Russell Roofing and Exteriors has worked on many commercial and historic properties over the past 30 years, restoring them to their original beauty. One miraculous restoration project that Russell Roofing takes great pride in is the work we completed at Overbrook School for the Blind in 2012.
In early 2012, The Overbrook School for the Blind granted Russell Roofing the opportunity to restore the main cupola roof area, which encountered many stubborn leaks. They had other roofers attempting to fix the persistent issue with no success. Overbrook School for the Blind trusted Russell Roofing to take on this project with very high hopes. “Russell Roofing was chosen to complete the work because of its reputation in our area among similar institutions for fine work and attention to detail.” – Joe Van Bernum, chief financial officer for Overbrook School for the Blind.
In May 2012, Russell Roofing began work at the school by removing the 1,500-pound cupola by crane and transporting it to our shop in Oreland, PA. Early in the restoration process, Russell Roofing discovered a time capsule encased in the cupola’s ceiling. It included original documents and time cards from the workers who installed the cupola in 1898. “It’s crazy to think how long the metalwork lasted – 114 years! Our metal workers reconstructed the cupola with new 20-ounce copper, which should last for future years. The second portion of this project consisted of restoring Ludowici Spanish roof tiles that made up a large amount of the cupola. As an organic material, Spanish tile can often be reused on a roofing project if it is in pristine condition. Unfortunately, many tiles were not salvageable, and the crew had to remove approximately 101 squares. We replaced all damaged tiles with new
Ludowici Spanish tile, which our team hand-cut on-site to ensure the perfect fit.
Russell Roofing has always strived to be a safety-first company. Following OSHA guidelines, our crew wore safety harnesses and hard hats at all times due to the complexity of the steep roof. Our goal during this project was to keep the job site clean and clear throughout the entire process since the school is well-known for its heavy foot traffic during the mornings and afternoons. Overbrook School for the Blind’s mission is to teach young children from preschool to elementary ages with visual impairments and other challenges, allowing them to experience active and rewarding lifestyles.
The restoration project for Overbrook School for the Blind took about five months of hard work and would not be possible without our skilled mechanics and the cooperation of the [Overbrook] school. It opened many doors and allowed for new opportunities, including more contracted work for the Overbrook School.
Over a decade later, Russell Roofing is still proud to showcase our work at The Overbrook School for the Blind. The unique architecture of the school can be seen throughout the Overbrook section of Philadelphia. Next time you are in the area, swing by the school to admire its beauty.
