Yankee Gutters CT

One of Tarantino’s specialties is relining Yankee gutters with 20 ounce copper. All seams are soldered together.

Yankee gutters or built-in gutters as they’re sometimes referred to as were a common feature on many older historic buildings. Usually lined with sheet metal like tin plated steel or copper. Yankee gutters are built into the cornice of the building. A very aesthetic way that is functional attractive way to collect rainwater as it drains off buildings.

Yankee gutters also are not prone to getting ripped off from ice in heavy snow. But when the sheet metal pan gets worn or develops a crack, the damage can be dramatic. Yankee gutters can be a constant headache, many homeowners opt to covering them over. Many have been tarred so many times they become an eyesore and they no longer drain properly. There is no substitute for a restored Yankee gutter system from Tarantino roofing and Coppersmith. You get a functionality and aesthetic beauty of the original design.

Commonly Yankee or “built in gutters” employed a combination of wood and metal to construct the body of the system. Wood was used as an external element to construct the shell for the gutters, while sheets of metal were used to line the interior. The gutters usually made use of a sloped bottom to help expedite the flow of water through the gutter. While various metals were used for the interior lining, copper emerged during the 19th century as a favored option and still is today.

Built-in Yankee gutter are very efficient, and built in gutters do not require frequent repairs. Semi regular inspection of the metal liner is one of the best ways to prolong the life of the gutters, as the metal helps to protect the wood box from mildew and moisture. Signs that there is likely some damage to repair includes paint peeling off the facing of the gutter, darkened sections of the wood that is moist to the touch, or damage to the masonry surrounding the gutter system. Heavy ice and snow build ups can fill yankee gutters, but if property installed, ice & water protection should meet even the most extreme New England weather.

Small custom copper yankee gutter