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CLIENT
Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust
LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
STRUCTURE
Belmont Mansion is comprised of a main building and several additions. Built in the early eighteenth century, the Mansion is one of the finest examples of Palladian architecture in the United States. The Belmont Mansion property became part of Fairmount Park in 1869, and is now an Underground Railroad museum open to the public for tours.
CHALLENGE
As with many historic masonry buildings, Belmont Mansion was exhibiting problems with moisture stains on the plaster walls. S. Harris & Co. was asked by the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust to analyze the building to determine the source of the moisture problems and to recommend ways to remediate these issues.
SCOPE OF SERVICE
- Conducted an on site inspection of the water stained areas.
- Provided an assessment report of the potential building deficiencies with recommended repairs.
SOLUTION
- S. Harris & Co. traced the source of the water back to issues with the existing roof and its associated drainage system as well as issues with the masonry walls. The wall problems contribute to the extent of the moisture infiltration by wicking moisture along and through the solid masonry walls.
- The roof problems supply the bulk of the water through undersized and misplaced gutters and downspouts that do not allow proper drainage. Some gutters need to be enlarged to accept greater water volume. Others need to be repositioned so the roof overhang does not cause the water to overshoot the gutter entirely.
- The method of water collection from the rear addition to the porch roof should be reworked to properly collect the water and carry it to a downspout. All the gutters need to be cleaned regularly to keep them clear of debris. The downspouts need to be directed to the underground sewer system to prevent water from splashing back onto the masonry wall or overly saturating the soil.
HISTORIC STATUS
The Belmont Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |
