The goal of plaster conservation is to retain as much historic fabric as possible, whether it is flat plaster applied to walls or ceilings, three-dimensional, ornamental plaster decorating historic interiors, or exterior stucco or render applied to building facades. Frequently, plaster is the substrate for elaborate decorations or works of art painted directly onto the plaster, or on canvas which is subsequently adhered to plaster. Plaster conservation stabilizes, re-adheres, and fills areas of damage without harming original materials or decoration. Where plaster has sustained irreparable damage or loss, our conservators design an analysis and testing program to identify compatible and appropriate materials and formulations for replicating the visual and aesthetic properties of the original plaster. The holistic approach taken by historic conservators ensures that plaster substrates, decoration, and artwork are preserved to the greatest extent possible.

The standards for our practice are defined and guided by national and international historic preservation and conservation organizations, including the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Preservation, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).