Mechelen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Mechelen is restoring St. Rumbold’s Cathedral roof for €1.6 million, led by architect Wim Jacobs. The project includes replacing gutters, asbestos removal, and minor repairs, which are expected to be finished by spring.
Sint-Romboutstoren is managed by Mechelen City, while the nearby cathedral is cared for by the province of Antwerp. After about fifty years since its last major repair, they decided to fix the cathedral’s roof. Work started in early August and is going well, with many workers fixing it from heights of up to seventy meters. Architect Wim Jacobs from Karuur Architecten, which specializes in restoring buildings, said the roof was still in good shape and well-maintained. This is their first time working on a cathedral, and he finds it exciting to be part of such a project.
What are the details and significance of the ongoing restoration project at St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen?
Jacobs explained that there’s no need for big repairs, but many small tasks make it a big project. They’re replacing old lead gutters with copper ones to stop water from coming in, especially during heavy rain. They also found asbestos under the roof and removed it. People in Mechelen won’t see the changes from the ground, but some damaged slates will be replaced, and new roof hooks will be added. The new slates are brighter because they’re new, so there might be a color difference for a while, but it will blend in over time.
These roof hooks help attach ropes and ladders for checking and fixing roofs later. The dormers are being painted, support beams are getting repaired, and small damages are being fixed. Deputy Jan De Haes mentioned that the materials used in the 70s weren’t the best, so repairs are needed again. The provincial government is spending 1.6 million euros to restore the cathedral’s roof. De Haes understands that maintaining such a big building costs money, but they want to take good care of it. This work will make it easier to access the roof in the future. For workers like Davy Rayen, working in the cathedral is special, and the nice weather makes it even better. They expect to finish the restoration by next spring.
