Met-Tile has done an excellent job of recreating the look of the original Elkins Railroad Depot, as proven by comparing these old and new photos.
|
When the Randolph County Development Authority (RCDA) set out to restore the Elkins (West Virginia) Railroad Depot to historic standards, one of the primary challenges was to find an affordable way to duplicate the terra cotta tile that roofed the original 1908 brick-and-stone structure. Clay tile would have been prohibitively expensive, and asphalt shingles would not have provided the desired authentic look. With the help of their general contractor, Trushel Construction Company, the RCDA met budget and aesthetic challenges by selecting a Met-Tile roof. Jennifer A. Giovannitti, director of the Elkins Railyard Development office, explains: “The bid contract called for direct replacement of an existing shingle roof, which had been installed in the mid-1980s. But Harold Elbon, the general superintendent at Trushel Construction, was more than just our general contractor; he was also a local resident with a vested interest in seeing the depot project done to the best of his ability. He suggested that we consider Met-Tile.” |
She continues: “We called for a site review of some Met-Tile samples by our historic preservation consultant and the State Historic Preservation Office. They were impressed by the way the product performed visually on the roof when positioned next to two pieces of the original tile, and they approved its use in the project without hesitation.
“We could not be happier with the end results,” Giovannitti sums up. “In terms of being true to the historic look of the building, the Met-Tile roof offered an attractive and affordable alternative to clay tile. The community was impressed, the State Historic Preservation office was impressed, and the building owner was impressed. We hope that more historic restoration projects and public buildings will consider this alternative to shingle and tile.”
|
