As time marches on, the stone will continue to deteriorate. Deterioration of one stone can allow moisture to penetrate to the back of an adjacent stone, hastening its deterioration, and so on. The leaking gutters have caused the stone to deteriorate and have caused massive staining of the stones. A comprehensive stone repair program can halt this downward spiral of deterioration and is the most cost-effective approach. A comprehensive project will obviously not entirely eliminate the need for small on-going repairs, but they will be needed much less frequently.
Safety is an important concern.
In the fall of 1999, a 20-pound piece of stone fell in the pedestrian way below the south portico, posing an immediate risk of injury to passersby. A comprehensive stone preservation project can substantially reduce the risk of injury and will substantially enhance the effectiveness of the use of funds. Code and Life Safety Issues Concerns related to the safety of public places and in the work place are considerably different in the year 2000, than when the Capitol construction began in the year just following the Civil War. Today's concerns include Legionnaires disease, PCBs, asbestos, lead paint, and other environmental hazards. Fire was a concern then and is a concern today.