HERITAGE PROJECTS

LYNEN TROY UNITED CHURCH

We had the honour of replacing the Cupola and Belfry atop of this 150 year old Bell Tower. This tower was in dire need of repairs to bring it back to life, and the bell brought down to compete the repairs. The tower was completely gutted inside and given an entirely new framed steel roof, interior structural support and full aluminum louver / window opening replacement construction to let continue to stand the test of time.

It was truly our pleasure, so much so we’d love to share it with you!

View of a brick church with large arched stained glass window and a clock tower with a green roof, surrounded by bushes and a sidewalk.
An old black and white photograph of a church with a tall steeple, surrounded by leafless trees.

BUILT: 1870

TOWER REPAIRS: 2025

A historic brick church with arched stained glass windows, a tall steeple, and a leafless tree in front, under a clear blue sky.
Black and white photograph of the Lynden First United church, showing a small brick building with a green dome, tall arched windows, and a surrounding tree. The second image is an old sepia photograph of the church's exterior, showing a brick structure with a tall clock tower and leafless trees in front.

OUR INITIAL SITE VISIT INVOLVED SENDING UP A DRONE AND A WALKTHROUGH TO INVESTIGATE

Aerial view of a brick building with a metal-roofed tower featuring a bell and wooden balcony, surrounded by leafless trees and neighboring houses.
A brick chimney with a weathered wooden railing on top, located on a rooftop. In the background, there are other rooftops and a neighborhood scene with leafless trees and snow patches.
A weathered wooden bell tower with a large bell inside, set against a winter landscape with leafless trees and snow-covered ground, under a clear blue sky.
An ornate black metal weather vane with stars and moon designs on top of a weathered wooden roof, with a cloudy sky and trees in the background.
An aerial view of an old wooden church bell tower with a rusted metal roof, located in a winter landscape with leafless trees and snow on the ground.
A weathered green wooden window shutter on a brick building with an arched brick frame.
An abandoned, dilapidated room with peeling yellow paint, broken floorboards, and a single window with grimy glass. The room contains a small cabinet, a plastic container, and scattered wooden planks and debris.
A person wearing a mask, goggles, and gloves is standing in an open space within a building structure, looking down at the camera from above. The space has exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and a ladder on the side.
Ceiling with stained and unpainted wooden panels, an old electrical fixture, and exposed wires in a room under renovation.
Green rain gutter pipes leaning against a brick corner of a building. A black phone rests on the bricks. Nearby, there is a small garden with some plants and leaf debris, a pair of purple safety goggles, and a red container lid on a concrete step.
Green downspout drainage pipe attached to brick wall, with leaf-covered garden ground and leafless shrub nearby.
Brick wall with damage at the base, a green downspout on the right side, a green door on the left, a concrete step, and a tool lying on the step.
Close-up of a brick corner with damaged brickwork and a green downspout leaning against the brick wall, near a base with dirt, scattered leaves, and small plants.

THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION GAVE US A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT WE WERE GETTING INTO, THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SIGNIFICANT WATER DAMAGE HAD ROTTED A FAIR BIT OF THE STRUCTURAL TIMBER. WE COULD SEE THE BELL NO LONGER HAD A SOLID FOUNDATION AND WAS SINKING INTO THE EXISTING FLAT ROOF. WE BROUGHT IN A BOOM TO INVESTIGATE THE TOP OF THE TOWER, CUPOLA AND BELFRY.

A white utility truck with orange lights parked on the side of a two-lane road near a church with brick walls and tall arched windows. The road has a light dusting of snow, and the sky is partly cloudy.
A cherry picker lift on a flatbed truck parked beside a brick church with arched windows and a steeple in a suburban neighborhood.

WHAT WE FOUND WAS AS WE SUSPECTED, WE STILL HAD NO IDEA THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE BUT WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GUT IT ALL AND REPLACE, WHICH MEANT THE BELL WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN DOWN. WE UNDERSTOOD THE BELL TO BE IN EXCESS OF 1000LBS AND WOULD NEED A CRANE FOR THAT!

Close-up of a brick wall with a damaged, weathered wooden window sill or ledge that appears to be deteriorating.
Close-up of broken and weathered wooden planks with a hole revealing dirt underneath.
Close-up of a poorly maintained brick chimney with damaged and missing wooden and metal components, showing signs of rust and decay.
Close-up of rotting and broken wood framing in a structural component, showing decay and damage.
Close-up of a damaged stone and brick foundation with a gap and wooden support beams underneath, showing signs of wear and dirt.
Close-up of a gap between a wooden door and a brick floor, revealing a small hole or opening underneath.
An old, weathered bell housed in a rustic, green wooden bell tower with chipped paint and moss, overlooking trees and an overcast sky.
An old, weathered church bell mounted on a green metal tower, with a large wheel and chain mechanism attached, surrounded by trees and residential buildings in the background.
Old, weathered outdoor deck with a metal bell, a broken wooden railing, and a partially exposed hole in the floor, surrounded by a green wooden fence with peeling paint.
Close-up of a sagging roof with wooden beams, cobwebs, and some rusted metal components, inside an attic or roof space.
Damaged wooden structure with exposed rotting wood, spider webs, and debris.
View of a ceiling with damaged and rotting wood panels, and constructed wooden framing, in an unfinished or under renovation space.
Dilapidated room with peeling yellow paint, damaged walls, broken wood, dirt, debris, and some small scattered objects.
A workspace with a large, old, and weathered wooden beam being restored or renovated, surrounded by tools and construction materials.

WE BROUGHT IN OUR TRUSTED HERITAGE DESIGNATED ENGINEERS TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY STRUCTURAL REPAIRS, AND THEY CAME THROUGH. WE WORKED WITH THE CITY AND HERITAGE COMMITTEES TO ENSURE COMPLETE RESPECT FOR THIS HISTORICAL BUILDING

Architectural blueprint of a church bell tower detailing structural notes, heritage masonry restoration, elevation views including east and north, tower bracing, and brick deterioration. Contains images of existing tower conditions and a site map.
Architectural blueprint for the replacement of a church bell tower, including detailed drawings of elevation views, cross-sections, framing, construction support columns, and cable connections.
Architectural blueprint of the Lynodon Troy United Church Bell Tower with detailed elevations, roof framing, and decorative cupola details, marked with a red stamp saying 'PRELIMINARY NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION'.

AFTER SEVERAL MEETINGS, WALKTHROUGHS AND REVISIONS THE LYNDEN CHURCH TOWER REPAIRS BEGAN

A hand holding a yellow measuring tape against a brick wall, measuring approximately 36 inches.
Green door with a yellow and black 'KEEP OUT' sign and a building permit posted on it, surrounded by brick walls.
Close-up of a tape measure extending to about 4.5 inches placed against a brick wall.

WE BEGAN WITH THE BRICK REPAIRS TO THE BASE OF THE TOWER AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF BUILDING THE ROOF ON THE GROUND; WE KNEW WE WOULD NEED A CRANE FOR THE BELL REMOVAL.

Wooden triangular structure under construction outdoors in a backyard during sunset with trees and vehicles in the background.
Wooden framework for a roof truss structure outdoors on a grassy, leaf-covered ground, with trees and a house in the background.
Construction worker installing a wooden frame in outdoor ground, viewed from above, with cross-bracing and a blue metal base at the center.
Wooden framework of a roof truss under construction in an outdoor yard at sunset.
Close-up of a metal hook attached to wooden beams during construction with a black trailer and cleared yard in the background.
Wooden framing of a structure under construction, with plywood and metal connectors, on ground with grass and fallen leaves.
Large wooden pyramid-shaped structure outdoors on grassy ground with trees and houses in the background.
Wooden pyramid-shaped structure under construction in a backyard with trees and houses in the background.
A small house roof with new gray shingles being installed, with blue underlayment visible on one side, on a rainy day with three people standing nearby.
Image of a pyramid-shaped metal roof structure on the ground in a wooded area with bare trees and fallen leaves.
Green metal roof with shingles on a building situated in a yard with fallen leaves, trees, a building in the background, and a parked truck nearby.
A brick building corner with a green door and yellow caution tape wrapped around a green downspout. The brick foundation shows damage with missing bricks and a small hole, the ground around is covered with fallen leaves.
Construction work on a brick wall, with tools, a bucket, and a level on the ground.
A green door with a yellow and black "Keep Out" sign, a concrete step, and a black handrail. Fallen leaves and a displaced green metal object are on the ground near the step.

ONCE THE ROOF WAS READY TO LIFT INTO PLACE IT WAS TIME TO START DEMOLITION; WHILE WE MADE EVER EFFORT TO SALVAGE THE EXISTING CUPOLA AND BELFRY IT BECOME QUITE APPARENT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE UN SALVAGABLE IN ONE PIECE, SO WE SAFELY REMOVED THE WOODEN STRUCTURE IN SECTIONS BEGINNING WITH THE ORIGINAL WEATHER VANE THAT STILL SPUN. WE WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE OVER 8’ LONG WEATHERVANE COMPLETELY INTACT AND IT REMAINS WITH THE CHURCH

An ornate black metal weather vane with stars and moon designs, mounted on a triangular wooden roof with weathered shingles, against a cloudy sky and leafless trees in the background.
Close-up of an old, rusted metal decorative fence or grill mounted on a weathered wooden post, with a background of trees and houses.
Decorative black metal weather vane with intricate scrollwork and a ball at its center, set against a cloudy sky with trees and houses in the distance.
On a lawn in front of a brick building, there are disassembled and fallen decorative wrought iron parts, including a long rod with ornamental scrollwork and a ball, a curved arch, and other pieces, along with a green utility box and a red pallet in t
Garden with fallen metal decorative objects, including a weather vane, a fence topper, and other ornate pieces scattered on the grass, with a brick wall and shrubbery surrounding the area.
An ornate, black, wrought iron weather vane with decorative scrollwork and a rooster design, lying on grass with fallen leaves.
A weathered wooden pallet with a decorative cast iron piece lying on it, outdoors on green grass with fallen leaves.

NEXT WE DISANTLED THE EXISTING CUPOLA AND BELFRY; WE MADE SURE TO KEEP ASIDE THE DORMERS AND CORNICE WORK FOR THE CHURCH FOR FUTURE RESTORATOIN.

A construction lift being used to work on a church steeple during cloudy weather.
Wooden planks and damaged boards on a construction or demolition site with grass and pavement nearby.
A distressingly rotten wood beam lying on a work surface, with chipped, decayed sections and exposed bark.
Workers repairing a tall brick building with a bell tower, using a cherry picker lift.
Weathered wooden cart with green and gray paint, leaning against a vehicle with two white tires on a gravel and leaf-covered ground.
Close-up of a weathered wooden fence with green and gray lichen growth, situated above a layer of dried leaves and small green plants.
Close-up of a worn, broken piece of wood on top of a green painted wooden fence or structure, with a black tire partially visible underneath.
Close-up of a damaged wooden surface with a house and leafless trees in the background.
A beehive hanging from the corner of a brick building with a historic arched doorway in the lower part of the image. The building has a weathered green downspout and an old chimney on the roof.
Large wasp nest attached to a brick wall beneath a metal beam with peeling green paint.
A brick chimney with a metal bell on top and a green downspout, against a blue sky with white clouds, next to a rusted metal roof and a ladder.
Upside-down, weathered green wooden decorative architectural pieces on the ground, with a bush in the background, during nighttime.

WITH THE CUPOLA AND BELLFRY SUCCESSFULLY AND SAFELY REMOVED, THE BELL WAS READY FOR EXTRACTION. WE EXPLORED THE OPTIONS OF BRINGING IN A 50 TON CRANE FROM THE FRONT, BUT OVERHEAD HYDRO AND A SINGLE LANE WOULD LEAD TO ROAD CLOSURES AND HYDRO DISCONNECT, EXPLORED A 60 TON FROM THE REAR OF THE BUILDING BUT WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE 1000LB BELL OVER SOMEONES HOUSE FOR THAT, SO WE SETTLED ON A 90 TON FROM THE CONTROLLED SPACE OF THE PARKING LOT. AFTERALL IT HAD TO CARRY 1000LBS BELL FROM 135 FEET AWAY AND PUT THE NEW ROOF ON AFTER SO WE CALLED IN THE BIG GUNS, BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!

A brick chimney with ventilation openings and a decorative shield, atop a building, under a cloudy blue sky, with a person in a plaid shirt and black jacket standing on a red scaffold.
Large yellow and black construction crane mounted on trailer, parked on snow-covered ground with footprints, in front of a brick building and leafless trees.
A church with a steeple and large stained-glass window is being repaired with a crane lifting power lines, and a cherry picker on the ground. There is snow on the ground and trees, and a black truck with a trailer parked beside the church.
A crane parked outside a church with a large arched window, lifting a cable. The ground is covered with snow, and orange traffic cones are placed near a gray truck in front of the church.
An old, large church bell covered in snow, mounted on weathered wooden and metal supports on a snow-covered rooftop, with a view of a suburban neighborhood with snow-covered rooftops and leafless trees in the background.
Old weathered wooden and metal bell mounted on a wooden frame on a snowy rooftop with a neighborhood of houses and leafless trees in the background.
A construction crane lifting a large bell above a brick church steeple against a cloudy sky.
Old church bell covered in snow, mounted on a wooden platform with a red pallet, flanked by bushes, and in front of a brick wall with a window.
Old wooden snow sled with metal runners placed on a wooden pallet outdoors, with snow on ground and some snow on the sled, next to a hedge and brick wall.

ONCE WE HAD THE BELL DISCONNECTED FROM ITS MOUNT WE REMOVED THE MOUNT AND FRAME FROM THE ROOF AND BROUGHT IT TO THE GROUND.

WE SET THE BELL RIGHT BACK IN ITS CRADLE AND GAVE IT THE FIRST RING IN PROBABLY 20 YEARS.

WITH THE BELL OUT OF THE WAY IT WAS TIME TO PREPARE THE TOWER FOR THE NEW TOP CAP AND ROOF INSTALLTION. IT WAS DURING THIS PROCESS THAT WE REALIZED THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DAMAGES ONCE WE STRIPPED IT ALL BACK.

Close-up of a brick chimney with old, weathered wooden and metal materials, topped with a wood lintel, against a partly cloudy blue sky.
Close-up view of a chimney top with damaged bricks and burnt wood, seen from a construction lift against a partly cloudy sky.
Close-up of an old brick outdoor fireplace with a rusty metal grate, some ashes, and dried twigs inside, against a partly cloudy sky.
Top view of a roof with missing shingles and damaged wood, surrounded by a residential neighborhood with trees and houses.
View through an open window in a wooden wall showing the ceiling and part of an attic or upper floor with wooden beams, some debris, and bright sunlight outside.
View from a rooftop construction site showing damaged and rotting roof supports, dirt, and debris, with a residential neighborhood and trees in winter in the background.
View from a roof under construction showing exposed wooden beams and bricks with neighboring houses and trees in the background.
Close-up of a roof undergoing repair, showing missing shingles, exposed wooden beams, and debris including wood and slate tiles.
Interior view of a brick chimney under repair with exposed wooden supports and framing for reinforcement.
An old brick structure with exposed, weathered wooden beams and supports, indicating construction or repair in progress, with trees and houses visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
View inside an attic or chimney with brick walls, wooden beams, and a small ladder leading down.
A roof under repair showing broken wooden and brick structure, with a cloudy sky and trees in the background.
A brick chimney under construction or repair, with wooden supports and a construction lift visible, on a building during daytime with trees and cloudy sky in the background.
Construction site on the rooftop of a brick building with scaffolding and a scissor lift, with a scenic view of trees and sky in the background.
View from a tall construction scaffold showing the top of an unfinished building with a square open roof, wooden beams, and brick walls, surrounded by neighboring houses with metal roofs, some trees, and yard debris.
A view from above of a brick chimney with a partially constructed wooden frame at the top, with a residential neighborhood and cloudy sky in the background.

WE MANAGED TO GET THE TOWER PREPARED FOR THE NEW ROOF AND THE BELL REMOVED IN GOOD TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE ROOF INSTALLED THE SAME DAY AND THANKFULLY SAVED US AN ENTIRE DAY!

A crane lifting an object with a rope near the roof of a building, with snow on the ground and trees in the background.
Construction workers using a cherry picker lift to work on the top of a brick church tower during daytime with cloudy sky.
Exterior of a brick church with a green roof, a sidewalk, a decorative streetlamp, leafless trees, and patches of snow on the ground.
Upward view of a brick clock tower with arched windows and a green roof against a cloudy sky.
Intersection with stop sign, street signs for Lynden Road and Governors Road, a church, leafless trees, and a bright blue sky.

WITH THE BELL ON THE GROUND AND THE ROOF IN PLACE IT WAS TIME TO MOVE INSIDE AND TIE IN THE BOTTOM CHORDS PERMANENTEY AND REBUILD ALL THE FLOORS INSIDE AND, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT IT WAS.

Close-up of a construction framing with wooden beams and a brick wall in the background.
A person working on constructing a wooden framing structure inside a brick-walled space.
Interior of an unfinished wooden structure showing exposed wooden beams, plywood, bricks, and construction tools.
View looking up through a wooden framework under construction inside a brick-walled structure.
Interior view looking up at the wooden framing of a roof under construction.
Interior view of a construction site with exposed brick walls, wooden framing, and a small window showing construction scaffolding outside.
An old, abandoned room with peeling yellowish walls, exposed brick, and damaged ceiling. There are two small square windows near the ceiling, and a wooden shelf partially visible on the back wall. The floor and walls appear worn and deteriorated.

WITH THE UPPER TWO FLOORS REBUILT AND THE NEW ROOF TIED IN, IT WAS TIE TO START REPLACING ALL THE WINDOWS AND WINDOW SILLS. WE PULLED ALL THE ROTTER FRAMES AND SILLS AND PREPPED NEW SILLS WINDOW BLANKS.

A brick wall with a weathered green wooden louvered window that is closed and appears to be old and peeling, set within an arched brick frame.
View through a brick arch window overlooking a snowy residential street with houses, trees, and a cloudy sky.
View looking down from a brick building window at a snowy street, sidewalk, and a tree. There is construction equipment, including a lift and a sign reading 'Estate' in the yard below.
Close-up of a construction worker installing a wooden beam into a brick wall with orange expanding foam in between.
View through a hole in a brick wall showing a construction worker operating a cherry picker outside in a snowy environment. A box labeled 'RESISTO' is visible inside.
A man wearing a beanie and green jacket working on construction or renovation outside, seen through a large opening in a brick wall, with tools including a hammer and cordless drill inside.
A view through a small window in a brick wall showing a snowy outdoor landscape with trees, a parked car, and a street.
A cherry picker lift is parked in front of a brick building, with a tall tower, boarded-up windows, and a snow-covered roof.
A tall brick building with boarded-up windows and a small roof at the top. The sky is partly cloudy.
Close-up of a brick chimney on a snow-covered roof with a blue sky in the background.
A construction lift in front of an old brick building with a tower under a blue sky with some clouds, snow on the ground, and leafless trees.

WITH THE WINDOW BLANKS IN PLACE WE FINISHED THE VESTIBULE CEILING / SECOND FLOOR PLATFORM AND INSTALLED AIRCRAFT CABLING FROM THE ROOF BOTTOM CHORD LEDGER ANCHORS THOUGH ALL THE FLOORS TO THE 5 PLY BEAM ON THE FIRST FLOOR, THIS WAS QUITE FUN!

Looking up into a wooden framework structure inside a building, with a square opening at the top, revealing the ceiling of the attic with wooden beams and brick walls.
Interior of a building under construction with wooden beams, plywood, and steel cables attached to the structure.
Looking up into a staircase well with exposed brick and wooden walls, a ladder, and a series of wires or thin lines strung across the space.
Interior of a building under renovation with plywood panels, a ladder, and wires hanging from the ceiling.
A small red lift with metal cables attached, next to a wooden ladder, on a plywood floor with an exposed brick wall and partially removed plaster behind.
A red industrial lifting device with multiple steel cables attached, standing on a wooden floor in a construction area, next to a blue ladder and an unfinished brick wall.

MOVING ALONG TO THE SOFFIT, FASCIA, GUTTER GUARD, ADDITIONAL BIRCK REPAIRS AND CUSTOM MADE ALUMINUM LOUVERS TO TIE IT ALL TOGETHER

Wooden framing inside a brick archway, with vertical and horizontal wooden boards and metal rebar.
Green metal mailbox slots installed on a brick wall, viewed from below.
Green metal louvered vent mounted in a red brick wall.
Green metal ventilation louver installed in a brick wall.
A brick wall with a green louvered vent set in an arched brick frame.
A tall brick church steeple with arched windows, a green metal roof, and a small building with a green roof attached to it, viewed during snowfall.
Close-up of a brick building corner with a green arched window shutter, overcast sky, leafless trees, and a sloped roof with rusted metal trim.
Close-up of a brick exterior wall with a green metal louvered window and a red railing in the foreground.
Close-up of a metal roof ridge with green metal panels, screws, and perforated black metal flashing, under a cloudy sky with trees and rooftops in the background.
Close-up view of a green metal roof with a vent on a scaffolding platform under a cloudy sky.
A close-up view of a new green metal roof on a building, with a black gutter and brick wall, taken from a construction lift.
A roof with dark green metal shingles on a brick chimney, with a background of a cloudy sky and leafless trees in a residential neighborhood.
A brick clock tower with arched louvered windows under a clear blue sky.
Brick building with a green door, a small arched window above it, and a tall brick tower with two green louvered vents and a wide overhanging roof.
A brick church with a tall tower, arched windows, and a green door with a small set of steps leading up to it.
A tall brick building with a clock tower, arched windows, and a green door with a Keep Out sign, under a cloudy sky.
A bag of heritage pre-blended mortar with other construction materials in the background, placed outdoors on grass.
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