Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110

Your industry news - first

The original and best - for over 20 years!

We strongly recommend viewing Cleanzine full size in your web browser. Click our masthead above to visit our website version.

Kärcher steps in to clean historical Lorain - Carnegie Library

Kärcher is about to undertake a preservation cleaning project at the Lorain library in Cleveland, Ohio, which was built in 1912.

"As a cleaning specialist, Kärcher has been actively involved in supporting the preservation of historical monuments and buildings, free of charge, for over 30 years with our Cultural Sponsoring program," says Kris Cannon-Schmitt, VP marketing professional.

Kärcher has already demonstrated its experience and expertise on over 140 cleaning projects worldwide, from the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin - Kärcher cleans the world, and now includes the Lorain library in Cleveland, in its portfolio.

Kathleen Sonnhalter, capital projects manager for the Cleveland Public Library, says of the project: "This is a major step for us in preserving our historic Lorain Branch. Kärcher's work around the globe is impressive and we look forward to them restoring the Library to its full glory."

As the ninth branch in the Cleveland Public Library system and one of many Cleveland Public Library branches built with funds from Andrew Carnegie, this Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood branch, which takes up 8,400sq.ft, opened in 1912. At the time, the Library's annual report described the building as "Greek-inspired" and constructed of buff brick with stone trimmings.

Felton Thomas, Jr., director and CEO of the Cleveland Public Library, is justifiably proud of the facility: "The Lorain Branch is a remarkable Carnegie building," he says. "It is rich in history and it's wonderful to have the opportunity to see its facade renewed."

The cleaning process will take place next week under the guidance of historical preservation cleaning expert, Nick Heyden, who is travelling from Germany specifically for the Lorain project.

The specific cleaning process will include a gentle steam cleaning with the Kärcher HDS 4.5/22-4M, which capitalises on the safety and environmentally conscientious use of 5-15 psi low pressure, 185-200 degree Fahrenheit hot-water steam on the surface of the stone.

From a restoration and preservation perspective, steam cleaning is a very gentle and effective method for removing biological soiling from brick, grout and sandstone. The higher temperature allows reduced impact pressure (abrasiveness and kinetic energy), to minimal levels while still effectively removing the soiling. The subsurface biological growth, residing deeper inside the pores of the brick, grout and sandstone, is also eliminated at this temperature. Removing both the surface and subsurface growth extends the time it takes for new growth to recolonise the stone.

The Carnegie library history includes a total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems (1,689 in the US, 660 in the UK and Ireland, 125 in Canada, and others in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Serbia, Belgium, France, the Caribbean, Mauritius, Malaysia, and Fiji).

www.kaercher.com / www.karcher.com

7th November 2019