This East 77th Street assignment presented Graciano with an unusual challenge: restore the historic front facade of a century-old Italianate townhouse while the remainder of the building behind that facade was simultaneously demolished and reconstructed from scratch. The three-story structure, with its ornate brickwork, wrought iron detailing, and sheet metal cornice, represented exactly the type of Upper East Side residential architecture that Manhattan's historic preservation guidelines are intended to protect.
Graciano craftsmen cleaned and repaired masonry surfaces, removed and refurbished ornate wrought iron grillwork and trim, and restored the structure's decorative sheet metal cornice. Particular attention was given to colors and finishes to meet both the owner's specifications and local historic preservation standards. The project was completed in fall 2006.
Scope of Work
Services Performed
- Facade masonry cleaning and repair
- Removal and refurbishment of ornate wrought iron grillwork and trim
- Sheet metal cornice restoration
- Masonry repointing
- Tuckpointing
- Grouting
- Caulking
- Demolition coordination with adjacent new construction
Facade Preservation in a Construction Zone
Performing historic facade restoration while the structure immediately behind the facade is under full demolition and reconstruction requires exceptional coordination and protective measures. Graciano's crews worked in close cooperation with the general construction team to sequence the work, protect the restored facade from construction dust and impact, and ensure that the new building structure was tied into the historic facade correctly. The result preserved the block's streetscape character while delivering a completely modernized interior.
Masonry Cleaning and Repair
The townhouse's brick facade and masonry ornamentation had accumulated decades of urban soiling. Graciano performed a thorough cleaning program suited to the delicate surfaces and historic materials, followed by selective masonry repair -- repointing deteriorated joints, patching spalled masonry, and addressing areas of moisture infiltration. Material selections for repairs were matched to the existing brick and mortar to preserve the visual consistency of the restored facade.
Wrought Iron Grillwork and Cornice
The Italianate townhouse style characteristic of late 19th and early 20th century Manhattan features elaborate decorative metalwork, including wrought iron entry grilles, window guards, stair railings, and ornate sheet metal cornices at the roofline. Graciano removed the existing wrought iron grillwork and trim for off-site refurbishment, including cleaning, treatment for corrosion, and re-finishing to meet historic color and appearance requirements before reinstallation. The sheet metal cornice was restored in place, with deteriorated sections repaired or replaced to match the profile and finish of the original.
About Graciano Corporation
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. With offices in Pittsburgh, PA, New York, NY, and Florida, Graciano has specialized in New York City's residential and historic preservation market for more than a century. The company is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise performing 90% of all work in-house with its own skilled journeymen.