The Cathedral of All Saints Project Updates
The lift repairing the damaged shingles over the Lady Chapel
Cathedral Roof Repair
In the summer of 2018, a severe storm caused a leak in the roof over the Lady Chapel causing significant damage to the organ pipes housed in the attic above the Chapel. Our roofing contractor was unable to access the high roof safely from a hatch in the organ attic. Church Insurance retained the services of a drone company to take high-resolution photographs of the roof, which Titan used to determine the extent of damage and the repair needed.
Early in June 2019, the Ortloff firm removed damaged organ pipes and transported them for repair to their shop in Needham. On June 22, roof workers and a very large lift successfully replaced missing slate shingles. Repaired organ pipes will be replaced and recommissioned the week of September 9 through 13, thus completing this project.
Nave Floor Project
In 2018, an initiative to replace the dark, failing vinyl asbestos tile flooring in the nave (including side aisles, baptistery, St. Michael’s Chapel, transepts, and crossing) was begun. With the help of our architect, John G. Waite Associates, Architects, PLLC, and a volunteer committee, a replacement tile was selected to meet a number of criteria: containing no toxic material, producing no noxious off-gassing, promoting good acoustics, of a lighter color, and being compatible with existing stone and terrazzo in the space. A linoleum tile was selected. Because of the multiple contracts needed to complete the project, a construction manager was retained to hire and coordinate contractors.
Floor Restoration process
Volunteers from the congregation helped to remove all furnishings from the project area.
As the next phase, a 130-year accumulation of floor wax on the stone bases over the entire perimeter of the project area was removed. Since the old floor tile and mastic contained asbestos, abatement carried out according to state regulatory requirements was undertaken and now has been completed. The project area was closed to all but abatement workers, the side chapels and choir were screened off, decontamination chambers were constructed at the west entrances, and continuous monitoring was conducted to assure that no asbestos fibers escaped. Holes in the floor, where steam and condensate return pipes used to service radiators, were grouted in. Cracks in the terrazzo floor were repaired and the entire terrazzo floor was polished. The next step will be to lay the new linoleum tile, replace furnishings, and unwrap and recommission the organ.
