What are yankee gutters?
, also known as built -in or integral troughs, are the yankee troughs of a drainage system used in many households and public buildings that date back to the 18th century. Rather than exposed metal gutter systems that are commonly used in current construction projects, Yankee troughs were incorporated into the cornice structure along the roof and therefore were not easy to see from outside. While this design worked very well with a number of complicated building designs, the Gutter system is not considered the best choice for modern buildings.
The oldest examples of Yankee troughs used a combination of wood and metal to construct the body body. The wood was used as an outer element for the shell construction for the eaves, while the metal leaves were used to the interior hem. Gratery usually used a sloping bottom to help speed up the flow of water through the eaves. While various metalueds were used for internal lining during the 19th century as a popular option.
While relatively effective, yankee troughs often require parté repairs. Regular check of the metal insert is one of the best ways to extend the lifetime of the troughs because the metal helps protect the wooden box from mold and moisture. The sign that it is likely that there is some damage to repair, involving the peeling of the paint from the eaves, the darkened part of the wood that is moist to the touch, or damage to the masonry surrounding the gutter system.
One of the methods of repair that should never be used on Yankee troughs is the application of roof tar on any holes or weakened stains in a metal lining or wooden body. While the tar temporarily prevents further leakage, the repair is only short -term and the metal will continue to corrode over time. The ultimate result may be a problem of repair, which is much more advanced than the problem.
Gentle installation of yankee gutters means that repair costs are often significantly higher than modern eavesSystems. Many historical buildings originally designed with this trough of this kind are maintained with renewed Yankee troughs than with a new system. It helps to maintain the original appearance of the building and also offers interest for anyone who wants to learn more about construction methods from the past centuries.
Most of the current design no longer includes Yankee's style about the trough. The exception would be new buildings designed in a period such as federal or Georgian, or additions to older buildings that use Yankee troughs in the drainage system.