If you drive by the state Capitol building in Bismarck, you may have noticed work being done to the face of the building.
"We have a firm that has removed the joint material between the limestone panels," said John Boyle, the state facilities manager. "They've replaced some panels, and repaired others."
Boyle says workers will be finished with that in a week or two.
“And then this spring, that firm is coming back to clean all the limestone,” Boyle said. And he said the caulking is being replaced with mortar.
"What happens is, water can get inside the limestone, but it doesn't have a way to get out," Boyle said. "Mortar is a porous material, so water can go through.”
Boyle said he didn't want the shelf angle holding up the limestone panels to rust away, and that would loosen those limestone pieces out.
"That's why we're removing all the caulk joint material and going back to the original mortar," Boyle said. And he said when the project is completed, people should notice a difference.
“Especially on the judicial wing side, it seems to be a lot more dirty than the Legislative side," Boyle said. "I know a lot of people have commented, they can really tell how clean the Capitol tower looks, so I'm sure we're going to get that same comment from the public and the state employees when it’s completed.”
