Historic Zoning Commission

Old North Knoxville H-1: Level II

8-J-12-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Replacement/repair

Level I - Replace asphalt roof shingles with asphalt roof shingles.

Level II - Replace severely deteriorated original cedar shingle siding on all sides of house with wood-grained fiber cement board shingles of the same sizes, shape and pattern. Utilize trim pieces at interior corners.

Replace all severely deteriorated original 6/1 wood double-hung windows (except basement windows) with wood simulated divided light (with shadow bars) double-hung windows with the same muntin division as original (6/1).

Replace shed-roof structure over each of two front roof dormers with a higher-sloped shed roof in order to drain off water more effectively. The new slope will intersect the main at one foot further up the roof slope. Alternate proposal is to change dormer roof material to a rubberized EDPM coating withstand water damage more effectively.

Site Info

One-and- one-half-story frame on raised basement with wood shingle wall covering. Side gable roof with shed dormers, asphalt shingle roof covering and extended eave on south elevation. Double-hung six-over- one windows. One- story one bay centered fable front portico with arched ceiling, small square wood columns and sawn wood balustrade. One interior end and one interior offset brick chimney. Brick foundation. Irregular plan.

The applicant submits that the characteristics of shingle siding including the texture, shading, and dimension (as well as the installment method) may render it more easily duplicated in appearance with cementitious siding than horizontal weatherboard siding; however, trim pieces would need to be installed at interior corners. Staff believes that an on-site mock-up of a shingled wall would need to be provided in order for staff and the Historic Zoning Commission to make that determination and set the precedent for shingle siding replacement. The guidelines would also ultimately need to be updated to make that determination more clear.

The guidelines state that "if features are replaced, the materials they are made from shall be compatible with the original in size, scale and material. Replacement parts should be based on historical, pictorial and physical documentation." An on-site mock-up would need to be provided in order to determine if indeed cementitious shingles would be "compatible" with the original.

The guidelines state "Trim and patterned shingles that must be replaced must also duplicate the original material." An on-site mock-up would need to be provided in order to determine if cementitious shingles can "duplicate" the original material.

The guidelines state that . . . "Repair may also include limited replacement with matching or compatible substitute materials, when elements remain and can be copied." The request does not appear to propose to replace a "limited" amount in this case since all shingles on all facades of the house are proposed to be replaced. However, if found to be compatible, the cementitious material could be limited to the shingles only and not approved for any other elements of the house.

STAFF FINDINGS

1) The siding proposed to be replaced is shingle siding, which is not typical in the Old North Knox Historic District. Horizontal weatherboard is more typical.

2) The texture, shading, and dimension (as well as the installment method) of shingle siding is appreciably different from horizontal weatherboard siding.

3) On-site inspection, photographs, and material samples indicate that the existing shingle siding is severely deteriorated.

4) The ability of cementitious siding to be compatible with or duplicate wood shingle siding cannot be determined without an on-site mock-up.

5) The original double-hung windows 3/1 windows appear to be severly deteriorated; however, staff recommends that a sample spec of the replicated window be provided for approval by staff before installation.

6) The shed-roof structure over each of the two front roof dormers appears to have moisture damage due to a flat roof with a lack of drainage. Staff believes that the proposal for a slightly sloping the roof may change the appearance of the dormers too much and utilizing a rubberized EDPM coating on the dormer roofs may be more appropriate, but would defer to the expertise of Commission architects.


OLD NORTH KNOX DESIGN GUIDELINES

WALLCOVERINGS
1. Synthetic siding is inappropriate and is not
allowed either as replacement siding on
existing buildings or new siding in new
construction.

3. Replacement siding must duplicate the
original. Trim and patterned shingles that
must be replaced must also duplicate the
original material.

5. Wooden features shall be repaired by
patching, piecing-in, or otherwise reinforcing the wood.
Repair may also include limited replacement with matching
or compatible substitute materials, when elements remain
and can be copied.

6. Wood features that are important in defining
the overall historic character of the building
shall not be removed.

7. Replace only deteriorated wood.
Reconstructing in order to achieve a uniform
or improved, new appearance is
inappropriate because of the loss of good
historic materials.

8. An entire wooden feature that is too
deteriorated to repair or is completely
missing shall be replaced in kind. If features
are replaced, the materials they are made
from shall be compatible with the original
in size, scale and material. Replacement parts
should be based on historical, pictorial and
physical documentation.

WINDOWS
1. Original windows shall be reused if possible.
It will be much less expensive and much
better historically to retain the original
windows, and it is inappropriate to replace
them with new windows that differ in size,
material or pane division.

2. If replacement windows are necessary, they
shall be the same overall size as the originals,
with the same pane division and the same
muntin depth, width and profile. They shall
be the same materials as the original
windows, which were generally wood.

8. Reuse existing, serviceable window hardware.