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Hard Surface Care

Beautiful inside & out

January 3, 2023

The Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines is undergoing an extensive restoration by Seedorff Masonry Inc., that will beautify it inside and out. On four of the domes' brick interiors, DriKlean, a peelable cleaner designed for interior masonry, removed years of staining and dirt buildup. The contrast in these pictures speaks for itself. According to Kevin Gwinn of Tri-G Products (PROSOCO rep in the region), one big advantage of removing so much grime off the brick was it allowed crews to accurately inspect the brick and determine needed repairs.

Meanwhile, on the outside...

To remove biological and atmospheric staining from the building's limestone exterior, Seedorff restoration crews used a variety of cleaners, including 766 Limestone & Masonry Prewash/Afterwash, ReKlaim and Limestone Restorer. The "after" photos are coming soon.

Hard Surface Care

Prosper in preservation

Mason contractors could benefit from entering the growing field of historic preservation. Keep these tips in mind if you're thinking of doing so. Historic preservation, or historic restoration, is nowhere near being a new industry, but recent economic trends have some contractors following demand and considering this specialization for the[…]

Anchor Systems

Helical beaming is a better way to restabilize brick walls (here’s how to do it)

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Air & Water Barriers

Higher building standards for higher ed

A massive student housing renovation at a New England school includes hundreds of window retrofits. At a college in Cambridge, Mass., a $1 billion project to renovate several dormitories is entering its final phase. Called "house renewals," the renovations aim to modernize the buildings, some of them historic, and each[…]

Hard Surface Care

Back on track: A story of revival for Kansas City’s Union Station

Kansas City, Mo. | 1994   The sounds of trains and travelers had died away. The vast lobby and cavernous waiting room were silent but for the occasional echo of pigeons and the furtive skittering of rats. The enormous arched windows stared lightlessly at the city which had once revolved[…]

Hard Surface Care

The surest defense

When the pro soccer players for St. Louis City SC take to the pitch next year to defend their goal inside the new CityPark Major League Soccer stadium in St. Louis, Mo., the exterior of the stadium will be boasting invisible protection of its own. That's because crews at All[…]

Anchor Systems

Saved from the brink of destruction

Uncared for and unoccupied for 18 years, Cook County Hospital in Chicago was ready for demo. Trees and plants growing inside and out, broken pipes, shattered window glass and a flooded basement belied the grandeur once embodied in this historic Beaux-Arts building with a virtuous legacy. Built in 1914, Cook[…]

Projects

Carnegie Library reimagined for a new use

In 2019, the Carnegie Library re-opened to the public with a re-imagined design and purpose in Washington, D.C., as the Apple Carnegie Library. Originally unveiled in 1903 as a gift from Andrew Carnegie, the building features a spectacular exterior of Vermont Danby Marble and Milford Granite and an interior with[…]