Jobs in progress-updated June 9, 2003

The pebble-dash kings STILL rock

kings of pebble-dash Pebble dash looks right at home
Carlos throws the pebble mix. In England, this is called "harling". We're still the kings of pebble-dash in the Washington area. We did the whole first floor of this house. Pebble dash looks right at home in this old neighborhood.   I just saw where one of our jobs won a Chrysalis award.

Historic restoration
Georgetown area
Washington, DC

We have developed a method
of reducing the cracks What beautiful stucco. Finish coat is real portland cement and real sand.
Color is Chablis from La Habra stucco.
The finish coat breathes and lasts,
unlike the fake stuff they use on shopping centers and new houses.
We have developed a method
of reducing the cracks from very few to none.

A Tudor style stucco addition
Arlington, VA

tudor style addition in Arlington.  Brown coat on this tudor style addition in Arlington.
I don't have pictures of the finished addition
Please check the next update.

Veneer plaster (blueboard)
Washington, DC

2 coat plaster with the veneer basecoat Veneer plaster is a durable and attractive alternative to drywall
Veneer basecoat from US Gypsum is troweled on.
There is a one coat method, but the 2 coat plaster with the veneer basecoat is so much better.
Dining room ceiling is white coated with lime and gauging plaster and troweled
smooth. Veneer plaster is a durable and
attractive alternative to drywall, and
keeps the historic appearance of these old houses.
Old arris (outside corner) is patched using a 
wood strip Patch matches well
Old arris (outside corner) is patched using a  wood strip, like 100 years ago. This makes a nice sharp arris. Adam made a beveled wood strip just for this occasion. The mortar that squishes through forms
a "screed" or an edge to fill to.
Patch matches well. The wood made the
mortar yellow so you can see what I mean.
plaster walls invite you to reach out and touch them Adam says "plaster walls invite you to
reach out and touch them".

A great commercial for plaster.

He loves his new plaster walls.

Badly spalling brick
Reston, Virginia

Badly spalling brick We always coat the cap we we stucco a chimney
Problem: Badly spalling brick. We have stuccoed chimneys before with bad bricks. Painted chipped off, scratch and brown coat cured for a week, applying finish coat.
We always coat the cap we we stucco a chimney.
Stucco on a chimney with bad brick Finish is White portland and sand with
stucco color "Aspen" from La Habra stucco.
I capped the shoulder of the chimney with a piece of flagstone. A slight cove at the bottom where the stucco meets the stone leaves a nice decorative effect.
Stucco on a chimney with bad brick is
an economical alternative to tearing down
the chimney and rebuilding it with bricks.
Besides, bricks won't send my kid to school.