TOPIC: All I Needed Was A Hint ... Please?

On the inspection of the historic Manassas VA house, I encountered a new, very-well-done metal roof.  It was framed all around with a very nice cap.  At first I wondered where the gutters were, since I saw them around the front porch roof.  Then I realized that the main roof did in fact have gutters.

They are hidden.

I really like the look.  But there are disadvantages.

For example, it is very hard to tell if the gutters are clogged.

And it is similarly hard to tell if the gutter is inclined properly, cracked or leaking, it is very hard to see.

Such cracking can get into the structure and rot it, totally hidden by wrapping the soffit and fascia.

A leak can get into the house, and can be there for a long time before it is actually discovered.

I looked and looked around the house to see any evidence that there might be a crack somewhere.

Anywhere.

All I needed was a hint.

Anything at all.

An indicator *, something from which I could deduce any problem.

I looked and I looked...

My recommendation: One thing really does lead to another.  You can't always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.

* OK, there is an indicator.  You can see ice on the shutter.  Under it is a trail of ice to the edge of the roof.  And, on the other side of the house, the north side, was a huge iceberg which apparently had dropped and broken into 50 large pieces.  Might just be a clogged gutter over there!

Nice find Jay. That's an interesting installation. Do you happen to have a picture from the top?

Nope.  Metal roof, covered with ice and snow.