[MassHistPres] Fwd: Experience with copper trim cleaning on 90 year old building

[Garrett Laws]

Sally,

I would clean the stone and *entertain *sealing the copper. The copper will
continue to shed copper ions unless it is sealed BUT it took 110 year to
discolor the stone so maybe cleaning the stone is all that's needed. I'd
talk to a historic mason, monument/stone cleaning and restoration company
or a building science specialist to figure out best practices for cleaning
the stone and figure out who provides the cleaning services.

Many Thanks,
Garrett Laws

The Copper & Slate Company <https://copperandslate.net>

Instagram <https://www.instagram.com/copperandslatecompany/>

The Copper & Slate Company, Inc.
Fine Roofing and Historic Carpentry
238 Calvary Street,
Waltham, MA 02453
(781) 893-1916

*LEAD FREE SINCE 2008*


On Fri, Oct 24, 2025 at 7:58 AM sally milne via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From: *sally milne <urbanosally at gmail.com>
> *Subject: **Experience with copper trim cleaning on 90 year old building*
> *Date: *October 23, 2025 at 12:57:49 PM EDT
> *To: *"MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
>
> [image: Screenshot 2025-10-23 at 11.59.07 AM.png]
>
>  The above bank was built  after a bank on the site burned down (1912)
> this was the replacement. It is now the Harwich Town Hall.
> It was built to impress and contains decorative white marble as accents.
> Cornice and munitions between windows are heavy gauge copper. The roof was
> slate with with copper rolls and and flashings.” All the conductors on the
> outside of the building are heavy gauge copper”
>       MY QUESTION:  By now the copper trim, especially that at the edge
> below the roof, have tarnished and bled  blue copper  stains onto the
> marble. The building has lost its visual in so many ways. What or who  is
> available to clean/restore  the copper and the stains to marble, if
> anything?
> Appreciate any experiences you may have.
>
> Sally Urbano
> Harwich
> Individually
>
>
>
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