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EN
On February 14, 2025, Stephan Haeke celebrated a special milestone: he was then employed by Tectum Group for exactly 29 years. But his experience in the sector extends even further, as he has been active in the craft of traditional roofing for a total of 38 years. What began as a passion during his training at the Vrij Technisch Instituut in Kortrijk, grew into a career in which craftsmanship and dedication are central.
Stephan discovered his love for zinc and lead work at an early age. While studying plumbing, he specialized in zinc and lead work, among other things, but the finer work like zinc machining, learning fine soldering and lead floatation particularly appealed to him. "In school, that was my favorite subject," he says. "In the early years my work consisted mainly of replacing gutters and soldered zinc flat roofs, later with the rise of zinc standing roofs in Belgium, this kind of work became more and more my dada."
That interest in traditional roofing work continued to grow, in part because of the creativity involved. "Zinc and lead offer an awful lot of possibilities," Stephan explains. "You can create architectural gems with it and make large, complex projects watertight. That's the challenge I enjoy every day."
According to Stephan, no one needs to worry about the future of traditional roofing materials. "Especially in restoration, the demand will only increase," he says. "Zinc used to be used mainly for gutters, but now we see it more and more on roofs and facades. In the last 20 years, for example, zinc has been widely used in cladding and roofing, such as standing seam systems."
There is also a big wave of replacements in the coming years. "In Brussels, Antwerp, but also in the rest of Belgium, some forty to fifty years ago, many zinc tasseaux roofs were replaced by standing seam roofs. A lot of those roofs have since regained their original tasseaux brevetté roofing, out of respect for the old architecture. Over the last 20 years, my colleague Geert Deboodt and our zinc workers have replaced or newly installed some 250,000 m² of zinc roofs and facades. But a large part has yet to be replaced. Some of these roofs are about 60 years old and in need of renewal. Sometimes because they were not installed according to the rules of the art, sometimes because climatic conditions force a faster restoration. Knowledge, experience and a little passion when installing zinc is crucial to ensure longevity," Stephan says.
Ask Stephan what material he prefers to work with and the answer is quickly obvious: lead. "Lead is even more flexible than zinc, you can literally bend it into all shapes," he says enthusiastically. "You need far fewer tools than with other materials. With a lead float, the correct lead thickness and the right technique, you can make any roof or facade perfectly watertight."
That love for the craft also translates into the projects that most excite him. "I like challenging projects, work that stimulates your imagination. Standard work is not really my thing. Give me a project where we really have to think about how best to proceed."
Roofing work, of course, also brings challenges. "Weather is a big factor," Stephan explains. "Rain, cold, heat ... in summer, a south-facing zinc roof deck can get up to 80 degrees hot at daytime temperatures of 30 degrees, you can feel that on your hands. But that's just part of it."
Another aspect increasingly being considered is security and protection against theft. "Traditional materials such as zinc, lead and copper are precious. We therefore never store them visibly and use closed containers. At some sites, such as in the Jubilee Park, we have even installed cameras and flashing lights to provide additional security for the area."
I get great satisfaction from teaching people something and making them understand why we do something a certain way.
With his wealth of experience, Stephan is also already thinking about the future. "I will retire in 2027, but until then I want to pass on my knowledge as best I can," he says. "I get a lot of satisfaction from teaching people something and making them understand why we do something a certain way."
Within his department, he works with a team of 14 tradesmen and regular subcontractors for larger projects. Training is an essential part of their operation. "In the winter, when we can't go on the roof, we organize theory classes and practical training. For example, in our workshop, as we did on the Cinquantenaire Park project. There the zinc and lead was cut and processed on site. Those are moments when you can really convey craftsmanship."
His future plans? "Maybe I'll keep giving training courses as an independent after I retire. It would be a shame to let all that knowledge just go to waste."
For Stephan, roofing work is not just a job; it is a craft in which experience and passion go hand in hand. "The great thing about this work is that you always get to special locations and you leave something tangible behind. A roof that is installed properly lasts for decades. You can look back on that with pride."
With nearly three decades with Tectum Group and a career that spans an entire lifetime, Stephan Haeke is a living witness to how valuable traditional craftsmanship is. And as long as there are roofs and facades to cover, the need for experienced craftsmen like him will only continue to grow.
Thank you Stephan for your passion and commitment!
On February 14, 2025, Stephan Haeke celebrated a special milestone: he was then employed by Tectum Group for exactly 29 years. But his experience in the sector extends even further, as he has been active in the craft of traditional roofing for a total of 38 years. What began as a passion during his training at the Vrij Technisch Instituut in Kortrijk, grew into a career in which craftsmanship and dedication are central.
Stephan discovered his love for zinc and lead work at an early age. While studying plumbing, he specialized in zinc and lead work, among other things, but the finer work like zinc machining, learning fine soldering and lead floatation particularly appealed to him. "In school, that was my favorite subject," he says. "In the early years my work consisted mainly of replacing gutters and soldered zinc flat roofs, later with the rise of zinc standing roofs in Belgium, this kind of work became more and more my dada."
That interest in traditional roofing work continued to grow, in part because of the creativity involved. "Zinc and lead offer an awful lot of possibilities," Stephan explains. "You can create architectural gems with it and make large, complex projects watertight. That's the challenge I enjoy every day."
According to Stephan, no one needs to worry about the future of traditional roofing materials. "Especially in restoration, the demand will only increase," he says. "Zinc used to be used mainly for gutters, but now we see it more and more on roofs and facades. In the last 20 years, for example, zinc has been widely used in cladding and roofing, such as standing seam systems."
There is also a big wave of replacements in the coming years. "In Brussels, Antwerp, but also in the rest of Belgium, some forty to fifty years ago, many zinc tasseaux roofs were replaced by standing seam roofs. A lot of those roofs have since regained their original tasseaux brevetté roofing, out of respect for the old architecture. Over the last 20 years, my colleague Geert Deboodt and our zinc workers have replaced or newly installed some 250,000 m² of zinc roofs and facades. But a large part has yet to be replaced. Some of these roofs are about 60 years old and in need of renewal. Sometimes because they were not installed according to the rules of the art, sometimes because climatic conditions force a faster restoration. Knowledge, experience and a little passion when installing zinc is crucial to ensure longevity," Stephan says.
Ask Stephan what material he prefers to work with and the answer is quickly obvious: lead. "Lead is even more flexible than zinc, you can literally bend it into all shapes," he says enthusiastically. "You need far fewer tools than with other materials. With a lead float, the correct lead thickness and the right technique, you can make any roof or facade perfectly watertight."
That love for the craft also translates into the projects that most excite him. "I like challenging projects, work that stimulates your imagination. Standard work is not really my thing. Give me a project where we really have to think about how best to proceed."
Roofing work, of course, also brings challenges. "Weather is a big factor," Stephan explains. "Rain, cold, heat ... in summer, a south-facing zinc roof deck can get up to 80 degrees hot at daytime temperatures of 30 degrees, you can feel that on your hands. But that's just part of it."
Another aspect increasingly being considered is security and protection against theft. "Traditional materials such as zinc, lead and copper are precious. We therefore never store them visibly and use closed containers. At some sites, such as in the Jubilee Park, we have even installed cameras and flashing lights to provide additional security for the area."
With his wealth of experience, Stephan is also already thinking about the future. "I will retire in 2027, but until then I want to pass on my knowledge as best I can," he says. "I get a lot of satisfaction from teaching people something and making them understand why we do something a certain way."
Within his department, he works with a team of 14 tradesmen and regular subcontractors for larger projects. Training is an essential part of their operation. "In the winter, when we can't go on the roof, we organize theory classes and practical training. For example, in our workshop, as we did on the Cinquantenaire Park project. There the zinc and lead was cut and processed on site. Those are moments when you can really convey craftsmanship."
His future plans? "Maybe I'll keep giving training courses as an independent after I retire. It would be a shame to let all that knowledge just go to waste."
For Stephan, roofing work is not just a job; it is a craft in which experience and passion go hand in hand. "The great thing about this work is that you always get to special locations and you leave something tangible behind. A roof that is installed properly lasts for decades. You can look back on that with pride."
With nearly three decades with Tectum Group and a career that spans an entire lifetime, Stephan Haeke is a living witness to how valuable traditional craftsmanship is. And as long as there are roofs and facades to cover, the need for experienced craftsmen like him will only continue to grow.
Thank you Stephan for your passion and commitment!
On February 14, 2025, Stephan Haeke celebrated a special milestone: he was then employed by Tectum Group for exactly 29 years. But his experience in the sector extends even further, as he has been active in the craft of traditional roofing for a total of 38 years. What began as a passion during his training at the Vrij Technisch Instituut in Kortrijk, grew into a career in which craftsmanship and dedication are central.
Stephan discovered his love for zinc and lead work at an early age. While studying plumbing, he specialized in zinc and lead work, among other things, but the finer work like zinc machining, learning fine soldering and lead floatation particularly appealed to him. "In school, that was my favorite subject," he says. "In the early years my work consisted mainly of replacing gutters and soldered zinc flat roofs, later with the rise of zinc standing roofs in Belgium, this kind of work became more and more my dada."
That interest in traditional roofing work continued to grow, in part because of the creativity involved. "Zinc and lead offer an awful lot of possibilities," Stephan explains. "You can create architectural gems with it and make large, complex projects watertight. That's the challenge I enjoy every day."
According to Stephan, no one needs to worry about the future of traditional roofing materials. "Especially in restoration, the demand will only increase," he says. "Zinc used to be used mainly for gutters, but now we see it more and more on roofs and facades. In the last 20 years, for example, zinc has been widely used in cladding and roofing, such as standing seam systems."
There is also a big wave of replacements in the coming years. "In Brussels, Antwerp, but also in the rest of Belgium, some forty to fifty years ago, many zinc tasseaux roofs were replaced by standing seam roofs. A lot of those roofs have since regained their original tasseaux brevetté roofing, out of respect for the old architecture. Over the last 20 years, my colleague Geert Deboodt and our zinc workers have replaced or newly installed some 250,000 m² of zinc roofs and facades. But a large part has yet to be replaced. Some of these roofs are about 60 years old and in need of renewal. Sometimes because they were not installed according to the rules of the art, sometimes because climatic conditions force a faster restoration. Knowledge, experience and a little passion when installing zinc is crucial to ensure longevity," Stephan says.
I get great satisfaction from teaching people something and making them understand why we do something a certain way.
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