AIC's 45th Annual Meeting

Hard water staining on granite is a matter that affects many outdoor and indoor monuments. This is exceptionally worrisome for memorialists, monument builders, cemetery staff, and families. The severe delimitation of granite headstones in the Western United States, particularly in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Nevada is a topic of concern. The stones in these geographic regions are weathered, stained, cracked, and covered in mineral deposits and scaling; some granite headstones exhibit delimitation after only four years. The scaling and delamination from hard water exposure has weakened the granite structurally and is cosmetically; the stones have become visually detracting and unstable, potentially posing a safety hazard for visitors. This paper aims to provide the reader with the knowledge required to make an informed decision when faced with an issue of hard water staining on granite. This study investigates both chemical and mechanical treatment of the stones as well as preventative maintenance practices to consider. All of the treatments tested are commercially available and have been evaluated based solely on their performance results. Projects Aims: The main objection of this project is to inform people of the issue: hard water staining on granite, particularly in the Western region of the United States. We aim to discern what is causing the staining and delamination of the granite through scientific testing and replication of the scaling on monitored samples and controls. And, we aim to test treatment and cleaning options, both mechanical and chemical. Once the data has been analyzed we want to inform the public about the most effective procedure for removal.

The aim of this paper is to highlight an ongoing conservation program developed at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario concerning the establishment of an innovative management model regarding the conservation of educational heritage in the city of Rosario. Background In the Province of Santa Fe, the Ministry of Education is responsible for school buildings. While new schools have been built, there is no formal conservation program regarding historical educational buildings. Unfortunately, the budget towards their maintenance is insufficient. The resources are used when the only alternative is repairing these centenary buildings when they are on the verge of collapsing. Program Rescuing Schools program has proposed an innovative, participative and decentralized management where the educational community is linked to the inhabitants of the neighborhoods where the schools are located, to the University, to the Ministry of Education and to the companies that are interested in contributing to the protection of educational heritage. This model is based on a management protocol, which is at the same time the regulatory framework of all actions. The program under my direction is developed by three academic units: Architecture, Law, and Humanities and Art. The working teams include students, professors and staff of the selected schools for the beta trial. The aim of our program is to optimize the maintenance and preservation of the buildings, and ultimately to promote the development of a Conservation Program of Historical Educational Buildings. The first actions were focused on the survey and registry of the buildings, and the assessment of the socio-educational contexts of each school. In a second stage began the development of a digital data base –available on line- that will allow the enquiry of the information gathered and the proposed actions. Currently, we are compiling an inventory and catalogue of goods that includes their conservation status that will allow us to establish priorities for future interventions. To properly preserve the educational heritage, it is necessary to document, study and define intervention projects that include instances of survey, analysis and diagnosis of pathologies, in conformity with international conservation standards, and make a commitment to monitoring and fulfilling preventive maintenance actions. This stage will be formulated in agreement with the Provincial administration and implemented by the interdisciplinary teams of the University. Preliminary conclusions • The community feels committed to preserving the education heritage. • By optimizing the processing times of the proposals and making rational use of the available resources, we get closer to a sustainable conservation program for the local educational heritage. • Through the articulation of public-private financing, the adaptation and rehabilitation of educational establishments can be addressed. The Ministry of Education has found the program as a suitable model to be applicable in different areas of the province. Cooperation agreements have been signed with the University to: • Conduct periodic monitoring of the state of conservation of buildings. • Document the conservation projects. • Establish a commitment regarding the maintenance of the buildings -a preventive conservation program- which reduces the need for interventional conservation treatments.