American Terracotta

Historic Masonry Restoration

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Empire Building, Syracuse, New York

January 10, 2019 by Jeff Roush Leave a Comment

The 1930 terracotta additions to this historic building were heavily damaged over the course of decades of renovation and changes to the façade. Removal of 1950s and 60s façade renovations revealed both the terracotta features and the extent of damage. My work began by assessing this damage and preparing a proposal for restoration.

Using a variety of mold making and modeling techniques, several different molds were created in house and replacement units were made. In this case local masons were employed to install the replacement units. The project was completed with a lab matched coating to create a unified, compatible, and historically accurate result.

1-Empire Bldg 472 S. Salina St. Syracuse New York-badly damaged facade
2-Empire Bldg 472 S. Salina St. Syracuse New York-reproduction in progress
3-Empire Bldg 472 S. Salina St. Syracuse New York-after reproduction, restoration-2
4-Empire Bldg 472 S. Salina St. Syracuse New York-after reproduction, restoration-3
5-Empire Bldg 472 S. Salina St. Syracuse New York-after reproduction, restoration-1
6-Empire Bldg 472 S. Salina St. Syracuse New York-after reproduction, restoration-4
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Filed Under: Special Projects Tagged With: American Terracotta, Architectural Terracotta, Empire Building, Facade restoration, Historic masonry consulting, mold making, Restoration mold making, terracotta reproduction

Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, South Carolina

November 19, 2016 by Jeff Roush

American Terracotta was contacted by Peachtree Construction to reproduce terracotta bifoils in balustrades at the 1930s era school being refurbished to become an new annex to the Spartanburg community college system in Spartanburg, SC.

In addition, window sill units were also produced. We met with project architects on site to look at and discuss a scale model and the glaze color match. With approvals reached, the units were produced and shipped to site for installation by Peachtree Construction with excellent results.

Founded in 1963, Spartanburg Community College offers more than 100 certificate and associate degree programs via online learning and day, evening, and weekend classes. Learn more about Spartanburg Community College.

original ornamental piece removed to make mold-Spartanburg Community College
close up of cracked original ornamental piece-Spartanburg Community College
original and freshly molded ornamental piece-Spartanburg Community College
finished reproduction and original ornamental piece-Spartanburg Community College
front staircase with reproduced ornamental pieces in place-Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College-exterior after
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Filed Under: Special Projects Tagged With: American Terracotta, Architectural ceramics, Architectural terra cotta, Architectural Terracotta, Restoration mold making, Spartanburg Community College, terra cotta reproduction, Terra cotta restoration, terracotta reproduction, Terracotta restoration

Ridgewood Community School, Ridgewood, New Jersey

October 12, 2016 by Jeff Roush

48 Cottage Place in Ridgewood, New Jersey houses the offices for Ridgewood Community School.

American Terracotta completed restoration of carved brownstone ornamental features at the main entrance of this building.

Architectural terracotta in need of repair/reproduction-Ridgewood Community School
Terracotta repair/reproduction in process
Terracotta repair/reproduction in process-Ridgewood Community School
Finished terracotta repair/reproduction-Ridgewood Community School
Ridgewood Community School Ridgewood NJ
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Filed Under: Special Projects Tagged With: American Terracotta, Architectural ceramics, Architectural terra cotta, Architectural Terracotta, Facade restoration, Restoration mold making, Ridgewood Community School, terra cotta reproduction, Terra cotta restoration, terracotta reproduction, Terracotta restoration

Cruise Project, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois

October 6, 2016 by Jeff Roush

1887 Residence in Lincoln Park, Chicago IL. A historic renovation presented an opportunity to put a duplicate design from the facade into the addition in the rear. Models and molds were made of tiles and coping units, and installed.

Cruise Project, Lincoln Park, Chicago before
Cruise Project, Lincoln Park, Chicago model
Cruise Project, Lincoln Park, Chicago molds
Cruise Project, Lincoln Park, Chicago after
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Filed Under: Special Projects Tagged With: American Terracotta, Architectural ceramics, Architectural terra cotta, Architectural Terracotta, Cruise Project Lincoln Park Chicago Illinois, Historic masonry consulting, historic reproduction, Historic structure restoration, mold making, Restoration mold making

On Site Restoration – Cleaning, Repointing, and Mortar Matching

September 21, 2016 by Jeff Roush

American Terracotta provides On Site Restoration of Historic and Ornamental Features:

  • Condition report and mortar analysis
  • Ornamental features repaired and restored
  • Repair of cracks, chips, holes, spalling, and restoration of visual surface and color
  • Sensitive cleaning
  • Repairs and repoints using matching and appropriate materials
  • Lab matched mortars, substrates, vapor permeable coatings 
  • We travel to you. Your building gets immediate attention, assessment and treatment. Historic research, ongoing care and treatment plans, and updated building information are part of what we leave you with. 

Special Projects:

Emory Beacon Methodist Church, Washington, DC

The Tarratine Club, Bangor, Maine

Horace Mann Elementary School, North Bergen, New Jersey

Ridgewood Community School, Ridgewood, New Jersey

Central School, Warren, New Jersey

Filed Under: Featured Services Tagged With: Architectural ceramics, Architectural terra cotta, Architectural Terracotta, in situ repair, Ornamental masonry conservation, Ornamental masonry restoration, Terra cotta restoration, Terracotta restoration

Our Services

  • Historic Reproduction – Modeling, Mold Making, and Unit Production
  • On Site Restoration – Cleaning, Repointing, and Mortar Matching

View Our Work

  • Emory Beacon Methodist Church, Washington, DC
  • Empire Building, Syracuse, New York
  • Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • Ridgewood Community School, Ridgewood, New Jersey
  • Cruise Project, Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois
  • Central School, Warren, New Jersey
  • Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, Wilton, New Hampshire
  • Horace Mann Elementary School, North Bergen, New Jersey
  • 427 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia
  • The Tarratine Club, Bangor, Maine

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