Roofing steepled in charm

In the evening of May 29, 1824, nine people gathered on a porch and formed First Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio. Now located on Monument Avenue, the church was built in 1915 in Gothic Revival architectural design with large stained-glass windows, decorative buttresses and a 140-foot-tall copper steeple visible for miles.

In March 2023, a storm ripped off substantial sections of the steeple’s copper cladding, exposing the wood deck and vaulted sanctuary below. Jonathon Wolfe, chairman of the First Baptist Church of Dayton’s board of trustees, called HKC Roofing and Sheet Metal, Cincinnati, for help.

“Realizing the urgency, representatives from HKC Roofing were on-site within a day to survey the damage and put a plan together,” Wolfe says.

Scope and safety

The following week, the HKC Roofing crew temporarily wrapped the steeple with Carlisle^® WIP^® 300HT high-temperature self-adhering rubberized asphalt underlayment to protect it from further exposure. The next step was working with the insurance company to get the claim approved.

“HKC Roofing assured us they would handle the claim, and they did,” Wolfe says. “They provided all the necessary estimates and paperwork to support our claim. They met with inspectors and engineers, and over an eight-month period they were successful in getting our claim approved. During the claims process, they worked on erecting scaffolding with special attention given to distributing the scaffolding weight so as not to damage the building.”

The HKC Roofing crew erected a full scaffolding system for safe access to the steeple that is well above the church roofline. A designated staging area was established in the parking lot to manage torn-off debris, materials and tools.

In August 2024, the HKC Roofing crew began work on the steeple. The goal was to restore it to its original visual splendor while improving durability using modern materials and best practices.

Much of the original copper had worn thin over time into faded patina green. Some areas had pulled apart from years of expansion and contraction, and water was seeping into the deck. Some decorative pieces, such as finials and scrolls, were badly bent or completely missing.

“We had to carefully replicate and replace those details to bring the steeple back to its original look and protect it for the future,” says Henry Mitchell, president of HKC Roofing and Sheet Metal.

Replication and installation

With safe access in place, the team carefully removed the existing copper cladding and decorative elements by hand, packed the pieces in crates and transported them to HKC Roofing’s off-site shop and Chicago Sheet Metal Supply and Fabrication Inc., Chicago, for fabrication. The pieces served as templates for precise replication.

All components including the copper panels were fabricated by hand from 20-ounce copper.

“Each component was hand-formed and soldered with compatible fasteners by our skilled craftsmen to match historical detailing,” Mitchell says.

The crew assessed the wood roof deck and found deteriorated areas requiring complete replacement. HKC Roofing carpenters used the old wood pieces as templates when cutting new wood to match the exact dimensions of the original deck and buttresses, ensuring structural integrity and proper anchoring for the new copper roof system.

Next, the team applied Carlisle WIP 300HT high-temperature self-adhering rubberized asphalt underlayment to the steeple followed by new 20-ounce copper panels. Each piece was soldered in place to match original detailing.

“Special attention was given to seam alignment, solder joints and ornamental profiles to ensure an authentic, historically accurate, symmetrical and durable restoration,” Mitchell says.

As the crew approached the peak, precision became critical.

“The final copper panels and ornamental details were installed with care, ensuring alignment and watertight integrity at the most exposed point of the structure,” Mitchell explains. “Working at full height required steady hands, tight coordination and respect for the height and craft.”

To complete the steeple restoration, the HKC Roofing crew installed a weathervane on top of the steeple as well as a Maxwell Lightning Protection system.

A beacon of light

Two years after the storm, the HKC Roofing crew completed work on First Baptist Church of Dayton’s steeple.

“The result is outstanding,” Wolfe says. “This steeple will last well into the next century.”

Thanks to HKC Roofing craftsmen dedicated to studying and replicating every historical element, the restored steeple complete with new copper finials, scrolls and ornamental trim was returned to its original state.

“The project called for surgical removal and replication of original copper ornamentation, installation of new structural decking and hand-fabrication of all exterior copper components,” Mitchell says. “The result is a revitalized, historically accurate steeple with enhanced long-term performance.”

“We call our steeple ‘a beacon of light’ that can be seen for miles when entering the city,” Wolfe adds. “We could not be more proud of the steeple and of the HKC Roofing workers who rebuilt it.”