Ways to Preserve Decorative Plaster Mouldings in Your Historic Building

Blog |February 28th, 2020

One key element that is frequently visible with historic buildings is the presence of decorative plaster mouldings. The construction industry back then already knew the significance of plaster on their property designs. Plaster, as we all know today, is a material that can effectively resist fire. It is also durable and can be modified quickly.

While plaster boasts a lot of positive features, it still possesses some flaws. Materials and other home elements that use plaster are mostly expensive since it takes special skills just to craft them. Moreover, another disadvantage of using plaster is that it is difficult to repair. But one flaw that can make or break the appearance of historic buildings is it can deteriorate over time.

If you have a historic building and you want to preserve your decorative plaster mouldings, then you might want to follow some of these tips.

Keep Water Out

One of the most common problems that are associated with decorative plaster mouldings is the infiltration of moisture. Moisture that hugely affects plaster mouldings may come from water leaking from your roof or plumbing. Once the water gets in contact with your plaster mouldings, it will infiltrate the interiors of your mouldings, which then causes their deterioration.

If you want to prolong and preserve your historic decorative plaster mouldings, then you must make sure that any water sources will be kept out of your building. The maintenance of the roof, gutters, downspouts, and other parts with water sources must be conducted regularly. You may also want to avoid some sealers or synthetic sidings that trap moisture in your building.

Use Plaster Patching Kits

Even without any moisture infiltration, your decorative plaster mouldings can still crack or chip because of natural causes. Even some minor changes in your building structure can also affect your mouldings. Fortunately, plaster mouldings with minor cracks and holes can easily be fixed by using plaster patching kits.

Plaster patching kits usually have a special patch, plasterboard repair panels, a tape, broad knife, sanding block, mixing bucket, clamps, screws, and some instructions or manual. If your plaster is pulling away from the wall or ceiling lath, then you must use appropriate anchor screws to reattach it.

Hire a Professional

While some plaster moulding damages can be easily repaired by a plaster patching kit, other types of plaster moulding damages cannot be simply repaired by this kit. Some decorative plaster mouldings have a lot of missing pieces already. Other decorative plaster mouldings have even deteriorated extensively. These mentioned damages of decorative plaster mouldings require specific tools that only professionals possess.

Professionals know how to recreate some missing pieces of your decorative plaster mouldings. They can also create new mouldings if ever you wish to have some. Lastly, professionals can make your newly repaired plaster mouldings to be more durable and last for a very long time.

Preserving the decorative plaster mouldings of your historic building can benefit you in the long run. After all, decorative plaster mouldings can add value to your building no matter what happens. If you need some help with your decorative plaster mouldings, then feel free to contact us at Hopkins Plaster Studio.

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