The Restoration Project at Historic Caumsett Park Begins

THAT WAS THEN IN 1933

Polo Stable Restoration Begins:


The Polo Stables restoration project begins. The architectural firm Beyer Blinder Belle (BBB) has completed the plans and specifications for the historic building. BBB has worked closely with NYS’s Historic Preservation and Engineering Departments and the Foundation to ensure the historical accuracy and environmental sensitivity of the restoration. CWM Woodwindows was chosen as the restoration window and door specialist. CWM has previously worked with BBB on The Ellis Island Restoration Project.
The architectural firm, BBB, has surveyed the existing building and prepared the documentation for the scope of the restoration process:

Architectural rendering: Beyer, Blinder Belle Architects

The goal of the historic architect and the owner or curator  of an historic building should be to retain as much of the original as possible. I will get more into it as we move along the project, but suffice to say, we will save and restore every item listed below. They will be better than new in several ways, the most important way is that they are not new. If we remove every component of of an old historic building , do we still have a an old building? 


The advantage of the restoration process is that the architects and artisans can see which materials and methods failed. The objective is to correct the original mistake or deficit , restore the damage and in doing do so extend the life of the components and building as it was designed and originally built. 

Current Condition of Stable Doors

The Interior Condition Prior To Restoration

Jamb Rot at the Floor

Casement Window Prior to Restoration

French Casement Needing Just About Everything.

This particular window reminds me of an old battle-scarred pirate with an eye patch. It still has some fight in it.

Portico Prior to Restoration

Bull’s Eye Window Prior to Restoration.

The previous photos point to a common problem on this building. It is obvious that the lower section of the windows and doors have decomposed or are missing. This points to an original design or construction error of improper flashing. The brick mortar has failed and became porous. The window and door frames have “wicked" the water as there is no flashing to prevent them from doing so.

To the untrained eye and the inexperienced these windows and doors look as if they are in a hopeless condition. In reality there conditions are like the brick work that surrounds them, they are old and the original mistakes can be corrected and will be. Here is a dramatic example of what we did at The New York City Battery Maritime Museum.

The intent of this blog is to demonstrate what can and should be done to old woodwork on old buildings, especially the windows and the doors.


YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS PROJECT HERE.

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