Fort Sumter National Monument

Project Description:
Fort Sumter was built after the War of 1812 as one of a series of defenses on the southern United States coast. Construction began in 1827, and the structure was still in progress in 1860, when the conflict began. Seventy thousand tons of granite was imported from New England to build up a sand bar in the entrance to Charleston harbor, which the site dominates; the fort was a five-sided brick structure, 170 to 190 feet long, with walls five feet thick, standing 50 feet over the low tide mark. Our challenge on this project was the brick salvage and replacement. All brick that was to be replaced and repaired had to be physically removed from the water line that it had fallen into over the years. This monument is listed on the National Register for Historic Places.

Project Execution:
Brick salvage and replacement, stucco repair, drain and downspout replacement, spot tuckpointing and application of Deck System were executed in 1999. In 2003, our company returned to this historic site for a major restoration, which included the following:

• Repairing loose stucco.
• Exploring and clearing leak proof drains.
• Repaired and replaced Terra Cotta drains.
• Expansion and Control joints were sealed.
• Parapets brick repair and repointing.
• Stucco and patching was performed.
• Surface preparation and Elastomeric Coating System was applied.
• Downspouts were replaced/repaired and painted.
• Pre-installation mortar/brick/concrete testing.
• Left flank casements – Mining Casement roof replaced concrete topping.
• Faces and interior ceiling vaults.
• Masonry repair and brick repointing.
• Interior walls repaired and repointing.

Summary:
Midwest Maintenance, Inc. was honored to be such an integral part of the preservation of this Nationally recognized historic property that is such a significant part of our history.

Return