Projects > Historical Restoration > Historic Restoration in St. Michael’s Cemetary

Historic Restoration in St. Michael’s Cemetary

The Historic St. Michael’s Cemetery website describes the site as an open air museum that is a testament to the diverse history of Pensacola. We follow strict standards set by the secretary of the interior for the  restoration and preservation of historic metal work and are please to be honored with the responsibility of involvement in the preservation and protection of our nations wealth of historic architectural iron work. We operate with a reverence for the historical fabrication methods originally practiced.

Categories

  • Client

    :
    • St. Michael’s Cemetery Foundation of Pensacola, Inc.

  • Materials Used

    :
    • cast iron
      • ,
    • oil based enamel paint
      • ,
    • steel

  • Skills and Processes Used

    :
    • casting
      • ,
    • design
      • ,
    • painting
      • ,
    • pressure washing
      • ,
    • wire brushing
      • ,
    • rust treating
      • ,
    • fitting
      • ,
    • measuring
      • ,
    • restoration

  • Challenges

    : Working with metal that is over 100 years old. True wrought iron has not been made since the early 1900's. The oak trees have often overtaken the existing fence and foundations.

Lessons Learned

: Lots of them! Historical Restoration requires meeting the standards of the federal department of interior.
Metalwork needs to be maintained to increase it's life expectancy. This includes cleaning, rust treatment, painting, re-leveling and repairs. For an outdoor installation this should be looked at regularly with possible repairs made every five to ten years. With proper maintenance, this historic treasure can easily last decades.