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Victorian Farmhouse Galvanized Standing Seam Roof

Hagerstown, Maryland

This Victorian brick farmhouse had suffered roofing leaks for decades due to problems with the extensive additions which had grown over the years into a very complicated roof design.  The Client hired us to design a new roof that solved the various issues and tied the additions together more coherently, and to install a new galvanized standing seam roof.

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When we arrived the home wore fading asphalt shingles.  The kind that are advertised to last 25-30 years but are completely worn out after 10...

When we arrived the home wore fading asphalt shingles. The kind that are advertised to last 25-30 years but are completely worn out after 10...
The house had been added onto at least twice.  The very creative form of those additions led to significant challenges in bringing the roof planes together.

The house had been added onto at least twice. The very creative form of those additions led to significant challenges in bringing the roof planes together.
Many roof pitches and planes conflicting with each other.

Many roof pitches and planes conflicting with each other.
The west facade shows the original rear ell with its flat shed roof pitched away to the east.

The west facade shows the original rear ell with its flat shed roof pitched away to the east.
From the opposite side:  Almost flat roof covered in rubber membrane covering portions of two additions.

From the opposite side: Almost flat roof covered in rubber membrane covering portions of two additions.
Danger zone!  This chimney, so close to the dormer and hard to flash in correctly had caused terrible leaks over several decades.

Danger zone! This chimney, so close to the dormer and hard to flash in correctly had caused terrible leaks over several decades.
We designed and built a whole new roof profile, converting the flat roof into a pitched gable that would shed water much faster.

We designed and built a whole new roof profile, converting the flat roof into a pitched gable that would shed water much faster.
The gable also creates some needed visual interest at the rear facade of the house.

The gable also creates some needed visual interest at the rear facade of the house.
While more suitable for shedding water, the connection between the new roof and the old house is still complex.

While more suitable for shedding water, the connection between the new roof and the old house is still complex.
Creating a raised ridge allowed us to add effective roof pitch over the shed dormer which had seen water pooling in the past.

Creating a raised ridge allowed us to add effective roof pitch over the shed dormer which had seen water pooling in the past.
Now half of the rainwater coming off both the main house roof and the ell will divert to the west, rather than all dumping toward the east and the flashing trouble spots.

Now half of the rainwater coming off both the main house roof and the ell will divert to the west, rather than all dumping toward the east and the flashing trouble spots.
With metal going on, the roofs begin to knit together into a weather-tight assembly.

With metal going on, the roofs begin to knit together into a weather-tight assembly.
The new ridge meets the original house's roof in a very clean pair of crimped valleys.

The new ridge meets the original house's roof in a very clean pair of crimped valleys.
A roofer never wants to see a vent stack coming right out through a valley, but galvanized metal can be soldered very well and we can make this worrisome flashing detail into one solid piece -- as waterproof as a bathtub!

A roofer never wants to see a vent stack coming right out through a valley, but galvanized metal can be soldered very well and we can make this worrisome flashing detail into one solid piece -- as waterproof as a bathtub!
With a roof as involved as this is, some complexities are bound to remain.  Areas like this would be very troubling if we had to rely on caulk and sealants, but soldering the joints here makes this multi-part intersection worry free.

With a roof as involved as this is, some complexities are bound to remain. Areas like this would be very troubling if we had to rely on caulk and sealants, but soldering the joints here makes this multi-part intersection worry free.
A detail view of the front porch.  This is the traditional way standing seams should be folded and sealed under brick counter-flashing.

A detail view of the front porch. This is the traditional way standing seams should be folded and sealed under brick counter-flashing.
A great view of how roof hips are hand-formed, folded, and crimped together.

A great view of how roof hips are hand-formed, folded, and crimped together.
On a very steep pitch, the ridge is formed the same way.

On a very steep pitch, the ridge is formed the same way.
With all the pans installed, snow-guards are added to keep large accumulations of snow from sliding down the pans and damaging the gutters.

With all the pans installed, snow-guards are added to keep large accumulations of snow from sliding down the pans and damaging the gutters.
A "cricket" deflects water and snow from pooling behind a chimney.  We repointed and extended this chimney so it remains sufficiently high above the adjacent new roof.

A "cricket" deflects water and snow from pooling behind a chimney. We repointed and extended this chimney so it remains sufficiently high above the adjacent new roof.
Dark skies say we got this roof closed in just in time!

Dark skies say we got this roof closed in just in time!
Now our danger zone is a lot less troublesome.  A large cricket deflects water that would hit the chimney, and soldered pans and flashing seal the area between the chimney and dormer.

Now our danger zone is a lot less troublesome. A large cricket deflects water that would hit the chimney, and soldered pans and flashing seal the area between the chimney and dormer.
The complicated intersection between multiple roof planes and edges is now sealed and aesthetically pleasing.

The complicated intersection between multiple roof planes and edges is now sealed and aesthetically pleasing.
Instead of a rubber membrane on a flat roof holding water, we now have a beautiful standing seam roof that sheds as it should.

Instead of a rubber membrane on a flat roof holding water, we now have a beautiful standing seam roof that sheds as it should.
The roof complete.  View from the southwest.

The roof complete. View from the southwest.
Detail view of front eaves.

Detail view of front eaves.
All roofs should have the benefit of a good traditional lightning suppression system.  Not only are they elegant but good insurance as well!

All roofs should have the benefit of a good traditional lightning suppression system. Not only are they elegant but good insurance as well!
A beautiful new standing seam roof, perfect for this Victorian farmhouse.

A beautiful new standing seam roof, perfect for this Victorian farmhouse.