Church PictureSecond Presbyterian Church
Lewis and Frederick Streets  / Staunton, Virginia

 

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Steeple Repairs completed
 
Repairs to Second's steeple were performed on Monday, August 25, by Jesse O'Brien Roofers, the same company that installed our copper roof on the Sanctuary building in 2006-2007. 
 
A large crane was set up in the parking lot of Central United Methodist Church and reached a basket over Frederick Street and the power lines to the steeple tower.  This can be seen in the picture to the right, which is courtesy of Pat and Chuck Blackley.  More pictures of the work that was performed can be viewed on the Blackleys' SmugMug picture site.

Some time this past late winter or early spring, high winds damaged some shingles by lifting and loosening them.  (This has happened in the past; at least one of the affected shingles was a replacement for the original that blew off and was lost.)  O'Brien Roofing used a 50-year epoxy and screws with grommets to tighten down these shingles.

These repairs are covered by the church's insurance policy.

While the work progressed, Frederick Street in front of the church was closed, from Lewis to Fillmore Streets.  The work was concluded before noon, and the street reopened to traffic.

At a future date, a painter will be contracted to paint the shingles on the steeple.  Any discoloration on shingles visible from the street is due to rust, but not a water leak in the roof system.  As mentioned above, some of the shingles are replacements, and are made out of galvanized steel, and not tin, as are the original shingles.  The galvanized layer is apparently wearing thin, allowing for the appearance of rust.  The Property Committee and Session will discuss what to do next, and when.  This painting, which will include other high regions of the tower (such as wood trim) and the front wall of the sanctuary building, up to the peak of the roof, will be at our expense, and is not covered by insurance.

The lower regions of the sanctuary wall were painted by volunteers during this past spring's work day.  [Picture: Tower before repairs, taken by Dan Williams earlier this summer.  Note the lifted and discolored shingles.]