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Supreme Court Façade Restoration - North, South and East

This restoration project entails cleaning, repairing and restoring the Vermont marble of the cheek walls on either side of west steps, and the North, South and East Façades of the Supreme Court Building. The stone will be cleaned to remove general soil, black gypsum crusts, biological deposits, and copper stains. The mortar and sealants in the joints of the marble will be replaced and the non-functional bird deterrent system will be replaced.

General cleaning will use low-pressure water and environmentally friendly cleaners to remove surface dirt. Copper stains will be removed with a poultice that pulls the stains out of the stone, similar to a mud mask. The heavy soil and gypsum deposits at the carved stone and the east pediment sculpture will be cleaned with laser technology. The laser removes the surface soil without impacting the deteriorated and fragile stone. The cornice level lion heads, east portico column/pilaster capitals, and the sculpture will also receive a special conservation treatment, called consolidation, to slow the deterioration of the stone and loss of detail. Stone that has cracked will be re-anchored and new stone will be carved to replace elements that have deteriorated to the point of failure.

The bronze grilles and railings will be cleaned of corrosion and refinished with a protective surface coating applied.

Building: 
U.S. Supreme Court
Status: 
Ongoing
Tags: 
Supreme Court Building
Supreme Court
Is a Video: 
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