St. Peter's Church Lo-Reninge

Historic heritage under our care

Commissioned by City Council Lo-Reninge, led by general contractor Arthur Vandorpe and designed by Architectenbureau Seys of Diksmuide, the roof restoration of this historic church began in November 2024. The works will run until the end of 2025.

This restoration requires not only technical expertise, but also respect for the ancient structure and materials. Therefore, we tackle the roof with the utmost care and in several stages.

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An overview of the works

• Controlled disassembly of the existing natural slates and original lugs (painted black with thumb lugs).
• Complete renewal of the wooden support surfaces at the roof bases with Oregon wood, after thorough inspection.
• Replacement of all zinc and lead gutters and platforms, including:
  • Hall channels (1 mm zinc, unfolding 1 m, 100 m length)
  • Hanging gutters (semicircular, 33 cm diameter, 140 m length)
  • Rain drains (1 mm zinc, 130 m length)
  • Floor tower walk (zinc natural 1 mm, brazed, 20 m²)
  • Lead platforms (2.5 mm, 27.5 kg/m²)
  • Lead chutes (2.5 mm, 130 m length)
• Complete slate roof replacement:
  • Type of natural slate: 20/30 Flemish model
  • 125,000 slates attached with black stainless steel slate hooks
  • Total area: 2,500 m²
• Curative wood treatment with Sarpeco 910 and where necessary repair of cap structures à l'ancienne.
• Modification of the gutter ramp and installation of a new stair connection with green soaked boarding boards (100/25 mm).

‍Challengesof format

The main concern during this restoration is the complete waterproofing of the church during the works. The interior contains valuable paintings and a monumental wooden shrine that absolutely must remain protected from moisture.

In addition, maintaining the original appearance of the building requires customization. The existing ridges are carefully reused or - if necessary - copied in detail, when they are no longer available from specialized suppliers of rustic building materials.

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Craftsmanship in every layer

The roof renovation of St. Peter's Church in Lo-Reninge is a fine example of how we at Tectum Group - with Six by Tectum - restore heritage with expertise and respect for the past. From meticulous woodwork to laying thousands of natural slates, this project shows how traditional craftsmanship and contemporary techniques can go hand in hand.