This was a very interesting and satisfying job, so we wrote a case study showing the various stages of the contract. The link to it is below.
Tag: church louvres
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Spire general maintenance: pointing, timber louvre painting, weathervane painting. lightning conductor repairs
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This work was carried out in 2018 and involved lots of general maintenance work.
The first task was to do quite a lot of raking out, followed by hydraulic lime pointing. This was unusually difficult and time consuming due to the concave flutings that run all the way down the spire.
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All of the timber louvre windows were prepared and painted.
The weathervane (finial) was prepared and painted with a high quality metallic based exterior paint (£70 per 1 litre at time of purchase).
The lightning conductor had been vandalised. The local idiots had tried, and failed, to tear it off the wall to sell it for scrap. We removed the damaged section and replaced it with 25mm x 3mm copper to match the existing (over time the new copper tape will oxidize and become green like the existing tape).
This is the damaged section. If you zoom the picture up by clicking on it, you’ll see how twisted the tape is.
The same area once repairs had been completed.
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Installation of permanent ladder and louvre windows mesh
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This page shows a brand new installation of a permanent ladder to give access up inside a steeple, and galvanised mesh to prevent birds getting in to the building (as they were previously).
Looking up the ladder from the base.
Looking down – about halfway up.
Looking down from the top.
Sheet of 1 inch x 1 inch square 12 gauge galvanised mesh fitted to one of the eight louvre windows.
This shot shows a few of the new mesh sheets.
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Spire stabilisation and lime pointing
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This 2015 job involved stabilisation of the head of the spire followed by full rake out and repointing.
We also carried out more minor tasks like painting the finial and fitting mesh to louvre windows to prevent birds getting in and making a mess of the inside.
We fitted four large and strong copper cramps to stabilise the head of the spire. This was the clients favoured approach as the Church could not afford a full rebuild. This repair will keep the spire stable for a great many years to come (it will see all of us out).
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Contact Details
BCM Steeplejacks Ltd
21 St. Dunstans Park
Melrose
Roxburghshire
TD6 9LF