Historic Church Receives New Roof
Historic Church Receives New Roof by
Bob Green
St. Mark's Episcopal Church was dedicated in 1907, a time when Tonopah was the largest city in Nevada. It was an important fixture in Tonopah’s life for many years, and remains the best example of stone construction in the state. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In early 2011, the roof began leaking, but the remote location and difficult working conditions stymied the search for the right roofing contractor. The right team was found in 2014.
While removing the old roof, a virtual archaeological dig was discovered piece by piece. The original wood shakes were covered by a green asphalt shingle typical of the 1930's and two layers of modern fiberglass shingles lay on top. What started as a moderately difficult project became a major headache. (Although not unusual for 100 plus year-old structure). A large snowstorm during construction added to the construction drama. New plywood sheathing, a waterproof underlayment, and new 50-year shingles completed the roof repairs while several other structural issues that arose during construction were addressed. The project was completed successfully, and the congregation of St. Mark's and their guests, the Tonopah Community Church, can worship dry and in peace.
Bob Green
St. Mark's Episcopal Church was dedicated in 1907, a time when Tonopah was the largest city in Nevada. It was an important fixture in Tonopah’s life for many years, and remains the best example of stone construction in the state. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In early 2011, the roof began leaking, but the remote location and difficult working conditions stymied the search for the right roofing contractor. The right team was found in 2014.
While removing the old roof, a virtual archaeological dig was discovered piece by piece. The original wood shakes were covered by a green asphalt shingle typical of the 1930's and two layers of modern fiberglass shingles lay on top. What started as a moderately difficult project became a major headache. (Although not unusual for 100 plus year-old structure). A large snowstorm during construction added to the construction drama. New plywood sheathing, a waterproof underlayment, and new 50-year shingles completed the roof repairs while several other structural issues that arose during construction were addressed. The project was completed successfully, and the congregation of St. Mark's and their guests, the Tonopah Community Church, can worship dry and in peace.
