The Library of Parliament opened in 1876. Over the years, the buildings have endured a great deal of damage associated with Canada's harsh climate. Small earthquakes have opened cracks in the masonry. Water seeping into these cracks freezes in the winter and opens them wider, making the problem worse in subsequent winters. In recent years, air pollution has also taken a toll.
Pollutants carried in the rainwater react chemically with the mortar between the stones.
Pollution also eats away at the intricate stonework and the many beautiful carvings that adorn the buildings. The following section gives an overview of the conservation techniques being used to repair decades of damage and restore the beauty of the Parliament Buildings. Workers must re-point joints. That means carefully chipping the loose mortar out from between the stones. When repairing mortar, small tubes are pushed between the stones.