Friday, October 31, 2008

Little updates

A roofer carries a roll of tar paper to the roof over the Nave.

The roofers are removing lots of old aluminum and laying new tar paper.
No updates from the Chapel. It's been pretty quiet in there. The tin ceiling experts are working offsite on a finish for the Chapel's ceiling.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Complete: The Northeast Spire



When the roofers finish caulking the Northeast spire today, it will be done. They have removed the rotten wood and old aluminum shingles. They put a metal decking over the steel superstructure, then screwed copper shingles into place. Many of the glass panes in the windows were broken by hail or by the construction process. All the glass is back.



The only change we should see in the next 100 years is a gradual change in the copper's patina.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Roof over the Nave

The roofers are continuing to attach shingles to the roof over the nave.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Rain Stopped


Yesterday's rain is gone. The roofers are cutting the copper shingles to fit around the west-facing windows in the northeast spire.

Once they finish the northeast spire, they will move the crane in between the Cathedral and school to complete the southeast spire.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Despite rain, work on the spires continues

Rain this morning stopped work on the lower roof. The damp metal is too slippery. It is safe for the roofers to use the crane to work on the spires. The overcast sky is helpful because it prevents the sun from blinding the men. The above photo shows them installing shingles around the windows in the northeast spire. That spire should be done fairly quickly.

Roofers continue across south side of the Nave's roof




The roofers have moved their ladders and safety equipment over to the roof above the Nave. They are staying on the south side of the Cathedral.









The men have a much larger area in which to work this time. They have been tearing off the old aluminum, laying down tar paper, then applying copper shingles.





The nice folks from the skyscraper north of the Cathedral allowed me to shoot a few photos out of an office near the top floor. All the lower roof work is being done on the other side of the building; however, we can see how much roof there is.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Update: Nearly done with the first face


The roofers say that they need to finish the copper flashing along either side of the roof. They will install shingles where the ladders lie.

One small section is done. There is quite a bit to go.

photo courtesy of Chris Bouldin, Eastern Oklahoma Catholic

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Update: Roof and Ceiling


The roof on the East face of the South transept is nearing completion.


The first square in the Chapel's new stamped tin ceiling is test fit.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Update: Roof over south transept


The copper roof is going on quickly. Progress on the "flat" roof is faster because the shingles do not need to be cut to fit on a cone-shaped spire.

The "flat" part of the Roof

Our roofers are under attack! Angry wasps are buzzing around the roofers atop their crane. A developer is tearing down a nearby building. The dust and noise are tolerable, but the displaced wasps aren't. The wasps have found their way to the three spires and the workers installing the roof.


Work has begun on what we call the "flat" part of the roof. All the aluminum shingles over the nave, transepts and apse are coming down. Roofers lay new tar paper and are now nailing more copper shingles over the south transept.