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Renaissance Schallaburg Figures in a facade

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The mission of the Historic Resources Committee (HRC) is to identify, understand, and preserve architectural heritage, both nationally and internationally. HRC is engaged in promoting the role of the historic architect within the profession through the development of information and knowledge among members, allied professional organizations, and the public.

  • 1.  Plaster and Stucco work

    Posted 05-12-2024 01:10 PM

    I need a qualified contractor to do interior residential paster work in Evansville, Wisconsin. I also need a qualified contractor to do exterior stucco work in Evansville, Wisconsin. These are two different projects, both historic residences in a local Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.



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    Daniel Stephans AIA Member Emeritus
    Daniel Stephans Person
    Evansville WI
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  • 2.  RE: Plaster and Stucco work

    Posted 05-13-2024 10:36 PM

    Mr. Stephans. I am based in the Chicago area and could provide some recommendations for Chicago and Wisconsin-based plaster contractors/conservators. However, first, is this mainly/entirely flat plaster or is this decorative plaster? And, what's the extent of the work? And, is this simple patchwork or significant restoration/replication? What about the exterior stucco? These questions will definitely inform the list of recommended conservators and tradespeople I would recommend.    



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    Mark Stoner AIA
    National Trust for Historic Preservation
    Palatine IL
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  • 3.  RE: Plaster and Stucco work

    Posted 05-14-2024 10:51 AM

    The interior plaster work is entirely flat plaster, patch and repair work.

    The Exterior stucco is a pebble texture stucco and may need to be replaced, I need help to determine that.

    Thanks you for any help.



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    Daniel Stephans AIA Member Emeritus
    Daniel Stephans Person
    Evansville WI
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  • 4.  RE: Plaster and Stucco work

    Posted 05-15-2024 09:44 PM
    I can't help with a contractor, and you may have more in-depth
    experience than I do, but I will relate my experiences with flat
    plaster and pebble dash stucco.

    1. flat plaster. I had specified veneer plaster over USG diamond
    board - everything looked like it went in according to the plan, until
    the recessed art lights grazed the surface vertically. It turned out
    the subcontractor had not applied the correct thickness of veneer
    plaster, so that at the joints it was thicker and with horizontal
    joints every 4 feet above the finished floor, the wall was not
    actually flat, but had bulges at the joints of the board beneath. In
    hindsight, I should have watched the number of bags of plaster and the
    quantity that was being used. The veneer plaster should have been a
    uniform 1/8" thick, and it was very hard to tell how much plaster had
    been applied by just looking. We did not measure the thickness until
    it was too late, but we could easily have compared the volume of
    plaster (in the number of bags of raw material) and the square footage
    of coverage. This may not be the exact situation you are dealing
    with, and simple patches in flat plaster should not be too difficult
    or challenging for a true plasterer.

    2. pebble-dash stucco. Patching this material requires close
    attention to the size and shape of the pebbles, gravel, or sand (and
    sometimes boulders - actually just large rocks - aka boulder-dash).
    If it was originally applied with a sprayer, or flinger, or a trowel,
    that is probably the way it needs to be applied in the repair. You'll
    want to remove or re-attach any loose or degraded sections, depending
    on how badly damaged it is. If you think you will have to replace
    entire sections, you'll want to require samples and not rely on the
    subcontractor's claims and promises that he or she will be able to
    match adjacent or nearby panels without practice. To some extent, you
    may want to consider wholesale replacement so that matching exactly is
    not as important, though in the spirit of maintaining all the original
    material possible, you may prefer slightly mis-matched repairs.

    David Ellison, Architect

    The D. H. Ellison Co.
    2002 W. 41st St.
    Cleveland, OH 44113
    www.dhellison.com
    216-631-0557




  • 5.  RE: Plaster and Stucco work

    Posted 05-16-2024 10:17 AM

    Thanks for your time and input, David.

    I could give you some inspection techniques that I have used to insure a "flat" smooth plaster wall. Monitoring quantity of plaster used is a good practice.



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    Daniel Stephans AIA Member Emeritus
    Daniel Stephans Person
    Evansville WI
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