper.

Option 2. Fix the wood, line with EPDM, and additionally you could put a galvanized liner on top of that.

IMO you need a roofer, not a gutter guy, and a real roofer. You will need an older guy there is very few of us in the "younger" generation that can properly solder and form copper or any metal to this degree. Even with EPDM most of the roofers would have a hard time making it water tight.

Add your location we might be able to refer you to someone who could help as this is would be a pretty hard job for a DIY, it's do able but very time consuming and a lot at risk if it's messed up. Also not this isn't going to be cheap job at all.

It's likely to still have the old asphalt roof under it then some one decided to install an aluminum gutter on the suggestion of the gutter guy to it. It all needs to come off to figure out and get it to drain properly.

I wish we got more cool projects like this, sadly people see the price and go