Stone & Lime Historic Restoration Services, a frequent project management partner for the sensitive rehabilitation and renovation of historical structures, announced on Friday that it was selected to monitor the restoration and repairs at the Cape Lookout luminous tower.
Stone & Lime is also the main entrepreneur for the ongoing restoration of Cape Hattteras Lighthouse, which started in early 2024 and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, apart from the necessary additional restorative work.
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is the second lighthouse that was completed on the site and was examined on November 1, 1859, with the original structure built in 1812 being replaced.
The double wall – lighthouse – the first of its kind in North Carolina – enabled the tower to be much higher than earlier designs. In this second tower, a Fresnel lens was installed, which was 163 feet high, whereby its light ranked 15 miles to the sea.
At the beginning of 2021, the NPS employee (NPS) carried out a regular security examination of the lighthouse before the season and found several concerns in connection with structural components such as deteriorating stairs and handrails. Civil engineers were brought to the location to carry out in -depth inspections, which led to a list of the proposed repairs.
While the Cape Lookout lighthouse is not in danger, a complete restoration will help to protect it in the future and to ensure that visitors can climb you safely for decades. The upcoming project includes the repair or exchange of metal stairs, handrails, landings, glass panes, windows, doors and other materials.
For the first time since 1873, the lighthouse is also painted into bare bricks and re -painted in order to stabilize the moisture content of the brick.
The project is comprehensive and will take several years. Stone & Lime is expected to be mobilized for the Cape Lookout Lighthouse project in summer or autumn 2025.
Stone & Lime has supervised a variety of lighthouse projects for the National Park Service, including the several years of restoration of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse and the recently completed restoration of the Boca Chita Lighthouse in Islandia, Florida.
“Stone & Lime is honored to use the rejuvenation of wonderful maritime structures such as the Cape Lookout lighthouse and for our continued partnership with the National Park Service,” said Chris Dabek, Vice President of Stone & Lime. “After completing the many visitors to Cape Lookout, the lighthouse can safely enjoy in the coming years, while he continues to protect sailors when they navigate through the nearby viewpoints.”