Abbot Building Restoration Company restores historic stone tower at Sacred Heart Church

Abbot Building Restoration Company recently restored the historic granite stone tower at Sacred Heart Church. Over the years, the perimeter of the tower, and especially above the windows, began to show evidence of severe calcium carbonate deposits that detracted from the aesthetics of the building. This condition was due mainly to problems with the existing roof. The tower was also experiencing dislodged stones in the corners along with other structural problems. In conjunction with recommendations by the architectural firm of McGinley Kalsow & Associates, the Parish contracted Abbot Building Restoration to perform the desired masonry repairs. In the initial phase of the project, Abbot cleaned the granite stone tower to remove the calcium carbonate deposits, and then removed and reset any stones that had been displaced at the corners of the tower. Abbot then grouted vertical cracks in the tower walls and installed stainless steel dowels to reinforce the stones. In the next phase, Abbot completely repointed the granite stone joints with a special colored mortar to match the original appearance of the façade, and capped all of the stones at the top portion of the tower with copper caps. To protect the stones from future environmental deterioration, Abbot applied a durable water repellent sealer (Prosoco SLX-100) to the entire tower facade. Abbot also installed a new roof on the inside of parapet at the top of tower, and retrofitted a gutter system around the perimeter of the tower above the windows to protect the masonry from further calcium deposits. Abbot Building Restoration Company specializes in repair and maintenance of the building enclosures of aging structures in the greater Boston area. Abbot also provides remedial weatherproofing services to correct construction deficiencies in newer structures. Specific areas of expertise include: * Masonry construction and repairs; * Weatherproofing - caulking, pointing, waterproofing, special coatings/sealants; and * Roof repair, replacement, or resurfacing.