HSPV 739 Conservation Science Masonry

Students in Professor Roy Ingraffia’s Masonry Conservation Seminar (HSPV 739) attended a variety of workshops and worked in a semester long project at West Laurel Hill Cemetery. Each student led a conditions assessment of a mausoleum, developing a treatment plan based on the conditions and material characterization. West Laurel Hill Facilities and Capital Projects Manager Chris Conti supported students with interior access to mausoleums, extracting mortar samples, and reaching roofs with a boom lift. Rachel Wolgemuth, the cemetery’s Special Projects Assistant, provided students with construction and maintenance records of the mausoleums to inform archival research.

On October 23, students got a hands-on experience with stone carving, brick laying, and masonry repair and repointing from master stone carver Jens Langlotz at the Woodlands. Students learned how to use chisels to smooth surfaces and textures in dressed stone masonry.

On November 3rd, students spent the morning at the International Masonry Institute and the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers’ training center in North Philadelphia to acquire practical, hands-on experience in mortar removal, mortar mixing, repointing, traditional bricklaying, and composite repairs.