Learn How to Replace Shingle Roof, Historic Preservation Skills

Two-Day Hands On Workshop

During this two-day workshop, at Chester Springs Studio in Historic Yellow Springs, you will learn preservation and carpentry skills while replacing the cedar shingle roofing on the Crystal Diamond Springhouse, a small one-story stone building built in the 1850s to house the magnesium spring.

Guided by two building professionals with over 70 years of experience between them, participants will strip the existing cedar shingles and remove them to be composted on site, repair the existing wood lath, and install new western red cedar taper-sawn shakes.

The hands-on work will be accompanied by instruction in the use of wood shingle roofing materials historically and its appropriate use in historic preservation today, including design choices like shake vs. shingle, amount of exposure and minimum pitch.

Skills and processes that will be covered include:

• Condition assessment of existing wood roofs
• Measuring and estimating
• Personal and workplace safety
• Methods of layout and coursing
• Rules of thumb for shingle placement and nailing
• Fastening methods

The workshop will meet from 8:30 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday, with a break at noon for lunch (please bring your own). If we don’t finish the job by Sunday evening, or if we have to cancel one or more days because of rain, we will finish the following weekend, May 26th and/or 27th .

More information and registration for Preservation Skills Workshop >

Instructors for the Workshop Series

Tony Vizzi, owner of Affordable Copper Roofing, has specialized in historic roofing materials and techniques since about 1981. With a background in finish carpentry he developed a keen interest in the highly detailed installation of slate, tile and metal roofs. For the last 15 years he has enjoyed sharing his knowledge with other contractors and has collaborated on many historical projects.

As seen on YouTube:
Affordable Copper Roofing: Keeping the Fires Burning
Affordable Copper Roofing: Installing A Copper Barrel Roof

Andrew Gustine, owner of Native Woods Restoration Carpentry, is a master carpenter focused on rehabilitating and restoring houses, barns, and outbuildings for more than 25 years. He holds a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania and serves on the Board of the Chester County Historic Preservation Network, and Historic Yellow Springs, Inc.

More information and registration for Preservation Skills Workshop >