Robert Mills House Renovations
Thursday, December 26th 2024
As the Robert Mills House stood on the cusp of its 200th anniversary, Historic Columbia turned our attention to its ongoing preservation through the 2023-24 Annual Fund. Capital improvements took place that were quite literally “bricks and mortar” preservation in practice.
In the images below you can see more of how these capital improvements changed the look of the Robert Mills House and are better preparing this National Landmark structure for its third century of existence. In addition to the work shown in these images, historically accurate, low-fired, soft brick were substituted for broken, spalled, and powdering bricks. Additionally, windows requiring exterior attention were scraped, primed, and repainted, and new UV-light-blocking material was applied to all 54 windows inside the building. These snap-in-place windows ensure the preservation of artifacts within the building while limiting solar gain, which when coupled with the installation of insulation within the attic, have improved the overall visitor experience.
Combating moisture damage
Carpentry work on the rear porch involved replacing exposed rotted woodwork on the archways at the south elevation. After the compromised wood was replaced, the entire back side was repainted.
Letting the bricks breathe
On the brick foundation, non-breathable elastomeric paint that traps moisture was removed and replaced with a breathable, natural lime wash. These images depict the exposed brick on the south elevation shown after elastomeric paint was removed and after lime wash was added.
A great step up
The rear stairs had been closed for years due to deteriorating wood. Now, the back porch is open to visitors wishing to get a great view of the southern lawn and gardens.
What's next?
While the exterior has been painstakingly renovated, we are actively working to reinterpret the interior spaces for an exciting new visitor experience. Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming announcements about the Robert Mills House tours in early 2025.
Also happening on the Robert Mills House grounds is the 2024-25 Annual Fund project. We are transforming the Carriage House into the Robin Waites Community Engagement Center. Be a part of our vision and contribute to the Annual Fund today!