GLEN FOERD ON THE DELAWARE

CLIENT
Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation 

LOCATION
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

STRUCTURE
Glen Foerd on the Delaware is a 19th century mansion in northeast Philadelphia. It is a fine example of Italianate architecture and Victorian lavishness, as well as one of the last surviving summer mansions built along the Delaware River during the middle and late 1800s. After the final residents vacated in the 1980s, the estate was turned over to the city's Fairmount Park Commission and is now managed by a nonprofit preservation group. 

CHALLENGE
We were retained by our client to evaluate a new roof on the main building and the existing roofs on the addition and porch. The porch roof project included the analysis of the roof structure for possible replacement and the redesign of the existing drainage system to provide a more effective means of removing water from the roof.

SCOPE OF SERVICE
  • Inspect and assess all existing roofs for their individual conditions and performance.
  • Provide recommendations for the repair, maintenance, or reconfiguration of the roof and drainage elements to the building.
SOLUTION
  • The upper roof is a recent installation of lead-coated copper. We recommended that the defected joints and seams around the new skylight be addressed and that the gutters and downspouts be reconfigured, re-sized, and relocated.
  • The Gallery and link roof exhibits improved workmanship to the upper roof; however the configuration is contorted relative to geometry and drainage. We recommend that the gutters be reconfigured, and re-sized, and relocated.
  • The lower roofs utilize a liquid applied membrane, applied rather unevenly. An accumulation of patches to the roofs are not performing well and the base flashing against the wall is questionable. The replacement of this roof was recommended and that the downspouts be enlarged and that the gutter pitch increase.
  • The kitchen wing roof and drainage utilizes asphalt shingles which are in good conditions, however, we identified numerous deficiencies relative to the existing gutters and downspouts.
HISTORIC STATUS
Glen Foerd on the Delaware is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.