The Beth-El Congregation building was brought to its original state by Brazos Restoration over a four-month period that started in March 2010.

The cleaning of Beth-El Congregation’s façade was completed this July to reveal a building that looks brand new, Susan Koonsman, the building’s administrator, said.

Beth-El ‘s professional staff wasn’t aware that aging was something to be worried about, but they now know cleaning the building is going to have to happen regularly, Koonsman said. Brazos Restoration was hired to treat the limestone walls of the 10-year-old temple.

“It’s hard to believe the kind of abuse that 10 years of Texas weather can do to our beautiful building,” Marc Sloter, chair of Beth-El’s building committee, said.

The restoration was estimated to take three months starting in March, but because of rainy weather, it took four.

The process of stone cleaning involved cleaning, patching, and recaulking the building’s walls. Brazos Restoration also used a weather seal treatment cleaner to protect the stockade from future weather-related damage.

The restoration was funded by endowments from the congregation set aside for projects such as this, Koonsman said.

Beth-El Congregation has had three different temples since establishment in 1902. The current temple, built in 2000, has won architectural awards as well as proclaiming “a proud Jewish presence to the community as it serves the spiritual needs of modern Jews,” according to Beth-El’s website.