Archive Record
Images
Additional Images [1]
Metadata
Collection |
George Douglass |
Archive Number |
GDHRPT3 |
Title |
George Douglass House Restoration Report for the quarter ending September 30, 2018 |
Description |
George Douglass House Restoration Accomplishments, July 1 to September 30, 2018 During the 3d quarter of 2018, the primary restoration focus has been devoted to: A.Exterior: Restoring the plastered cove cornice on the primary façade; photo #19 shows a run of the cornice on the primary façade before restoration, with missing and damaged plaster and lath. The restoration process required removal of degraded early plaster and later plaster composed of modern cements or other inauthentic materials. The re-plastering technique, based on large fragments of the original lathed and plastered cornice found in the house [photo # 4689], involved application of three coats to the original, repaired, and replacement lath nailed to concave and cantilevered wooden brackets formed at the ends of attic joists. The arc-profile lathed armature provides anchorage for the consolidated and replaced lime plaster integrated into the fabric of the cornice. The plaster layers, a mix of lime, a sand-based aggregate, and water, consisted of: 1.A thin base coat keyed into the hand-riven interstices between lath strips; 2.A built-up "scratch" coat of lime plaster troweled to the varying-radial profile of the cove established by the supporting brackets; the gritty matrix consisted of a coarse aggregate bound by the lime with goat-hair. After partial curing, this layer was incised ("scratched") to provide keying for better anchorage of the fine and thin coating of finish lime plaster. 3.After curing, the scratch coat will be covered with a fine-aggregate finish plaster and "washed" with a naturally-tinted lime paint. The ingredients for the brushed-on lime paint were determined by microscopic analysis performed by Matthew Mosca, Historic Paint Finishes Specialist of Artifex, Ltd. to be the correct first-period surface. Photo # 5 shows the cornice on the main façade after application of the base and "scratch" plaster coatings. B.Interior: Preparing the interior walls, ceilings, and unstable sections of the hallways and 2d floor chambers for re-lathing and application of the traditional three-coat plaster walling described above. Progress on this phase of the project in the 2d floor hallway and chambers during the past 3 months includes: 1. Raking out cracks to the adjacent margins of intact and solidly anchored plaster adequately keyed into undisturbed lath [photo # 19 shows early riven lath found in the 1765 attic which will be used for replacement of broken and detached lath throughout the plaster restoration campaign; photo # 13 shows an 18th century wrought nail with a hammered "rose-head" from early riven lath in the wall]; replacement nails, where necessary, will be fabricated of the same essential material and wrought-form as the originals. 2. Removal of degraded, de-laminated, and late-period plaster from ceilings, wainscot, and wall areas. 3. Photo # 25 shows a delaminated section of wainscot plaster below the chair rail in a back-chamber. The loose plaster has been removed and the exposed lath perimeter has been squared, will be framed in lath and covered with Plexiglas to provide an in-situ exhibit of original 1765 hand-riven lath secured by surviving intact wrought nails with hammer-marked domed heads. The nails display light surface oxidation from the moisture in the plaster as it cured, but minimal corrosion or compromised integrity after 253 years of service. C. Interior Carpentry and Joinery: will include: (a) Repair, gauging to thickness, leveling, and restoration of tongue-and-groove flooring in western segment of NW ["best"] parlor; and (b) Preparation and commencement of millwork for chimney-piece paneling and wainscot ["dado"] in NW parlor. Larry Ward |
Date |
October 2018 |
Object Name |
Report |
Catalog Number |
1006.01.049 |
Search Terms |
GDHRPT George Douglass George Douglass House Restoration cove cornice plaster lath hewn lath hand-split lath |
People |
George Douglass |