Historic theaters are some of the most recognizable buildings in Augusta, and some of the most demanding to paint. Brush Strokes worked on the restoration of the Imperial Theatre in downtown Augusta, and this post walks through how the project came together.
Starting with the building’s history
The theatre’s director at the time knew the building better than anyone, and he had a historical analysis of the building done. We used that analysis as fully as we could. The history of the building decided how the project would be done.
The challenge: water-damaged plaster
Years of water leaks had damaged the plaster. Water and hardened plaster don’t mix, and the damage causes the plaster to powder (a process called efflorescence). Painting over it would have failed. We treated the plaster with a solution that stops the powdering and hardens it back up, sealed it with a specialty primer, and then painted.
Working at height without lifts or ladders
The hardest part of the job was scaffolding. We couldn’t use conventional lifts or ladders, so we had platforms built at specific angles and in specific areas to reach everything. Working around that much scaffolding shaped every part of the schedule.
Detail work: gold leaf and faux finishes
We used gold leaf and faux accents to bring the front of the stage back to life. We also finished the relief moldings, including the egg-and-dart and leaf-and-fruit moldings, to tie everything into what would have been done originally. Making modern materials look like old ones is harder than it sounds, and countless hours went into the detail work on those moldings.
A 60-day window
The theatre could only be closed in the off-season, so we had July and August. That gave us 60 days to complete the full restoration, which meant long hours and seven days a week.
The result
The result was better than we imagined at the start. Seeing the theatre’s board and director react as we closed out each phase was as rewarding as bringing the building’s history back to life. Our team did an amazing job.
Planning a commercial or historic building project?
Brush Strokes handles everything from single-office repaints to large commercial painting projects, and we’re based right here in Augusta. Schedule a free estimate and we’ll walk the space with you.