On the Job: Church Bell Restoration

In this edition of On the Job we take you (literally) inside a church bell.

 

Lando Baptist Church in Richburg, SC, was heavily damaged by a fire that officials believe was caused by a lightning strike. During the fire, the church steeple and roof collapsed into the sanctuary, destroying the entire first floor and causing extensive water and mold damage down into the basement. The steeple bell suffered major fire damage and corrosion.

church bell exterior before
Church Bell Interior Before
church bell exterior after
clapper post repair and clean
Church Bell Interior After

BluSky Charlotte restoration technician Jose Miron completed the bell restoration project, the first project of its kind for our Charlotte branch.

Jose first applied a corrosion inhibitor to neutralize and prevent further damage to the bell, and then meticulously utilized grinding tools to remove all existing corrosion. Small pockets of corrosion in the bell’s crevasses required a tool similar to a dental pick for complete removal.

He then heated and straightened the bell clapper, which was damaged when the steeple collapsed, and followed the same process to remove soot and corrosion. The final step involved several applications of gun oil to fully restore the bell.

Prior to restoring the bell, Jose also completed 2,000 square feet of mold remediation in the church basement and managed all packing, storage, and cleaning of the building’s contents that were damaged by smoke, soot, and water.

BluSky’s large loss-structure division is currently completing the building repairs on this project, so the beautifully restored bell will soon have a new home.

 

In the before & after photos (left, top to bottom): soot- and corrosion-covered bell exterior before; bell interior before; bell exterior after restoration; straightened and repaired bell clapper; bell interior after restoration.

 


Candace Johnson

Corporate Marketing Manager

Candace is a veteran marketer, who specializes in bringing out the best in companies. Responsibilities for BluSky include content creation and editing, brand management and consistency, website management, public relations writing, advertising, and social media management. Candace lives just south of Chicago with her husband Eric and three children.

Candace Johnson

Corporate Marketing Manager
Candace Johnson