July 19, 2012

OLYMPIA — Work begins July 28 to repair and clean the exterior of the Legislative (Capitol) Building. The project contractor – Western Waterproofing Co. – will use a crane to lift equipment and supplies on to the fifth-floor roof that day. It will be another week or so before the actual repair work begins.

While the Legislative Building exterior is in generally good shape, a combination of weather and organic growth has damaged some of the sandstone and mortar, causing minor water leaks.

It has been eight years since the building exterior was last cleaned. In the past, the state cleaned the Capitol every four years, but postponed the work due to budget constraints.

Western Waterproofing will remove flaking and delaminating sandstone and then clean most of the upper two-thirds of the building using a warm-water, low-pressure spray. Biocides will not be used to kill the moss and lichens because the chemicals can damage the sandstone.

After the cleaning, the contractor will remove and replace failing mortar. The $1.148 million project is scheduled to be completed by November.