The Unitarian Church of Geneva,Illinois, a non-profit organization, was established in 1843. The ensuing years have taken their toll on the building. The church was in need of major repairs. Because the church is recognized as a historical site, they were eligible for government funding. Applications for grants through the State of Illinois, City of Geneva, and the County of Kane were filed. They received a total of five million dollars to completely restore the church to the original 1843 condition.
Roof replacement was one of their priorities. They were seeking a product that was not only durable, but also environmentally friendly. Over a year was spent researching various roof systems. The roof material finally decided upon was Enviroshake. It is a unique environmentally friendly composite, ninety five percent of which is derived from reprocessed industrial polymers, fibers, and rubber. Popular Mechanic’s Magazine chose Enviroshake as one of 15 best picks from the 2004 International Builders Show. This is truly a green roof system. This roof has a look similar to aged wood shakes, however, it does not support the growth of moss or algae and will not split or curl as it ages.
Affordable Roofing was chosen to do the roof replacement. This entailed removing all the existing roofing, repairing any damaged wood and installing the Enviroshake system. The project was made more challenging due to the fact that renovations to the grounds, foundation, siding, and windows below the roof had already been completed. Extra precautions were necessary to protect this new work. All went well. The old roofing was removed and replaced with no damage to the building or landscaping. Continuing their efforts to be environmentally responsible, church members even recycled the old cedar shakes and made them into mulch. The completed project exceeded expectations. The church had successfully recreated the historical look of the 1800’s while keeping the work as “green” as possible.
