Richland Renovating
Our associate company in Mansfield, Ohio
Richland Renovating is a restoration contractor, specialising in the refurbishment of damaged homes and buildings.
What began in 1977 as an effort to spruce up various rental properties owned by Brown Realty, has become a full time restoration and renovation business. Over the years, out craftsmen have developed the skill and know-how to correct the ravages of time, neglect, fire and weather damage to buildings of all kinds. We take great care to match architectural styles and materials, yet we use modern construction methods and materials when it means improved longevity and cost efficiency.
Whether the work consists of restoring the crumbling ornamental plaster in a fifty-seven year old theatre, or rebuilding the interior of a burnt-out home, it is our goal to make the finished product as good as, and often better than, before.
681 Park Avenue West
In May of 1977, Terry Brown, owner and broker of Brown Realty, bought a large three-storey house at 681 Park Avenue West in Mansfield, Ohio to house the business. This lavish home was designed by Richland County native, F. B. Hursh, in 1908 for area marble and granite dealer, Alexander J. Fraser. The designer's extraordinary attention to rich Neo-Classical detail and décor made this home one of the finest showplaces in the area.
Guests are greeted at the front entrance by beautiful leaded-pane glass doors which open onto a spacious foyer. Friezes of cherubs and vines line the downstairs walls and the main stairwell is softly illuminated by elegant stained glass windows imported from Germany.
Mr. Fraser brought two men to America from Italy to execute the difficult task of affixing the intricate ornamental plasterwork which is prevalent throughout the house.
"Richland Renovating's craftsmen carefully removed the layers of paint and their artist "touched-up" nicks and scars so that the final product is a beautifully resored mural which can defy the most precise observer to try to tell the new work from the old." - Steve McQuiller, Regional Historic Preservation Director
Some of Mansfield's most prominent citizens followed Mr. Fraser as owners of the stately home. George Henney, founder and owner of Columbia Tire purchased the house in 1919, followed by Edwards Wickwire, Secretary of Ohio Brass, G. W. DeYarmon of DeYarmon and Sons Insurance, and John Jones, who for nearly 40 years operated the Jones Funeral Home from the location.
Since purchasing the home from Mr. Jones in 1977, Terry Brown and Richland Renovating have invested over $20,000 into its repair and restoration. Matching woodwork and doors, which had been removed by the former owner, were replaced and the ornamental plaster was repaired and repainted in contrasting colors from maximum highlighting and originality.
Perhaps the most exciting facet of the renovation of the Fraser House was the discovery of the large dining room ceiling mural under several coats of dingy white paint. Because the original painters had covered the mural with a coat of varnish, it was salvageable.
The Hardin County Courthouse
"We commend Mr. Brown and his crew for the conscientious and competent job they have completed for us. We would highly recommend and qualify Mr. Brown's ability to perform restoration work." - E. Stewart Rogers, Bill McNamee, and Bernard Sponsler, Board of County Commissioners, Hardin County, Ohio
Perhaps Richland Renovating's most ambitious and challenging project to date has been the detailed interior restoration of the historic Hardin County Courthouse in Kenton, Ohio.
The crew repaired two ornate stained glass ceilings, one in the building's main foyer and another in a courtroom, and restored two large murals which has been badly damaged by the leaking glass roofs.
The workers also restored ornamental plaster on three courtroom ceilings and repainted the rooms. Special painting techniques, long outdated, were used to recreate the look which the courtrooms has when the building was first opened in 1913.
The project took four months to complete and turned a deteriorating public landmark into a town showplace.
The Renaissance Theatre
"I was amazed to learn that the skilled labor needed to meticulously restore such intricate, filigreed plaster work existed right here in Richland County. Their work is outstanding." - Rick Sowash, Executive Director, Renaissance Theatre
The Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, a deteriorating 1928 movie place, has been turned into a "state of the art entertainment facility" thanks to $2.25 million donated by the people of the Mansfield area, and to skilled craftsmen such as the people at Richland Renovating.
Modern sound, lighting and rigging systems have been installed; 1430 seats were renovated; an orchestra pit was dug; restrooms were remodelled; and every inch of this lavish, Grand Baroque style interior was either repainted or meticulously scrubbed.
Richland Renovating was hired to handle an extensive insulation project, to remodel the adjacent storefronts, and to execute the delicate job of restoring the intricate ornamental plaster work in the theatre, some of which was 40 feet above floor level.
Due to a badly deteriorated roof, the interior of the Renaissance Theatre sustained substantial water damage over a period of many years. Ornamental cornices, bands surrounding silk panels, exit sign framings, multicharacter sculptures, rosettes, shields, columns and capitals were extensively damaged or destroyed. Fortunately, every damaged character had at least one sound match located elsewhere in the theatre. This enabled Richland Renovating to make duplicates through an involved process of taking castings from the existing characters and making molds, then pouring plaster castings to produce the needed results. The ornaments were then affixed and plastered into place producing "Italian Plaster" identical to the original.
Property Damage Restoration
The major difference between Richland Renovating and other area building contractors is the fact that we are primarily Restoration Contractors. And, as Restoration Contractors we have had a great deal of experience doing time-consuming, painstaking work in the restoration of historic structures to their original look. Over the years, we have attracted tradesmen who share our concern for preserving the authenticity of architectural style and our appreciation of craftsmanship and beauty.
Richland Renovating has carried this concern for authenticity and quality workmanship over into the work we do today refurbishing structures which have been damaged by severe weather conditions or fire. Because of the intricate type of work we have been involved in in the past, out people are better able to make an in-depth, intelligent analysis of the damage that has been done... and of what measures must be taken to restore the building to its original appearance and structural integrity. We feel we have an almost flawless ability to match original materials and techniques. Naturally, superior products, materials and construction techniques are used when appropriate for the improvement of the structure.
After a fire or storm damage occurs, our people make a careful, thorough survey of what must be replaced and what areas of the building can and should be saved. In the case of fire, we employ the proper techniques to guarantee the elimination of all traces of smoke odors.
While the work is in progress, we take great care, too, to protect the unaffected areas of the structure. Doors are taped off and visqueen plastic is used extensively to stop the spread of dust and debris from construction.
At Richland Renovating we specialise in renovating homes and buildings which have been damaged by the ravages of time, neglect, foul weather and fire. We guarantee quality workmanship, and we pledge to complete each job as time-efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, so that our customers will share our pride in the final renovation.
Contact Details
Richland Renovating Inc.
681 Park Avenue West
West Mansfield, OH 44906
+1-419-524-0220
