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Not long ago in Washington D.C. (USA), a large fire broke out in a restaurant during its ongoing remodel. Located along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in the bustling neighborhood of Georgetown, the fire left heavy soot (about 20-30 mils) on a variety of different substrates inside the building, including brick, concrete, stone, and wood.

In the USA, some college and university campuses were founded 400 years ago, while globally some universities have been operating for nearly a millennia. Often, these institutions' most recognizable features are the unique visual characteristics of the campus' architecture. Whether these renowned structures are well-preserved originals or renovated within the last 100 years, periodic restoration, renovation, or maintenance projects are essential.

Safe drinking water is vital to communities everywhere. When corrosion became visible on the exterior of pipes at the Lincoln Water System pump stations in Lincoln, NE (USA), action needed to be taken. With four active pump stations delivering fresh water to the City of Lincoln, only specific stations were able to be out of service at any point in time. It was vital to ensure that water use capacity remained stable for residents throughout the completion of this work.  

When the dome of the Old Capitol building began showing wear and tear from exposure to the extreme Midwest weather, it was critical that the existing gold leaf be removed and replaced without damaging the copper substrate. 

In the beautiful seaside village of Niantic, Connecticut (USA), sits the historic Niantic Baptist Church. Located on Main Street and just moments from downtown, this Church is positioned at the heart of the small New England community. Unfortunately, in 2022 a fire damaged the church's interior, but fortunately, a Connecticut-based contractor with extensive restoration experience was able to help.

The New Jersey State House was built in 1792, and is the second oldest state house still in use. As part of a $300 million renovation, the restoration of the impressive gold dome structure was undertaken. This 160-foot tall (from floor to apex) dome is where sponge media blasting came to the rescue with the solution to a complex surface preparation and historical preservation problem. 

Choosing the best Sponge Media Feed Unit™ can seem like an intimidating task. Sizes, features, and portability vary between models, but they all do the same overall task of mixing blast media with compressed air for abrasive blasting. Some units like the EX product line are for use in potentially combustable, flammable atmospheres, while other units like the Rasp Xtreme and the 100-HP are optimized for portability. 

Fires can happen anywhere. While the cause of fires vary, every year thousands of homes, commercial properties, and industrial facilities deal with the cleanup after a blaze. In the aftermath of a fire, structural engineers and insurance companies will work together to determine if a property can be salvaged. In many cases, a fire restoration specialist will work with the owner to resurrect the property from the ashes. 

Lighthouses, once critical for safe international shipping and commerce have essentially been replaced with modern navigational tools such as radio beacons and GPS. Many lighthouses remain functional with working lanterns, used as a backup tool for mariners in instances where other navigational systems have failed. 

Often when historic buildings are restored and renovated to serve modern purposes, unforeseen challenges quickly arise. In the case of the renovation and repurposing of the Old Altoona Silk Mill (circa 1889), the challenge took the form of lead abatement throughout the entire building and across three different substrates - wood, brick, and steel.