Seven Grand Building
Los Angeles, LA, California
Replication and Repair of an Existing Decorative Plaster Ceiling Using Mold Techniques
Previous removal of portions of a highly decorative gypsum and Portland cement plaster ceiling had been removed by previous tenants. The opening of a new restaurant in the space created the push to restore the decorative surfaces of this former cafeteria, using moldmaking and other restoration techniques.
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The decorative ceiling over the former Clifton's Cafetera space was in relatively good condtiion given the age of the room and its many uses. |
Unfortunately a large section of the upper balcony area had been previously removed during a prior iteration of tenants. Whole sections had been cut out of the original ceiling to accomodate a former bus/waiter station. |
The first order of business was to establish the structural base of the original profile, using steel stud and mesh construction. |
The flat surfaces were built up using Portland cement-based mortars, and after curing provided a mounting surface for the reproduced gypsum plaster components. |
Meanwhile, silicone rubber molds were made from adjacent matching sections of the undamaged ceiling. Multiple matching sections were then cast in sequence until enough material was availble to replace lost ceiling fabric. |
Each section was layed out and mated with adjacent sections to confirm fit prior to installation. |
Final patching and finishing completed integration of new material with old, and the ceiling could then be treated with the designated color scheme by the painters. |