Contemporary Restoration

"Restoration" can be accomplished through essentially two approaches. The first approach is to repair the stones such as marble, granite and sandstone with methods similar to that of the era when the original work was produced, only using tools and materials available at that time. This type of restoration is best referred to as "Historic Restoration".  The second category can be labeled "Contemporary Restoration". A Contemporary Restoration approach allows strategic consideration of all available tools and products to bring the stone back to its original or historic appearance.

The world is full of "Restoration Experts" who have identified a market and declared themselves an authority. For HILGARTNER, our standard is to always restore a piece of stone closest to the quality and appearance as time of their initial fabrication. Our Apprenticeship Program continues in training our Journeymen old-form techniques such as molding stone by hand - rubbing one stone against another, followed with burlap and acid to achieve form and finish. Additionally, we also train in contemporary methods which utilize diamond grit pads and electric hand tools to create finished features. The key to any successful repair or restoration is communicating to our clients what methods are available - and putting the decision of repair method in their well-advised hands. At HILGARTNER, we pride ourselves on investigating the options, educating our customers and delivering their preferred aesthetic & product.