This spring the plaster walls and ceiling of the kitchen at Hammond-Harwood House were repaired. Over time, the plaster in some sections of the walls showed cracks, flaking, bubbling, and general deterioration. This is normal, especially considering the age of the building, which dates from 1774. Water intrusion occurs naturally, as the building is brick and brick absorbs water.The restoration work was done by Giannetti’s Studio, whose artisans fix damaged “flat” plaster like the kitchen at HHH as well as decorative plaster like that seen in many public buildings in Washington, D.C. Methods and materials used were appropriate to the period of HHH and recommended for preservation projects – for example, the finish coat of white is naturally hydraulic lime.Before: A section of the kitchen’s external wall has extensive damage.During: A layer of metal mesh is installed over the underlying structure of brick and wood to better hold the new plaster.After: The finished wall – the plaster would not originally have been as smooth and finished in the kitchen as in the main rooms of the house.
