The New Holy Cross Church of WIC in Trenton, N.J. was in dire need of an exterior facelift. The stone facade was cleaned in 2008, but 150 years of wear-and-tear had done a number on the church’s slate shingle roof. It was evident that the roof needed to be replaced, and the New Holy Cross church association was looking for an economical, long-lasting solution.
“The slate roof was deteriorating, affecting the building’s exterior performance and aesthetics, as well as impacting the integrity of the church’s interior,” said Stevi Jerrold, Marketing Coordinator with ATAS International Inc., which manufactured the steel shingles that were used for the re-roofing project.
A key consideration for church leaders was maintaining the architectural integrity of the church’s previous slate roof. Representatives from ATAS suggested a roof comprised of ADVANTA steel shingles, which they believed would marry the historical look of the church with a durable, cost-effective roof for the future. The 23-gauge steel shingles in Cape Cod Grey were eventually selected for the project, and the response from the church association and congregation members has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Jim Bush, V.P. of Sales and Marketing with ATAS.
“ADVANTA shingles were originally intended to look like a dimensional architectural shingle with a similar look to asphalt, but it also tends to provide more of a slate-like look as well,” Bush said. “People may drive by that church and not even realize it’s a metal shingle.”
Although the aesthetic appearance of the steel shingles imitates the slate roof, Bush said the performance of the metal roof will benefit the church for years to come. “The ADVANTA shingles have some of the longest life expectations of any roofing product out there,” he said.
Not only is the product more durable than slate shingles, but it is also light weight which minimizes the stress on the overall structure. “It probably weighs under a pound per square foot installed versus probably two-and-a-half pounds per square foot for asphalt shingles; and slate would be much, much more than that,” Bush said.
An added benefit of the product was the ease of installation, which was a challenge due to the steep slope of the roof. The shingles’ pre-punched direct fastening points made for an efficient installation and their four-way interlock feature provided weather-tightness, according to Jerrold. Other added benefits include the premium paint system that offers warranties of 30 years and a high recycled content of the material.
The steel roof was installed by Shiny Diamond Cleaning & Restoration, based in Princeton, N.J., and was completed in 2011. In all, 11,730 square feet of steel shingles were used on the roof. The renovation earned the 2012 Metal Construction Association Chairman’s Award in the metal roofing category and placed in ATAS’ Project of the Year contest.