After over a century in service and continuous exposure to the elements, with little to no maintenance for the last 40 years, the Stamford Harbor Lighthouse is badly in need of structural reinforcement. Fortunately, we’re already in the process of making essential repairs to the lighthouse caisson.
Stamford Lighthouse Caisson Deterioration After Years of Neglect
Reinforcing the Caisson Structure
With the skilled team at Blue Flame Fabricators, who also installed the new staircase and landing, we’re in the process of fabricating two new compression rings to reinforce the caisson’s structure against the constant wear of ocean tides and weather. Each 1.5-inch steel ring will be slightly curved to match the caisson’s 100-foot circumference. Three rings, spaced 10 feet apart, will wrap around the caisson and connect with turnbuckle-style blocks, providing balanced reinforcement — a hallmark of caisson-style lighthouses.
Protection Against Winter Elements
In addition to installing the new compression rings, we’ll secure steel brackets over visible cracks in the caisson — an essential step to stabilize the lighthouse exterior before winter. We’ll then apply marine-grade caulk to seal these cracks, providing extra protection against moisture and temperature changes, and preparing the caisson for a full repaint in the spring.
These structural repairs are critical steps in the restoration process, and will help protect the Stamford Harbor Lighthouse through the harsh winter months as we line up our projects for Spring 2025.
After over a century in service and continuous exposure to the elements, with little to no maintenance for the last 40 years, the Stamford Harbor Lighthouse is badly in need of structural reinforcement. Fortunately, we’re already in the process of making essential repairs to the lighthouse caisson.
Stamford Lighthouse Caisson Deterioration After Years of Neglect
Reinforcing the Caisson Structure
With the skilled team at Blue Flame Fabricators, who also installed the new staircase and landing, we’re in the process of fabricating two new compression rings to reinforce the caisson’s structure against the constant wear of ocean tides and weather. Each 1.5-inch steel ring will be slightly curved to match the caisson’s 100-foot circumference. Three rings, spaced 10 feet apart, will wrap around the caisson and connect with turnbuckle-style blocks, providing balanced reinforcement — a hallmark of caisson-style lighthouses.
Protection Against Winter Elements
In addition to installing the new compression rings, we’ll secure steel brackets over visible cracks in the caisson — an essential step to stabilize the lighthouse exterior before winter. We’ll then apply marine-grade caulk to seal these cracks, providing extra protection against moisture and temperature changes, and preparing the caisson for a full repaint in the spring.
These structural repairs are critical steps in the restoration process, and will help protect the Stamford Harbor Lighthouse through the harsh winter months as we line up our projects for Spring 2025.
