|
A few years ago, when the church front louver blew
out in a storm, we had our first indication of a problem. A physical
examination of the three remaining original louvers indicated that they
were deteriorating rapidly. Experts recommended that as a first step, the
bell tower brick work needed to be pointed. These repairs were completed
in October 2001. Having made the masonry secure, replacement of the
louvers was carefully researched. Wood, of course, is subject to rot and
requires regular painting. Access to the bell tower louvers can only be
made using staging or a crane from the outside. Staging disturbs the roof
and increases the risk of creating new leaks. Crane rental is expensive.
So, research looked into alternative materials, e.g. stainless steel and
aluminum replacement louvers. Since it is imperative to respect the
architectural integrity of the church, finding a manufacturer to reproduce
the original design in a new material was a priority. No company that
would reproduce the originals could be found. Finally, it was decided to
reproduce the louvers in American Mahogany. The wood is very dense and
oily, resistant to rot, and holds paint extremely well. At the beginning
of May, the original louvers were removed and numbered. The extend of the
rot was shocking. They are being copied at a woodshop in Mattapoisett
using the originals as templates. This is important since there are
significant size differences that must be duplicated to insure a perfect
fit. If the manufacturer completes work on schedule, the new louvers will
be installed at the end of June 2003.
Text & photographs by Fr. Robert Charlton
|
