An evaluation of locally available cleaning methods on a globigerina limestone surface

Abstract

The need and effects of cleaning buildings is little understood even in countries which have been studying the subject for a relatively long time. The problem is of even more serious nature on our island with so many buildings of extreme architectural and historic importance and so little technical information about cleaning techniques and their effects on Globigerina Limestone. This study will look at different methods of cleaning on a particular building so as to be able to evaluate the method which causes least damage for the particular existing type of soiling. The reason for choosing a specific building is that each building has a unique solution due to the widely varying characteristics of the limestone and due to the different types of soiling that could be present on different buildings. The aim is to show how the problem should be approached, the testing which should be carried out and the interpretation of the results which must be investigated in detail out before a solution can be found.