Church Roof Repair – Urgent £50,000 Cost
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- May 7
- 2 min read
Regular parishioners will know that for some time now we have suffered from leaks in the church roof and side aisles. A drone survey identified a number of areas where urgent repair and less pressing maintenance was required and so estimates for the work were obtained and a claim raised on our insurers for the work needed.
Although it will be good to get these repairs underway, it does come at a cost of just over £50,000 which is net of an insurance contribution. This expense will significantly deplete our reserves and so in the coming months we will need to organise a specific giving programme along with much needed fund-raising activities with which we will call for your help.
It is planned that the scaffolding will be erected starting on the 18th May and will remain for some weeks while the repairs are undertaken. There will be some disruption to car parking spaces.
The areas identified are set out here with some pictures from the drone. All the positions are based on standing outside in forecourt facing the church main doors.
Left had side of the front elevation adjacent to the church tower.
The wall on the left is the church tower and the guttering hopper to collect water from the tower itself has fallen away and smashed many tiles.
Right hand side of the front elevation
Less serious but causing water ingress are the missing tiles from the edge of the front right hand side roof edge.
Left Side of the main roof
Alongside the Sacred Heart chapel, leaks are caused by broken tiles on the left side pitch of the main roof, shown below, and a small section just over the ridge tiles on the right-hand side of the church.
Left Hand side above the Sacred Heart Chapel
This gully has become completely blocked with leaves, moss etc and is not draining away on the roof of the side aisle. This will be cleared and water flow direction checked.
Sacristy and Upper Room Flat Roof
The roof above the Upper Room has accumulated a good deal of leaves, moss and other debris over many years now. This is causing areas of damp and some water ingress in the upper room ceiling. The initial contract will be to clean this area but take the opportunity, whilst scaffolding is in place, to undertake a more detailed inspection to determine if, the whole flat roof needs refelting.
Right Hand Aisle Flashing
This picture shows the roof of the front right-side aisle adjacent to the parish house. The existing pointed has starting to crack on the flashing at the abutment with several broken tiles are present in the surrounding area.
We will keep you up to date with the progress of the repairs, and also any additional problems and costs that may arise once closer inspection is underway.
A more detailed version of this summary page is attached below as a PDF file
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