3044 Royal St.

Staff Recommendations: 

The applicant originally applied to replace the previously existing roof with a new asphalt shingle roof that meets the new IBHS "Fortified" roof program standards. These new standards typically include specific structural modifications to roof framing and sheathing, rigorous installation requirements, and roof features (such as ridge tiles and vents)  that meet current wind ratings. 

The CofA issued for this work notes that all existing barrel-style ridge tiles must be carefully removed and reinstalled on the the new roof, or they can be replaced with new Fortified-approved Hecker brand lap ridge tiles to match the existing. Additionally, it notes the decorative roof finial must also be removed and reinstalled. The CofA does not refer to the ridge cap vents as their removal was not indicated in the applicant's original scope of work, and Staff may not have been aware that these were not consistent with the new standards at that time. 

Unfortunately, historic ridge cap vents, decorative roof cresting, and finials do not meet current wind ratings and do not yet have contemporary tested/certified equivalents, and so they cannot be maintained on a roof that is seeking to meet these standards. While it understandable that the applicant believed they had approval to replace the ridge tiles and cresting with new Hecker equivalents, they should have notified Staff regarding the need to remove the finial and ridge cap vents, as Commission approval would have been required in advance based on the Significant rating of the building.

However, Staff understands that there may have been some confusion or uncertainty regarding these newly implemented requirements and how they may impact historic structures and roof features. If the applicant had requested the removal of these elements in advance, Staff would have had no objection to the request as appropriate/certified replacement elements are not currently available, and because the new Fortified roof will provide substantial additional resiliency to the overall historic structure. Based on this, Staff has no objection to the requests for retention.