Services
It Takes a Village
Everything we do at Custom Plaster is related to the conservation, preservation, and restoration of fine art and historic places. We blend our talents to reach a project’s goals, and do so on time and within budget. We routinely work with a variety of stakeholders—municipalities, historic oversight professionals, theaters, and churches, and their representatives, architects, contractors, and engineers—to ensure our work is aligned with the vision of the project.
Discovery
Each project starts with discovery. We begin by conducting on-site surveys of the finish surfaces and features to assess their current conditions, and to understand the materials and techniques used by the original craftsmen. This careful inspection often reveals unanticipated details and qualities long forgotten. During the survey process, we can also conduct paint studies to reveal, layer by layer, what paint types and colors were used in order to accurately match the original paint scheme.
From the results of the survey and paint studies, we then prepare condition reports that include our recommendations and cost estimates for project phases and levels of work. We’re ready to help you plan your project in a way that makes sense, addresses stakeholder’s desires and concerns, and works within timelines and budgets.
Plaster
Custom Plaster excels in flat and ornamental plaster work in its many textures and styles.
Flat and Ornamental Plaster - Our craftsmen are highly skilled in re-creating or repairing plaster surfaces—from the simplest flat walls to complex architectural shapes—starting with a historically correct reconstruction of the structural substrate.
They can also replicate plaster bases and finishes in gypsum, lime, or cement. Our artisans can match any texture, leaving seemless patches in even the most challenging surfaces. At our fully equipped cast shop, Custom Plaster’s skilled artisans can faithfully reproduce any architectural appointment in plaster, scagliola, or cast stone from existing work or photographic evidence.
Scagliola and Specialty Plaster Finishes
Scagliola plaster - Dating from the Roman Empire, scagliola is the product of an ancient technique for creating faux marble and stone from gypsum cement and pigments. Materials and methods, long held secret, were brought to America by European immigrants near the end of the 19th century. Both traditional and marrazzo scagliola adorn many of our finer churches, courthouses, and state capitals. Custom Plaster's experienced craftsmen are able to seamlessly repair any form of scagliola using identical materials and natural pigments from historic sources used in the original work. They are equally proficient at sgraffito, marmorino and a host of other specialty plaster finishes.
Decorative Painting
Many of our nation‘s most important buildings are adorned with specialty paint finishes and elaborate themes. Under the artist's direction, specialized materials are manipulated to create the illusion of metal, wood, or marble, while settling glazes emphasize the detail of architectural molding.
Custom Plaster‘s accomplished decorative painters can repair or replace any paint scheme using historically correct materials and techniques. And, if your project requires gilding, wood graining, stenciling, or animal protein glazes, we can help revive what once was—or create something brand new.
More Conservation Services from Custom Plaster
- Lighting
- Stained glass
- Ceramics
- Mosaics
- Sculpture
- Masonry cleaning
