Ep 13. St. Andrews Church Spires

In Salvage Dawgs season 3 episode 13, titled St. Andrews Church Spires, the team is tasked with removing the four iconic spires from the roof of St. Andrews Catholic Church in Roanoke, Virginia. The spires, which have been a fixture of the Roanoke skyline for over 100 years, are in need of restoration, and the church has decided to have them taken down for safety reasons.

The Salvage Dawgs crew, led by owner Robert Kulp and designer Mike Whiteside, face a number of challenges in their attempt to safely remove the spires. Firstly, the spires are located on the highest point of the church roof, making it difficult to reach them with any kind of heavy machinery. Secondly, the spires are made of cast iron, a notoriously fragile material that requires a delicate touch in order to avoid damaging them during removal.

Undeterred, the team sets to work on the project, using a combination of cranes and scaffolding to safely reach and remove the spires. As they work, they discover more about the history of the church and the significance of the spires to the local community. The spires, which were originally cast in Baltimore, Maryland, were brought to Roanoke by train and hoisted into place by a team of workers using a system of ropes and pulleys. The team is impressed by the skill and ingenuity of the workers who were able to construct the spires using techniques that are no longer in use today.

As the Salvage Dawgs crew continues to work on the project, they are faced with a number of unexpected challenges, including inclement weather and transportation issues. However, they are determined to see the project through to completion and work tirelessly to safely remove all four spires from the church roof.

Once the spires have been successfully removed, the team loads them onto their truck and prepares to transport them to their warehouse for restoration. Along the way, they stop at a local scrap yard, where they are able to unload some of the heavier parts of the spires in order to reduce their weight for transportation.

Back at the warehouse, the Salvage Dawgs crew begins the process of restoring the spires to their former glory. They carefully remove layers of rust and corrosion from the cast iron using a combination of sandblasting and chemical treatments, revealing the intricate detail of the spires hidden beneath.

Throughout the episode, the Salvage Dawgs team demonstrates their skill, expertise, and dedication to preserving the history and beauty of architectural artifacts like the St. Andrews Church spires. As they work, they express their admiration for the workers who built the spires over a century ago and their gratitude for the opportunity to play a role in preserving this important piece of local history.

Overall, Salvage Dawgs season 3 episode 13 tells a compelling story about the challenges and rewards of preserving historic architectural artifacts and the importance of community involvement in the preservation process. With stunning visuals, fascinating historical insights, and a team of dedicated professionals, it is an episode that is sure to captivate audiences and leave them with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and complexity of cast iron architecture.