RESTORING SAN FRANCISCO’S PAINTED LADY ON A SHOESTRING
Her History
In 1969, an artist and interior designer took on a project that remains one of the greatest loves of his life – one of San Francisco’s Painted Ladies. The third owner in almost a century, this 1878 Italianate with curved glass bays has been showcased on numerous occasions throughout the years, from backdrops for advertisements, to tour guides highlighted point of interest. He’s saved every clipping that graced her presence, much like an album of family portraits and memorabilia solely dedicated to her. For her owner’s, this stately home has been a labor of love, time, money and effort.
The Facts
- She was last painted in 1995
- There was extensive metal and railing damage
- The client’s budget was a major concern
- There was significant wood damage throughout
- The Historical nature of the home required adherence to strict construction procedure
Before: The building showed considerable damage
After: Repaired and painted
7-STEP RAILING REPAIRS
Step 1: Grind and sand to remove all the rust.
Step 2: Apply two full coats of rust resistant primer.
Step 3: Apply 2-Part Epoxy Sealer on all of the effected areas which encompassed approx 35% of the entire railings.
Step 4: Apply a specially formulated 2-part Epoxy Filler in multiple applications in order to build up the void where rust once existed.
Step 5: Sand and smooth to match the existing ornate 100 year old railings.
Step 6: Seal posts connecting the railings with high grade construction sealant to prevent future water damage.
Step 7: Apply two full coats of premium paint to match existing color.
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- Rusted Railing Detail
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- In many cases over 75% of the metal was lost to rust
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- Rust has discolored the foundation
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- Rebuilding the rusted areas with epoxy
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- Multiple applications of epoxy were appliced and reshaped to form the orginal detail
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- Sanding and shaping the railing
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- The finished railing
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- Careful attention to detail shows no signs of repair
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- Fully restored railing and foundation
EXTREME WOODWORK RESTORATION
Large amounts of deterioration was found on the buildings finials and surrounding wood supports.-
- Wood deterioration at the base of the finial
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- Looking over the edge at more wood decay
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- Severe cracking and rot
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- The finished finial and surrounding woodwork
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- Finished finial looking up
WINDOW RESTORATION PROCESS
We removed the entire bottom of the sash, paying special attention to the delicate 100 year old glass. We then hand fabricated on-site a new redwood sash that was made to fit the exact proportions (see below).
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- Custom fabrication of the bay window sash
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- Checking for any defects or rough edges
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- The new sash in place
PROJECT AWARDS, TESTIMONIALS AND DOCUMENTATION
For more detailed information on this project’s awards, the client’s point-of-view, and historical facts, click on the links below.
2009 Nari Remmie Award
Restoration Residential 
Featured in The Painted Ladies Revisited by Pomada and Larsen