Category Archives: Roof Restoration

A Functioning Roof System is the Key to Architectural Preservation

Posted on August 19, 2016 by rtdgba

The Florentine Inn has been standing on West Market Street in Germantown, Ohio for over two hundred years. This longevity is possible for the single reason that a succession of owners managed to keep intact roofing systems for the entire … Continue reading →

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Large Custom Radius Curved Gutters – – a Technical Feat

Posted on June 23, 2016 by rtdgba

These large capacity 20 oz. copper curved gutters were built to fit the tower base and turret of this piece of new construction. That makes it sound easy, but it is an impressive technical feat to make them fit snug to … Continue reading →

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Bent Wood Shingle Roof Replacement 1933 Storybook Chapel

Posted on May 3, 2016 by rtdgba

Designed by architect Francis Harvey Slocombe, this San Jose, California “Storybook” style funeral chapel  is a close replica of another built in Berkeley a few years earlier. The signature element is the bent and/or waved wood shingle roofing, itself an … Continue reading →

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Leaky Roof? Call the “Plumber”.

Posted on January 6, 2016 by rtdgba

“Plumber,” from the Latin, for lead, which is the metal which enables waterproof joints, in copper. As can be seen, the valleys, parapets and tower walls at First Presbyterian all conspire to concentrate water into basins which will accumulate and … Continue reading →

Posted in Roof Restoration, Steeples and Towers | Tagged | 1 Comment

New Spanish Black Slate Roof for Historic Ohio Church

Posted on November 17, 2015 by rtdgba

The black Spanish slate from Cupa Pizarras is an excellent replacement for black Pennsylvania slate that you don’t see much anymore, hard and uniform, cuts clean. That must have come in very handy on the St. Mary’s job, on the conical … Continue reading →

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Hindsight Helps Produce Waterproof Historic Roof Designs.

Posted on September 30, 2015 by rtdgba

While a general study of original historic roof installations will reveal much impressive work, flashing details can sometimes appear naive and ineffective by modern standards.  The original artisans were, like us, only mortal but, unlike us, they lacked the gift … Continue reading →

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Replacement of Roofing Slate and Flashings on One Hundred Year Old Church Steeple

Posted on September 29, 2015 by rtdgba

Charles A. Murray & Co. Limited, of Everett, Ontario replaced the roofing slate and flashings on St. Francis Church in Ajax, Ontario. Roofing slate at this extreme pitch will last a long time, about 120 years, in this case. The sheet … Continue reading →

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Anticipate the Risk Factor When Purchasing Historic Roof Slate and Tile

Posted on September 28, 2015 by rtdgba

If the spec says “as existing”, or something to that effect, you have choices to make when buying material that can affect client satisfaction and your bottom line.  With your purchase, you are committing yourself to one or another repair … Continue reading →

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Salvaged Ludowici Roof Tile Sets the Standard

Posted on September 28, 2015 by rtdgba

Salvaged Ludowici roof tile sets the standard for period replacement roof tile. Ludowici Tile is still produced in their original plant, in southern Ohio, but to get good salvaged tile, we go to Mickey Miller, Sales and Technical Consultant for the … Continue reading →

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