Plaster used on the walls, ceilings and for decoration in houses of the 19th- and early 20th- centuries consisted of a mixture of slaked rock-lime and sand, bonded together with animal hair, such as horse hair. As today's owners of these fine old buildings discover, these old plaster surfaces and detail are easily damaged and frequently require either repair or replacement. Obviously, it's not simply a matter of popping down to the local hardware store to grab a few replacement panels.
If your decorative ceiling is in need of attention, the cheaper option would most probably be to replace the old plasterwork with plasterboard thus destroying a remnant from a bygone era. Coming to the rescue is Chris Savage & Associates, which specialises in old-fashioned decorative plasterwork. Starting as a hobby in Perth several years ago, Chris and his father Gerald have seen the business grow.
This company makes decorative ceiling panels to match your originals by reproducing the existing damaged panels in fibrous plaster. The same methods as those used 90 years ago are applied, but instead of using the traditional horsehair the sculptors and architectural modellers use fibreglass — a more modern and accessible material.
There is also a wide range of ceiling roses, cornices, beadings, panels, columns, arches, friezes and other decorative plasterwork available from Chris Savage & Associates. A visit to the showroom — there's one in Sydney and another in Perth — will reveal an enormous range of patterned pieces. The company offers the assistance of a design consultant, who will visit your home and offer advice on your plasterwork from ceiling to walls.
The ceiling repair/replacement process:
- A trained design consultant from Chris Savage & Associates visits your home to assess the damage. Architectural values are considered and the decision is made as to whether the original pattern can be reproduced or if a new pattern is called for. The ceiling is measured.
- The consultant will return to the office to prepare the quote and documentation in regards to the quantity and value of material and labour involved.
- A visit to the showroom is a good way for you to see products and look over the range of designs.
- When plans and details are settled a tradesperson comes to your house and removes the damaged panels (good ones are kept) and takes them back to the workshop.
- The panels are systematically cleaned of old chipped paintwork and the missing or damaged details are restored by hand.
- New fibreglass moulds are cast from original panels.
- New panels are made from the moulds. The panels are made of fibrous plaster ie, the plaster is reinforced with fibreglass strands in the same way horsehair or sisal was used in the old days.
- The new panels are taken to the site and reinstalled.
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