Notre-Dame Basilica to be unveiled again

Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica is set to unveil its facade once more after a decade-long period behind scaffolding. The restoration project, which began in 2016, is nearing completion, with approximately 20 percent of the necessary work already finished. Michel Issa, executive director of the Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal, estimates that the exterior restoration will take around four years, though he warns this timeline may be optimistic. The interior restoration could stretch for another five to ten years.

The total cost of the restoration amounts to $100 million, with the basilica utilizing various revenue streams to fund the endeavor. These include benefit concerts, profits from its coffee shop, Le Firmament, and a recent fundraising campaign that allows donors to "sponsor a stone" by inscribing a digital message on the church's facade. These messages will be viewable through augmented reality or via a projected model of the facade.

The renovation process is extensive and costly due to the need to reinforce and restore the entire masonry structure. The basilica's stones, sourced from an old quarry in Montreal's Mile End neighbourhood, have suffered from freezing and thawing, leading to cracks in several places. Additionally, some stones were placed "the wrong way," resulting in reduced durability.

The parish has replaced deteriorating mortar with epoxy, which has placed undue pressure on the stones. While some exterior weaknesses also affect the interior, the parish is attempting to reattach each flake of paint rather than repaint the entire structure. This labor-intensive and time-consuming process is considered best practice in heritage conservation.

The star-studded blue vault, a prominent feature of the basilica, will also require restoration. However, due to scaffolding requirements, interior concerts and tours may be interrupted, potentially impacting the church's revenue. If the necessary work is not completed, the basilica's deterioration could worsen, exacerbating future problems.