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04-29-2007, 04:59 AM
Landmark pyramid shines after scrubbing
Carolyn Said
The San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, April 28, 2007
http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/04/28/bu_transamerica_007.jpg
A two-year "brightening" of the Transamerica Pyramid is nearing completion. Transforming the landmark from a dingy gray to a sparkling white involved almost 18,000 work-hours to caulk, wash and seal the entire facade
http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/04/28/bu_transamerica_clos.jpg
Workers are washing all of the pyramid's 3,678 windows, including polishing them with an abrasive and resurfacing them so they'll look like new
Even iconic buildings need a little updating now and then.
A two-year "brightening" of the Transamerica Pyramid is nearing completion. Transforming the landmark from a dingy gray to a sparkling white involved almost 18,000 work-hours to caulk, wash and seal the entire facade.
Each seam of caulking outside the 853-foot-tall building was replaced -- almost 50 miles of caulking, according to David Rentfro, principal of San Francisco's Rainbow Waterproofing and Restoration, which handled the job.
Buildings get dirty from car exhaust, soot and other pollutants, but the pyramid is more prone to collecting dirt than most buildings because its walls aren't completely vertical, Rentfro said.
Washing them "is just like washing your car," he said.
First, a chemical wash for building exteriors -- "similar to soap and water to loosen the dirt" -- was applied, then water under pressure was used to rinse it. A penetrating masonry sealer is being applied to reduce water absorption so rain will sheet off the building.
Now, workers are washing all of the pyramid's 3,678 windows, including polishing them with an abrasive and resurfacing them so they'll look like new, Rentfro said.
The last time the building was entirely power-washed was in 1994, although the windows get washed every couple of years.
Carolyn Said
The San Francisco Chronicle
Saturday, April 28, 2007
http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/04/28/bu_transamerica_007.jpg
A two-year "brightening" of the Transamerica Pyramid is nearing completion. Transforming the landmark from a dingy gray to a sparkling white involved almost 18,000 work-hours to caulk, wash and seal the entire facade
http://sfgate.com/c/pictures/2007/04/28/bu_transamerica_clos.jpg
Workers are washing all of the pyramid's 3,678 windows, including polishing them with an abrasive and resurfacing them so they'll look like new
Even iconic buildings need a little updating now and then.
A two-year "brightening" of the Transamerica Pyramid is nearing completion. Transforming the landmark from a dingy gray to a sparkling white involved almost 18,000 work-hours to caulk, wash and seal the entire facade.
Each seam of caulking outside the 853-foot-tall building was replaced -- almost 50 miles of caulking, according to David Rentfro, principal of San Francisco's Rainbow Waterproofing and Restoration, which handled the job.
Buildings get dirty from car exhaust, soot and other pollutants, but the pyramid is more prone to collecting dirt than most buildings because its walls aren't completely vertical, Rentfro said.
Washing them "is just like washing your car," he said.
First, a chemical wash for building exteriors -- "similar to soap and water to loosen the dirt" -- was applied, then water under pressure was used to rinse it. A penetrating masonry sealer is being applied to reduce water absorption so rain will sheet off the building.
Now, workers are washing all of the pyramid's 3,678 windows, including polishing them with an abrasive and resurfacing them so they'll look like new, Rentfro said.
The last time the building was entirely power-washed was in 1994, although the windows get washed every couple of years.
