The Curriculum

3-Day Hands-On Training Track

• The three-day track follows a structured daily rhythm of instruction, demonstration, and supervised application.

• Each morning begins with a short lecture and live demonstration introducing the materials, tools, and methods used in the day’s workshop. Instructors explain not only how materials are used, but why they behave as they do in historic buildings.

• Participants then move into their assigned workshop areas for supervised hands-on work. Afternoon sessions allow for deeper practice, problem-solving, and skill development under close instructor guidance.

• Across the three days, participants gain direct experience with traditional materials and methods while developing a stronger understanding of how to make appropriate preservation decisions in the field.

• Note: Participants may select different workshop modules across the three-day program. For example, a participant may choose to attend three consecutive days of lime plaster training, or combine different sessions—such as one day of lime plaster, one day of linseed oil paint systems, and one day focused on floor finishes.

• Workshop selection is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Workshop Modules

Building with Breathable Walls: Demystifying Lime Plaster

• This module introduces participants to lime plaster as a breathable building system essential to the health of historic structures. Participants will examine historic plaster in situ, distinguish lime from gypsum, identify plaster systems, diagnose failures, and determine appropriate repair strategies.

• Hands-on work includes mixing traditional lime putty mortars and applying scratch, brown, and finish coats using essential plastering tools.

Capacity: Two groups of six participants

Instructors: Joelle Hunts Berry and Henry Orton. Learn more about the instructors here.

Heritage Finishes Masterclass: Linseed Oil Paint, Distemper, and Limewash

• This module explores traditional interior and exterior finishes used on historic buildings, with a focus on breathable, compatible coating systems. Participants will learn where and why these materials should be used, how to assess and prepare substrates, and how to apply them properly.

• The session also addresses the damage caused by incompatible modern synthetic coatings and helps participants evaluate materials through the lens of preservation and building science.

Capacity: Two groups of six participants

Instructors: Interior: Maeve Woolley. Exterior: Michiel Brouns and Peter Galloway Learn more about the instructors here.

Window Restoration Masterclass: Traditional Sash Repair and Linseed Oil Finishing Systems

• This module focuses on the conservation and repair of historic wooden sash windows using traditional materials and methods. Participants will learn safe worksite setup, sash removal, condition assessment, paint and glazing removal, wood preparation, glass resetting, putty application, and breathable finishing systems.

• The workshop emphasizes repair over replacement and demonstrates why well-maintained historic windows can continue to perform for generations.

Capacity: One group of six participants per day

Instructors: Justin Fink. Learn more about the instructors here.

Cleaning, Repair, Aging, and Finishing of Historic Wood Floors

• This module focuses on the preservation-informed renewal of historic wood floors through cleaning, restrained repair, wood integration, and traditional oil finishing systems. Participants will work through sequencing, surface preparation, repair judgment, color integration, and the application of polymerized tung oil finishes.

• This track is ideal for those seeking a rigorous introduction to traditional preservation practice in an accessible format.

Capacity: One group of six participants per day

Instructors: Rob Cagnetta. Learn more about the instructors here.

2-Day Demonstration Track

• The two-day demonstration track introduces participants to the principles, materials, and philosophy behind traditional building preservation through a series of lectures and live workshop demonstrations.

• Day One focuses on the architecture and historic finishes of the Bosworth House, the logic of traditional breathable coating systems, and introductory demonstrations across each workshop discipline.

• Day Two builds on that foundation with deeper exploration of traditional materials, wood finishes, repair logic, and preservation decision-making, followed by more detailed demonstrations and discussion in each workshop area.

• This track is ideal for those seeking a rigorous overview of traditional preservation practice in a highly accessible format.