Cover Story

Extensive scaffolding is erected for roofers’ fall protection.

ROOFERS LOCAL 96 PERFORM HISTORIC RENOVATION ON ST. STANISLAUS

Members of Roofers & Waterproofers Local 96, SE Minnesota, proudly replaced the roof on St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, a historic church in Winona, MN, and a prominent fixture on the city’s skyline.

St. Stanislaus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and was designated a Minor Basilica of the Roman Catholic Church (one of only 85 in the country) in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI. Its congregation dates back to 1871, when the growing Polish community wished to worship in their own language instead of at the German or Irish churches. As the parish outgrew its original sanctuary, the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, as it’s formally called, was dedicated in 1895.

After numerous renovations over the years, the tile roof needed replacing and the basilica required repair. Local 96 signatory contractor Winona Heating and Ventilating (WHV) in Winona, MN, was selected to perform the work and sent their talented crew to begin the process

Crew members tore off the existing tile roof to the deck and installed Titanium ice and water underlayment and 90 lb. felt. They then installed Ludowici Spanish tiles, all hand-nailed with copper nails, along with all copper flashings.

Statues receive their own makeovers at Winona Heating and Ventilating.

There are multiple life-sized statues on the property, including one on top of the dome. As part of the project, each statue was removed and “cob blasted”— a method of blowing grit from finely ground corn cobs through a high-volume, low-pressure commercial-grade blasting system. The less-abrasive corn cob medium is favored for cleaning delicate surfaces (the statues are made of zinc). The statues were then resoldered and painted. The entire process was performed at the WHV shop, along with the custom fabrication of metal for all the bell towers and steeples. The statues were then (very carefully!) reset, including atop of the segmented dome, which puts the statue at 172 feet in the air.

A Local 96 roofer puts the finishing touches on the statue on top of the dome. of tearing off and replacing the Spanish tiles.

The whole project took about four months. The skilled Local 96 members who performed this specialized work included Kasey Klunder, Vaughn Gerken, Nick Burbach, Ben Virock, Eric Meyers, Clay Henderson and Kevin Wohlert. In order to protect the crew, scaffolding was installed around the entire project to meet full fall protection requirements. The company and workers are very proud of this job completed, with no injuries. Their outstanding workmanship can now be admired by the community for decades to come. ■