Roof Repair Update
We wanted to keep you updated on our Roof Renovation Project as things have progressed since our last letter to you. Much to our joy, our Church Architect, Christ Kamages of CJK Design Group, assisted us in selecting appropriate colors for our Church to remain within the traditions of our faith. These colors are rooted in the Byzantine tradition and will give new life to our “village”. In the process of the color selection, the firm also reviewed the roof repair option and offered another alternative that was far more superior to the original selection. As a result, we temporarily stopped the roofing project in order to investigate it further since the guarantee offered was doubled to 20 years and the option of having a gold metallic colored dome was presented. A solution that not only would be technically superior but also one that would be a fitting landmark to the legacy of our Faith and Parish – past, present and future. In our Orthodox Theology and Iconography, the new color scheme will be something to behold, especially within its environment and green setting!
The roofing solution involved moving away from the stucco roof which is prone to cracking and water intrusion (as we already know). Instead, a TPO or PVC roof was recommended. This involved removing the existing roof, repairing the structure as needed, installing a new layer of insulation and covering it with this new roofing product. TPO is a durable material used all over the world with great success (it is used for car bumpers as well), it is great for our curved application, UV resistant, cost-effective and can be painted. With this roof system, we will paint it a gold metallic color and install faux ribs to give it the appearance of a traditional Byzantine standing seam metal roof at half the cost of a metal roof. Combined with new flashing and gutters, we will be able to prevent the water intrusion and create a roof that will last for decades.
After a few months of review and fine tuning, the option presented was unanimously approved by the Parish Council and then presented at our Spring General Assembly meeting. We are pleased to inform you that work has now resumed and within 60 days we should see some remarkable changes for the better. Once the roof of the Church is completed, we will then paint the outside of the Church then move inside to fix the many water damaged areas so we can complete the iconography project. This will also be a herculean task since the water damage is extensive. Like we do with our homes, we must from time to time bear the burden of repairs. With God’s help and your prayers and support, we know we can accomplish this task together. Just last week we learned that the Mary Kandaras Estate has presented a Challenge Gift to our parish of $120,000 and asks that all parishioners please contribute to this important project so the work may be finished and we can move closer to the day of our Consecration. Thus far we have raised $120,000 and now with this Challenge Gift we are at $240,000. With the extensive repairs that need to be done to the roof and then the interior work, we are still approximately $50,000 short so please give what you can today. Time is of the essence. Thank you for your continued support of our Church.