Fellowship of the roof

Constructed in 1885, German Methodist Church, Dubuque, Iowa, was built in Carpenter Gothic-style that features a gable roof, arched windows, wainscoting and trim, which became possible with the invention of the powered scroll saw.

Carpenter Gothic buildings often were built in rural communities using predominately wood materials. Wood shingles on the roof and siding incorporated varying shingle patterns to create interesting textures and designs, but repairs made to the German church throughout several decades ultimately hid the structure’s historical qualities.

In 2004, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque purchased the building, and in 2020, members began fundraising for a major renovation. The fellowship contracted with Heritage Works Inc., Dubuque, to apply for grants and tax credits and ensure compliance with funding requirements; Jeff Morton, architect with Stickley Morton Architects, Dubuque, to create plans to restore and preserve the building’s past while accommodating current and future space needs of the congregation; and Gronen Restoration, Dubuque, to serve as the construction manager for the project, ensuring the rehabilitation met historical preservation standards

Paul Meissner Roofing, Dubuque, was selected as the roofing contractor for the project to restore the roof and walls to the church’s original design.

The journey

In June 2021, work began on the $2.1 million Unitarian Universalist Fellowship rehabilitation project. Before commencing on-site work, the Paul Meissner Roofing team spent countless hours studying historical photos to recreate shingle patterns and the overall feel and intent of the original structure’s design.

Once on-site, the team worked from safety harnesses, boom lifts and cranes to remove the existing laminated asphalt shingles and underlayment from the 65,000-square-foot roof and then placed self-adhering CertainTeed WinterGuard® PRO™ underlayment along eaves, valleys and penetrations. Next, workers placed United Asphalt 30-pound asphalt-saturated organic felt over the entire roof deck surface and tacked it down followed by nailing Benjamin Obdyke Cedar Breather® underlayment.

To complete the roof system, the crew installed Western Red Cedar Certigrade® No. 1 Blue Label Premium shingles following Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau guidelines, which involved hand-nailing every shingle with stainless-steel nails.

The team also installed a new built-in gutter system, copper drip edges, valleys and step flashing. From the building’s walls, crew members removed deteriorated cedar shingles and replaced them with Certi-Last® pressure preservative-treated red cedar shingles to match the original design.

“The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque is a unique Carpenter Gothic design that incorporates masonry and wood frame construction,” says Terri Droessler, project manager for Gronen Restoration. “Wood shingles are an important character and defining feature on the cladding of the upper portions of the exterior walls and on the roof. Restoring such a building with wood shingles is an important element of the design and it’s important to employ skilled craftsmen, such as the team at Paul Meissner Roofing, who understand the proper installation methods of wood shingles, the placement and patterns of the wood shingle design and the finish details on ridges, valleys and wall flashings.”

The project also included restoring original wood moldings and windows; reconstructing the chimney to the original design and dimensions; repointng the entire building’s masonry façade with lime-based mortar, matching original color and aggregate; and replacing the original steeple that was clad with Certi-Last preservative-treated red cedar shingles.

In the mid-1970s, the original belfry was removed because of severe structural issues. A new belfry was replicated from historical photos and constructed by Rob Droessler Construction, Cuba City, Wis. The structure was built off-site and transported to the job site and lifted to the roof via crane.

An adjoining rectory, known as Emerson House, also was part of rehabilitation work. The building’s original wood moldings, façade and masonry were restored according to historical details. The Paul Meissner Roofing team removed the existing cedar shakes on the 1,100-square-foot roof area and replaced them with Certi-Last cedar shakes. Copper flashings and details also were replicated and replaced.

A meticulous finish

After an immense amount of effort to ensure every detail was accurate on the historical project, in December 2023, the Paul Meissner Roofing team completed work on Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque.

“Our craftsmen went to great lengths to recreate the skilled and proper placement and patterns of the wood shingle design and finished details on ridges, valleys and wall flashings,” says Paul Meissner, owner of Paul Meissner Roofing.

In May 2023, the project received several historical preservation awards from the City of Dubuque Historic Preservation Commission, County Historic Commission of Dubuque and Preservation Iowa.

“It was rewarding to be part of something so transforming for the community,” Meissner says. “Every week people stopped by to tell us ‘Great job!’ or yell out their car windows to say, ‘It looks beautiful!’ as they drove by while we worked. We received so many compliments from passersby and other contractors, it was uplifting and I could feel that optimism and pride spread throughout the neighborhood. The Gronen Restoration team are top-notch professionals, and we are honored to have been part of the project team.”

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