A devastating fire gutted St. Paul Coptic Orthodox Church in Bendigo. Established over 100 years ago, the church had long been a cornerstone of the Coptic Orthodox community, serving approximately 35 families. Given its heritage value, the structure required an intricate restoration approach rather than full rebuilding.
Precision Laser Cleaning (PLC), in collaboration with Steamatic Australia, was chosen to lead the fire damage restoration efforts, using award winning Netalux laser cleaning technology to address the damage.
Challenges
The fire caused extensive carbon build-up across the church's interior, especially on its brick walls. Traditional fire damage restoration methods, including abrasive cleaning techniques, had been trialed by the insurance builder but were either ineffective or too harsh on the delicate structure. The challenge was to remove the carbon build-up without causing any further damage to the heritage bricks, which required a non-destructive and precise cleaning solution.
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Solutions
After evaluating the existing restoration methods, the insurance builder reached out to Steamatic Australia for expert advice. Steamatic recommended Precision Laser Cleaning for the job, leveraging their innovative laser cleaning technology. PLC conducted several localized trials within the church, demonstrating the laser cleaners’ efficiency in removing carbon deposits without causing harm to the historic brickwork. The laser cleaning process allowed for a thorough yet gentle restoration of the church's interior, preserving its integrity while effectively addressing the fire damage.
Outcomes
The laser cleaning technology proved to be highly effective, successfully removing the carbon build-up and restoring the church’s brick walls to their original state. This non-destructive approach not only met the preservation requirements for the heritage-listed building but also provided a faster and more cost-effective solution than traditional cleaning methods. The church was restored without the need for costly rebuilding, and the community was able to return to their beloved place of worship, with the structure preserved for future generations.