Mitigation and Restoration Services Completed in 40-Days
Mar 26, 2008
Restoration professionals of Church Restoration Group completed a major mitigation and retoration project for Saint Theresa of Avila Church in New Orleans prior to Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week.
Approximately 40-days earlier, a fire had started from an electronic candle which smoldered most of the night before it was discovered on Sunday morning. The fire and resulting smoke caused over $750,000 in damages.
Church Restoration Group was notified by the Archdiocese of New Orleans the day after the fire. Within a few hours CRG had a working crew onsite conducting mitigation services.
The 160-year old church’s decoratively painted plastered walls and acoustical ceiling were entirely covered with heavy soot. Pews, statues, liturgical furnishings and the mid-nineteenth century organ also required extensive cleaning to remove smoke residue. This organ is reportedly one of the oldest organs in Louisiana and required immediate cleaning and restoration.
Church Restoration Group worked with members of St. Theresa Restoration Committee on color and finish selections so that the interiors remained historically accurate. Church Restoration Group also worked with the church’s insurance carrier to manage the loss.
All of this work was accomplished well before the Easter holiday.
