Laser Cleaning Services
Heritage Preservation & Restoration
Conservation-grade cleaning for historic brick, stone, cast iron and monuments, with no abrasives and no chemicals.
New Orleans and the river parishes hold some of the oldest standing architecture in the country, and nearly all of it is made of materials that traditional cleaning destroys. Sandblasting takes the fired face off soft brick. Acid washing etches stone and mortar. Grinding erases the detail in cast iron. Laser cleaning was adopted by conservators for exactly this reason: it removes dirt, corrosion, paint and biological growth while leaving the original material untouched.
Gulf South Laser brings this process to historic property owners, preservation contractors and institutions across New Orleans, Metairie and the Gulf South. The laser is handheld and mobile, so galleries, balconies, fences, tombs and monuments are cleaned in place.
What we remove
- Layered paint on cast iron galleries and fencing
- Rust on historic ironwork and hardware
- Soot, pollution and biological staining on brick and stone
- Graffiti and overspray on monuments
- Efflorescence and salt crust on masonry
- Old coatings and sealers that have failed
Surfaces we work on
- Soft historic brick and lime mortar
- Marble, granite, limestone and cast stone
- Cast iron and wrought iron
- Bronze and copper elements (test-spot dependent)
- Tombs, headstones and memorials
- Terra cotta and architectural ornament
Why laser instead of blasting or chemicals
Non-abrasive
Nothing touches the surface but light. Tool marks, casting detail and the fired face of old brick survive.
Selective
The laser can be tuned to lift a coating and stop at the original surface, or to remove one layer of paint and leave the historic layer beneath for analysis.
Dry and reversible-friendly
No water, no chemicals, no residue, which keeps the work consistent with preservation practice.
Documented
Test spots and before and after photos support review by preservation commissions and owners.
How a job works
- Assessment of the material, its condition and what the owner or commission wants preserved.
- Test spots at agreed locations so the result can be reviewed before full cleaning.
- Careful, section-by-section cleaning with extraction running.
- Photo documentation and a walkthrough at completion.
Who we serve
Where we work
Mobile service from our Metairie base across the New Orleans metro area and the Gulf South.
Heritage Preservation & Restoration: frequently asked questions
Is laser cleaning approved for historic buildings?
Laser cleaning is widely used in conservation because it is non-abrasive and chemical-free. Approval for a specific property comes from the owner and, where applicable, the local historic district commission. We provide test spots and documentation to support that review.
Can you remove paint from cast iron without losing the detail?
Yes. Laser removal takes the paint off and leaves the casting surface exactly as it was, including the fine detail that grinding or blasting rounds off. Ironwork is one of the best applications for this process.
Will the laser damage soft brick or marble?
Settings are chosen for the material, and we begin with a test spot every time. Laser cleaning does not abrade the surface, which is the main way soft brick and marble are damaged by other methods.
Do you clean tombs and monuments?
Yes. Marble, granite and cast stone memorials can be cleaned of biological growth, staining and old coatings in place.
Can you work on a balcony or gallery in place?
Yes. The laser is a handheld tool and our unit is mobile, so galleries, railings and fences are cleaned where they stand.
Related services
Laser Rust Removal
Strip rust and corrosion down to clean, bare metal without grit, chemicals or damage to the part underneath.
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Heavy Paint & Coating Removal
Lift old paint, epoxy, powder coat and primer off metal and masonry, one layer at a time, with nothing but light.
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Soot & Mold Removal
Dry, chemical-free removal of fire soot, smoke staining and surface mold from brick, stone, wood and metal.
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Graffiti Removal
Take spray paint and marker off brick, stone, concrete and metal without the ghost image that washing and blasting leave behind.
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Stain & Varnish Removal
Strip varnish, stain, sealers and failed finishes without sanding away the surface or soaking it in chemicals.
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Commercial Kitchen Laser Cleaning
Remove baked-on grease and carbon from hoods, grills, ducts and stainless equipment with no degreaser and no water.
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Grease & Oil Removal
Degrease machinery, molds, tooling and equipment down to bare metal without solvents, steam or disassembly.
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Get a quote for heritage preservation & restoration
Send a photo and a rough size and we will quote from it. Most metro-area jobs are scheduled within the week.