Emmanuel Roof & Sanctuary

Corporate Management Concerns

2005-08-16T20:17:00.000-07:00

Emmanuel’s 130+ year old Sanctuary roof, made of Vermont slate tiles, seems to have been fairly well maintained. In the past months, roofing contractors have provided estimates because of water damage discovered inside the church, primarily in the area where Emmanuel’s tower meets the slate roof.

INSIDE-East Sanctuary

2005-08-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

New internal leakage and water damage has been noted inside Emmanuel, in the past 2-3 years, however.

Specifically, damage is noted at the cornices east of the organ loft. You can see easily this when standing in front of the sanctuary, looking back at the organ loft.

INSIDE-Organ Loft

2005-08-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

This gray decorative trim is made of plaster, and the east side of the organ loft has white plaster erupting and collapsing, with furry white pieces falling onto the balcony carpeting. This evidence has significantly progressed in the past year.

Water is leaking from the roof into the sanctuary. The problem is hidden by its location, in the dark behind the church organ.

ONE

2005-08-16T20:05:00.000-07:00

Tower of Emmanuel Church has had varied maintenance for the stone masonry in the past 15 years; the slate roof flashing on the north face does not seem to be the source of the current leak.

TWO

2005-08-16T20:00:00.000-07:00

The broad area of Emmanuel’s slate roof, facing to the east, seems to have damage mostly around the tower, as it erupts from the main sanctuary roof. Further major areas of slates defective or absent, at the crest of the roof, are not visible from the ground. (Pictures mostly taken from the tower loft.)

THREE

2005-08-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

At the western face of the tower, a deep valley is created where the descending east sanctuary roof creates a "V". Larger copper flashing, as folded metal, meets the masonry. The copper is seen at the bottom.

Of concern, on the next to bottom row, some shingles can be seen to have tar over the nails which seem to have been punched through the middle of the shingles.

Also, between many of these slate shingles, visible old tarring is seen. This is a temporizing, not a permanent kind of slate repair.

Both approaches make for a very weak repair for waterproofing a structure originally designed & built in 1871.

This roofing repair with the flashing probably occurred greater than 20 years ago. This area, along with the upper roof problem near the peak, are likely the sources of the current leakage causing damage inside the church, next to the organ loft.

FOUR

2005-08-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

One central chimney, erupting through the main sanctuary roof, is not in use. Not in use since perhaps the addition of the Fellowship Hall in the 1920s, this chimney still requires a little maintenance. Mortar for repointing joints in the brick chimney would be a worthwhile project. Even though that chimney is not used, bricks falling 80 feet to the ground can do significant damage to the slate tiles of the roof, as well as to cars and people below.

FIVE

2005-08-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

Second chimney at the north/east part of Fellowship Hall originates with the parlor fireplace hearth, but more functionally, it originates with the current operating boiler(s). The flashings are not eroded, but the uppermost aspect lacks mortar and shows signs of decay. Repointing is appropriate, but rebuilding should not be required.

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

2005-08-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

Emmanuel Baptist Church of Albany, as a congregation, needs to make specific decisions regarding allocating monies from the endowment. Specifically, these are about the problems with the roof, as well as about significant repairs to the boiler. This meeting is scheduled for August 28th, 2005. Please plan to attend for a detailed discussion and to vote about our physical plant problems.