Black Country Living Museum: Steam Cleaning Restores Historic Library Building to Former Glory

Project Type: Heritage Building Steam Cleaning
Client: Black Country Living Museum
Scope: Steam cleaning to all four elevations of the Library Building, plus external window cleaning
Deadline: 8 October to 14 November 2025 (completed on schedule)

Overview

Exterius was commissioned by the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley to complete a specialist steam clean of the site’s historic Library Building. The structure, which had recently been reconstructed brick by brick after being carefully dismantled from its original location, forms part of the museum’s iconic recreated village, which has featured in the filming of Peaky Blinders.

The goal was to restore the building’s exterior to a clean and uniform condition while maintaining the integrity of the historic brickwork. All works were carried out safely during night hours to avoid disruption to daytime museum operations.

The Scope of Work

Full external steam cleaning to all four elevations of the Library Building
Window cleaning following completion to remove dust and residue from the façade clean
Delivered by a two-person IPAF-trained team using HR15 access equipment
Portable lighting provided for full visibility during night operations

Key Challenges

This project required meticulous care and precision. The Library Building is an original historical structure that has been relocated and rebuilt within the museum grounds.

Porous brickwork: The building’s age and surface type meant efflorescence (salt deposits) was a key consideration.
Night operations: Cleaning was performed after hours to ensure zero impact on museum visitors.
Quality control: Due to the building’s porosity, areas had to be rechecked in daylight once dry to guarantee an even, high-quality finish which required some re-cleaning.

Our Solution

To achieve the required results without risking surface damage, Exterius adopted a controlled steam cleaning method.

A 120°C low-pressure steam system was used to lift decades of grime while protecting the soft historic brickwork.
Pressure levels were adjusted dynamically based on live testing across elevations to maintain consistency.
Operatives worked methodically at a slower pace to ensure a uniform, even result.
A post-clean window wash was carried out to leave the entire building façade presentation-ready.
Full site RAMS and health and safety compliance were maintained, with lighting rigs supporting all night work.

The Result

The Library Building was restored to an impressive finish that exceeded client expectations. Despite the building’s age and fragility, the Exterius team delivered a consistent, high-quality clean across all elevations.

Brickwork restored to an even tone, revealing the building’s original character.
All works were completed within the allocated timeframe.
The client expressed full satisfaction with the result and praised the care and professionalism shown by the team.

Why Exterius Was Chosen

The Black Country Living Museum required a contractor with both technical capability and heritage sensitivity. Exterius was selected for its:

Proven expertise in Black Country Living Museum of sensitive and historic surfaces.
In-house, IPAF-trained operatives experienced in night work and complex access environments.
Strong safety management and on-site adaptability.
Reputation for delivering quality results on time and with minimal disruption.

Additional Project Insight

This project carried special significance due to the Library Building’s remarkable history. The structure was originally located outside the museum and was painstakingly taken down brick by brick before being rebuilt within the museum grounds.

Before Exterius’ work, the building had not been cleaned for almost a century. The cleaning process not only restored its visual appearance but also preserved its heritage value for future generations.

The Value of Heritage Steam Cleaning

Projects like this highlight the importance of specialist cleaning for historically significant buildings.

Safely removes decades of dirt and efflorescence while preserving the integrity of brickwork.
Enhances visual appeal for visitors and filming productions.
Maintains heritage assets for long-term conservation.

At Exterius, we combine technical skill, safety expertise and respect for heritage to deliver outstanding cleaning results, even in the most delicate environments.

For heritage or specialist cleaning projects where care, precision and safety matter, Exterius provides results you can rely on.

To arrange a free site survey or discuss your next project, contact the team today.

Expert-led. Professionally delivered. Safely managed.