Why access mattered here
Historic masonry towers put suspected entry points well out of reach of a ladder. On a building like this, the joints that let bats in can also be part of the original stone and mortar, which means the repair method matters as much as finding the opening.
The bell towers on this property were reported at 375 feet. That height ruled out a simple visual survey from the ground and made close, controlled access to the stone itself the deciding factor in how the project could be scoped.
How the team approached it
The company's standard process starts with a phone consultation, then a FaceTime walk-through or photo review that helps confirm a likely access method before anyone travels. For historic masonry, that early review also accounts for repair materials: compressed foam installed flush and a clear OSI product with a stated 30-year service life are among the options the team uses when they fit the surface.
Height and construction type pointed toward rope access rather than a lift. A 375-foot masonry tower with irregular joints is easier to document and treat from a controlled rope position than from a boom basket working several feet off the wall.
The access plan
The crew rappelled the bell towers so technicians could inspect the stone and mortar at close range and place devices at the identified gaps. The team uses a full primary and secondary line setup for its elevated rope work.
Sequence of verified work
- Rappelled the bell towers to inspect stone and mortar joints at close range
- Mapped the active gaps identified during the rope inspection
- Built custom one-way doors sized to each mapped gap
- Installed the doors from the rope system over the identified openings
- Returned after the exit period to remove the doors and finish the closures
The result
Working from the rope system let the crew treat each mapped opening instead of assuming a single visible gap was the whole problem, which matters on a tower where similar joints repeat across several courses of stone.
Completed commercial projects include the company's standard two-year, no-fault warranty against bat re-entry, except through open windows and doors.
What property teams can learn
General guidance for any property, not specific claims about this project.
- A ground-level view or a fixed lift position is rarely enough to confirm what a historic masonry gap actually looks like up close.
- Repair materials matter as much as the access method. Ask what product will touch original stone or mortar and how long it is rated to last.
- A rope-access inspection can document every joint along a tower face instead of only the one that happens to be visible from below.
- Confirm the warranty terms before work begins, including what counts as re-entry and what is excluded.