application High precision laser technology It became the focus of restoration Cathedral of San Ildefonsoa symbolic memorial to Mérida, YucatánIt suffered damage to its facades during the March 8, 2023 march.
This process, which will continue until January 2026, seeks not only to remove stains that have affected the limestone, but also to ensure the comprehensive preservation of one of the main architectural legacies of the colonial era in Mexico.
the Cathedral of San IldefonsoIt was built by order of the king Philip II, King of Spain (1527-1598), is known to be the oldest in Mexico and one of the first built in America, earning it its status as a cultural heritage of the country.
The company is implementing the restoration project, which began in February 2024 IG restoration and architecture It is implemented under supervision National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)Funded by federal insurance dedicated to the protection of historic monuments.
The intervention is characterized by the use of a 100-watt pulsed light laser, an innovative tool that allows the removal of paint in a less invasive way for limestone, compared to traditional chemical or physical and chemical methods.
As shown Carla Martinez Lopezrestoration expert at INAH Yucatán, these traditional procedures tend to be unfriendly both to the users and to the environment and the original materials.
Portable laser equipment operated by restoration specialists was able to remove most of the surface paint, while the more persistent residue was treated with solvents and mechanical cleaning.
Interventions were made on the eastern facade 40 square metersAnd in the north, 220 square meters. Currently, work is focused on the western door, the main face of the cathedral, where A 50% advance.
Restoration is not limited to removing paint. The diagnosis conducted by the technical team revealed that the wall construction was in a poor state of preservation, with loss of structural joints, flatness, disintegration processes, detachments, and areas of concentrated moisture.
For this reason, we stabilize and reinforce flat and masonry sections, as well as stabilize original areas at risk of separation and restore masonry and lime masonry joints.
The damage also affected the joinery and associated metal elements, such as logos, door handles and bronze fittings, which were affected by the graffiti and required specialist intervention.
The three wooden doors on the main facade showed deterioration due to the previous application of low-quality paint, which caused the material to dry out.
To restore them, all color layers are removed and the varnish is restored according to the original manufacturing technology.
In addition, the carved quarry frames framing the three main entrances are being cleaned, with the aim of restoring the visual unity of the walls.
To ensure long-term preservation of the property, Sacrificial coatings It would protect the cathedral from weather factors and potential damage caused by future social mobilization.
In parallel, a research project is being developed aimed at evaluating the impact of the use of lasers in cleaning graffiti on limestone materials, with the aim of perfecting the tools available to protect heritage involved in this type of social dynamics.