The fabrication of custom architectural sheet metal pieces can be a critical component for successfully restoring historic structures, particularly those originally constructed in the late 19th Century. Examples of these properties include churches, courthouses, university buildings, opera houses, and theaters.
But the challenging part of using architectural sheet metal in historic restorations is the sheer variety of applications, and also the high degree of skill required to create custom sheet metal replications with an eye toward structural integrity and historical accuracy. What’s more, the scale and scope of architectural sheet metal can vary greatly by project, ranging from large copper domes to smaller aesthetic or decorative features such as cornices, spires, gutters, collector boxes, and downspouts.
For example, the restoration of the historic Green County Courthouse in Monroe, WI included custom architectural sheet metal fabricated by our in-house copper studio in the restoration of a variety of structural and decorative features.
Here, we’ll look at five applications for architectural sheet metal in the restoration of historic structures, and why this element of historic restoration work demands a high degree of experience, care, and craftsmanship.
1. Copper Domes
Copper domes are perhaps the largest scale use of architectural sheet metal, and copper domes are also perhaps the most important use of architectural sheet metal as domes are part of and can affect the entire roofing system. Plus, custom fabricated architectural sheet metal can also be used to restore roof system components connected to copper domes, including features like finials and flashings.
This scale and scope of custom architectural sheet metal fabrication via our in-house copper studio helped our restoration teams inject new life into the copper dome atop the historic Martin County Courthouse in Fairmont, Minnesota. This project was recently awarded a 2023 International Federation of the Roofing Trade (IFD) Award for outstanding metal roof restoration work.
2. Turrets and steeples
Most commonly found in historic churches or college and university buildings, fabricating and installing custom architectural sheet metal in the restoration of turrets and steeples can present several unique challenges, most notably the elevation and pitch of these features.
The structural integrity of turrets and steeples can also be impacted by any framing components beneath the copper, which is why our historic carpentry teams work in a highly-collaborative environment with our sheet metal craftsmanship to ensure quality restoration work inside and out.
For example, the work we recently completed on the Green County Courthouse in Monroe, Wisconsin, a project that required sheet metal fabrication to restore several turrets, as well as the clock tower, steeple, cornice, and spires.
3. bell towers and clock towers
Architectural sheet metal work used in the restoration of historic bell towers and clock towers is frequently seen in churches, government buildings, and colleges or universities. The challenge with fabricating custom architectural sheet metal for these applications, particularly if the bell towers and clock towers contain functioning bells or clocks, is ensuring compatibility and protection with a variety of mechanical components.
4. gutters and downspouts
Similar to architectural sheet metal fabrication for bell towers and clock towers, restoring historic gutters and downspouts is complicated by the fact that these components are essential to creating a healthy roof system that is capable of adequately directing water away from the structure and promoting proper drainage.
Our restoration of the Green County Courthouse in southern Wisconsin required custom sheet metal fabrication to ensure the gutters and downspouts were historically accurate and performing at the highest possible level.
5. ornaments and entablature
While more decorative in nature, exterior or interior ornaments and entablature can require just as high a degree of skill, craftsmanship, and material quality to ensure a quality restoration. What’s more, these components can actually require more intricate, ornate architectural sheet metal fabrication work.
This is where the tools and resources of the Renaissance in-house copper studio help our architectural sheet metal restoration specialists work in a team-oriented way with complete control over the final product to ensure the highest quality work in a timely fashion.
A better understanding of how and where architectural sheet metal is used in historic buildings can help property owners better identify the need for an inspection to protect the historical value and structural integrity of the property.
The Magellan Building Assessment is the first step in helping our restoration specialists chart a course of action to restore your historic property, and, once this is complete, our architectural sheet metal technicians — along with our other restoration technicians — can preserve your building for generations to come.
Contact us to learn more about injecting new life into your historic structure.
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