Historic Building Receives Exterior Renovations

Stone Hall — Photo courtesy of RSS Roofing Services & Solutions.

Stone Hall2 — Photo courtesy of RSS Roofing Services & Solutions.

Stone Hall3 — Photo courtesy of RSS Roofing Services & Solutions.

Stone Hall, a private mansion in Nashville, Tenn. built in 1918 overlooking the Stones River Greenway, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an important example of Colonial Revival architecture. The Colonial Revival style of the home’s exterior can be identified in the stonework, symmetrical façade design, entry with sidelights and transom, tile roof with hip roof dormers, multiple light windows, and large multiple light bay windows.

Stone Hall recently underwent exterior renovations, calling on RSS Roofing Services & Solutions for the project. RSS’ Nashville location completely removed the existing roofing, performed structural repairs and installed 3,400 square feet of a new Ludowici French Terra-Cotta tile roof with a beautiful bright green finish.

This low-profile interlocking clay tile offers an array of benefits for a building. Their large size and durable material with deep locks on all four sides plus two prominent flutes on the surface provide both a dramatic aesthetic and superior drainage. When applied to a roof, these flutes produce a shadow effect for a highly refined, distinctive appearance.

Additionally, RSS custom-fabricated and installed extensive lead-coated copper flashings that were required. Copper is a strong, durable, easy-to-install material. Although copper is already lightweight, flexible, resistant to weather and corrosion and has a typical lifespan between 75 and 100 years, coating copper with lead helps to further shield the roof’s joints from water penetration.

RSS also provided new aluminum half-round gutters with custom-fabricated stainless-steel gutter screens to keep them functioning freely on the heavily wooded grounds. Half-round gutters require relatively low maintenance and match almost any style of architecture, from historic to modern.

RSS completely re-built the existing tongue-and-groove soffit to match the original milled lumber that had deteriorated. Tongue-and-groove is a type of a joint cut into the boards so they interlock. Installing tongue-and-groove boards is a fast, inexpensive way to panel the soffit, the exposed undersurface of the exterior overhanging section of the roof eaves.

Lastly, scalloped slate shingles were installed for siding on the prominent front dormers. Slate has many attractive features, including its natural beauty and uncontested durability and longevity. These properties make slate shingles practically maintenance free. While slate enhances the look of many architectural styles, when it is cut in a scalloped shape and applied as siding, the material compliments Stone Hall’s Colonial Revival style. This subtle architectural detail to the dormers delivers a historic appearance.

During this project’s four-month duration, RSS ensures the renovations met the needs of this historic building. All work was approved by the Metro Nashville Historic Zoning commission and performed to their exacting standards.

Now owned by Metro Nashville Parks, the two-story house is currently used as a public event space and enjoyed by those who admire its dramatic architecture and distinct features.