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

[Tracy Marquis]

Sally,
How old is the copper?  Before paying for cleaning, you may want to evaluate the condition of the solder joints and the sheet material for pinholes to make sure it has some good life left in it.

The copper can be cleaned back to a shine, but most copper is meant to patina.  Whichever your preference, I recommend a clear coat on the copper to maintain the finish you desire and protect the adjacent materials from future staining or bleed.
As for cleaning the stone, you want a mason for that work.  Olde Mohawk Preservation, Folan Waterproofing (they do masonry despite the name), or Calhess are just a few you can try.

Folan Waterproofing is wrapping up a masonry restoration project at the Plymouth Russell library building.  The work included masonry restoration, reconstruction of some walls, anchors and copper gutters, downspouts and roof.  They self-performed the masonry work, and used WS Aiken for the copper work.

Attached is a preservation brief on masonry cleaning that addresses methods along with benefits and risks, for your information.

Good luck
Tracy

From: MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> On Behalf Of sally milne via MassHistPres
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2025 1:09 PM
To: MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Fwd: Experience with copper trim cleaning on 90 year old building




Begin forwarded message:

From: sally milne <urbanosally at gmail.com<mailto: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<mailto:MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu>" <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu<mailto:masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>>

[cid:image001.png at 01DC44E4.723488B0]

 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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