St Michael’s Abbey

Southern Concrete Services undertook specialist stone cleaning works at St Michael’s Abbey using Remmers Arte Mundit.  The Abbey was built circa 1880 by Empress Eugenie after the death of her husband Napoleon III.  Of interest, the Abbey is a contemplative monastery of monks of the Benedictine Order.  The monks operate a busy farm and apiary, a book bindery, a printing and publishing house as well as the traditional monastic work of hospitality.

Arte Mundit is a latex type paste used for cleaning internal surfaces without the need for large quantities of water. A thin layer of latex paste is applied over the stonework which removes soiling with no chemical residues.  It is applied and left for 24 hours and can be easily peeled off making this ideal for interiors such as churches, listed buildings, monuments and statues, where great care is required (and when other methods cannot be used).

The results of these works were extremely positive with the Abbey maintaining its religious schedule and minimal disruption, during the restoration work.