GAINESWOOd

Restoration

          Gaineswood has many preservation needs.  Among them are cyclical maintenance activities like rehabilitation of paint surfaces, masonry, wood, flat plaster and other materials typical in preserving any historic home.  But Gaineswood’s domed ceilings (one in the Parlor, one in the Dining Room-each weighs over 2 tons), complex roof system, and decorative plasterwork are anything but typical.  These unique features demand a cautious and deliberate restoration process to retain their historic character and appearance.  In May 2001, after a decade of careful debate among architects and engineers, restoration work finally began. Work continues methodically under the watchful eyes of engineers, architects and contractors.

          Below are images of work accomplished.  We plan to update with fresh images as work progresses.  We also invite you to visit Gaineswood to see the work in person!

Dining Room, partial view of dome and protection of marble mantel (left).  Visible in center is floor-to-ceiling incision into wall for vertical wood members that will extend from underground foundation into attic.  Four vertical members will be erected thusly in the corners of each domed room to support a horizontal truss system in attic that will permanently stabilize each dome.

 Leroy Shumate and Russell Quarles with contractor Leatherwood, Inc. of Fairview, TN installing temporary support system for Dining Room dome.  Visible in background above Shumate and Quarles are decorative plaster ornamentation, as well as circular arrangement of windows (lantern) for light.

 Completed temporary dome support system in Parlor identical to that installed in Dining Room.  The temporary support systems will be removed when permanent wood truss systems in attic are installed, attached to domes, and deemed sufficient to support the domes permanently. 

Leroy Shumate of Leatherwood, Inc. installs one of many plaster washers into dining room ceiling (washers also installed in Parlor ceiling) to anchor plasterwork while roof is removed and wood truss systems are installed and attached to domes for permanent support.

View west of work to domed ceilings’ roof and window lantern for Parlor dome.  Note installation of new copper gutter system, exposed siding to be repaired/repainted, and temporary rubber covering over copper roof surface installed during 1970s restoration.