Category: News

Renaissance Roofing, Inc. was contracted to restore back to its original luster, a full copper roof system including gutters and downspouts in Kenosha, WI after a severe thunderstorm packing extreme winds tore the original roofing system partially off the residence.

This storm system was strong enough to uproot entire trees from the ground and cause significant damage to Kenosha and the immediate surrounding area. Many tile, slate and architectural sheet metal roofing systems were affected due to this storm.

Our contract included all facets of this copper roofing system. Due to the heavy damage, we would completely remove the entire roof and gutter system down to the wooden deck and start anew. We would replace all wood decking damaged by the storm, replace all the underlayments with new felt and Ice and [...]

Hail damage is not typically visible to the eye from the ground. It has been our experience that hail damage requires an inspection on the roof. Having a qualified contractor get on your tile or slate roof will help reveal the hail damage.

Just because you don’t see broken roof slates does not mean you don’t have damage.

Many times, slate roofs will have “hidden” damage. This damage can include hairline cracks and fractures, breaks, chipped and broken edges of the slate. Because you cannot see this damage, it is always recommended that a highly qualitied tile and slate roofing contractor, such as Renaissance Roofing, Inc. carefully and accurately inspects your hail damaged natural slate roof.

In the photo shown, these original early 1900’s era Pennsylvania Slates have been “dented” by a hailstorm in [...]

Yes, hail does damage clay and concrete tile roofs. There is the apparent damage caused by hail when you have broken roof tiles. There is also damage that cannot be seen from the ground. This damage is small cracks and fractures in the tile that will cause the tile to break over time. Tile roofing systems also have copper flashings. Because copper is a soft metal, it is easily damaged by hail. Copper gutters on your tile roof will also be damaged by hail. If you have clay tile roof and live in the Evanston, IL Skokie, IL Wilmette, IL or Kenilworth, IL having your clay tile or concrete tile roof inspected would be sensible. Click here to schedule an inspection of your hail damaged clay or concrete tile roof

Yes, natural rock slate roofing systems are damaged by [...]

The historic restoration of the Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha Wisconsin, 40 miles south of Milwaukee, WI was performed in 2019 to protect the Estate against the brutal Lake Michigan and Kenosha, Wisconsin weather.

Designed by Ralph Milman and Archibald Mortphet and built for James Anderson, an executive of the American Brass Company and his wife, Janet Lance Anderson, granddaughter of the Simmons Mattress Company founder, the French Renaissance Revival style house has over 9,000 square feet of living space with more than 30 rooms. The clay roof tiles are complimented by the stone and stucco exterior walls and dormers trimmed in wood with a copper roofing system.  Construction began in 1929 and was completed in 1931.

The restoration processes involved the meticulous removal of the 30,000 pieces of Ludowici-Celadon Brittany Style Shingle tiles. Each [...]

Plumbing stacks, sometimes referred to as soil stacks, are pipes that protrude through the roof and vent gases from the drainpipes (sinks and toilets) in your house perform a vital function. Bathroom fans that help evacuate the offensive odors in your water closet also require metal flashings at the roof. These fans also pull hot humid air produced when you shower. These small vents cause leaks that damage to your ceilings and attic insulation.

The photo above shows a failing plumbing stack on a slate roofing system. This component needs to be replaced along with the cracked slate and any deteriorated underlayments.

Plumbing vents do not last forever and should be replaced. By scheduling the Renaissance Roofing, [...]

Built in 1931, The New Pitts Mortuary, located in Milwaukee, WI is clad with the original Ludowici-Celadon matte green Provincial Flat Slab Shingle tile roof along with copper flashings, copper hip, copper ridge, flat roof, gutters and downspouts.

Initially contracted in 2014, Renaissance Roofing, Inc. removed and replaced the existing modified bitumen flat roof membrane with a new 50 mil evergreen colored PVC membrane over the entire upper flat roof area. With this scope of work, Renaissance Roofing, Inc. also installed new 16oz. copper ridge metal on 2 perimeters of the flat roof and general maintenance work which included the replacement of broken and/ or failing matt green Ludowici-Celadon Provincial Flat Slab Shingle tiles.

Over the past 5 years and forward, Renaissance Roofing, Inc. has completed several phases, or scopes of work at the New [...]

Founded by Robert Lewis Sr. in 1914, the R.S. Lewis Funeral Home has been in continuous operation in downtown, Memphis, TN. On July 27th, 2014, the R.S. Lewis Funeral Home celebrated its 100th Anniversary. It is believed to be the oldest operating funeral home in Memphis and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The home has held services for many prominent African Americans, most notably Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated on April 5th, 1968. To date, thousands still gather at this historic funeral home to mourn his passing.

In early 2018, Renaissance Roofing, Inc. performed a Magellan Building Assessment and it was determined that the funeral home required a complete clay tile roof restoration. This included the need to replace the historic clay roof tiles with new ceramic roof tiles. Our [...]

This private residence, built in 1912, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The owner, Dr. T.S Park, is a world-renowned neurosurgeon who specializes in a unique, pediatric surgical procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) and has performed the surgery on over 3,700 children and 130 adults.  Dr. Park is known as “The Guardian of Childhood” by many around the world.

After a severe hailstorm, which caused major damage to the residence and carriage house multi-colored Vermont Slate roof and copper dormers, the owner contacted Renaissance Roofing, Inc. to assess the condition and propose a common-sense scope of work that satisfied the clients needs.

Renaissance Roofing, Inc. provided 20 squares matching reclaimed 18” x 9” x ¼” Vermont Multi-colored Slate (the blend being a Vermont non-fading green, Vermont semi-weathering green and a Vermont [...]

by Nick Atkinson, Safety Director

Not to brag, ok maybe a little, but we have the coolest projects. The unmatched craftsmanship, skill, talent, and artistry that we put into every job can be seen across the United States. One such project is the Mississippi County Courthouse located in Blytheville, Arkansas, where Renaissance Roofing will be replacing the Ludowici clay tile roof, custom copper gutters and copper downspouts.

When it comes to historic restorations, great detail goes into authenticity and preservation of the building and its components. It would be easy to leave safety in the dust, especially when so much attention is being paid to giving the customer a perfect product. I have not found that to be the case in Blytheville.

Historic buildings have so [...]

For aesthetic reasons, this Lake Geneva area homeowner contracted Renaissance Roofing to replace all old, poorly fabricated copper with new pre patinated copper on their slate roof home.  Renaissance had done previous restoration work on the Williams Bay home and boathouse and the owner knew they could count on Renaissance’s expertise with copper.

Copper Dormers – Remove slate and existing copper cladding, fabricate and install new pre patinated copper cladding and reinstall the original slate.

Gutters, Downspouts and Collector Boxes – Remove existing copper gutters, copper downspouts and copper collector boxes, fabricate and install new pre patinated copper gutters, copper gooseneck design downspouts and custom copper [...]

Renaissance Roofing, in continuation of pursuing excellence, has recently welcomed a new Director of Safety to the team.

Nick Atkinson comes to us from the mechanical trades serving as a Safety Director for several large commercial contractors for 5 years. Nick is Board Certified by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Industrial Engineering focusing on environmental health and safety. Nick was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, and enjoys all things outdoors, riding motorcycles, and golf.

Nick’s vision for Renaissance Roofing lends itself to the Special Forces mantra: “By, With, and Through”. Creating leaders and investing in Foremen to carry Renaissance Roofing into our goals of Safety Excellence. We utilize our leaders to foster a culture of safety, provide a learning environment for our crews, and to accept nothing less [...]

After more than two years, the restoration of the Cascade County Courthouse in Great Falls, Montana is complete.

Restoration of the 115-year old, three-story English Renaissance Revival structure included replacement of the copper dome, architectural copper, flat seam and batten seam copper roofs, curved window sash reproduction and replacement and repoint and repair of the sandstone chimney interior and exterior masonry.

The work by Renaissance Roofing was completed entirely with our own forces and the courthouse remained open during the entire restoration.

At Renaissance Roofing we value safety above all else, and our record backs it up. Safety Director Collin Maas ensures every project is set up and completed in a safe manner, and last year we achieved a workers’ compensation insurance Experience Modification Rating (EMR) of .70. The industry average is 1.0, which means our proven history of safe work allows for cheaper insurance rates — savings that we are able to pass along to customers (for more info on the value of a low EMR, click here).

As part of our culture of safety, we participate in the annual OSHA National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. On Monday, May 6th, Collin held training sessions with our roofing crews to refocus on the important safety protocols in place that ensure every Renaissance Roofing team member returns home safely after a day of work.