VILLARD HOUSES 

New York, New York 

The originial residences known as the 

Villard Houses were designed by the 

firm of McKim, Mead and White and 

constructed in the 1880s in the style 

of a Neo-Italian Rennaissance palazzo. The interiors of the buildings contain a remarkably high quality of 

design and workmanship with extensive use of decorative paintings, 

mosaics, paneling and marble. The 

elegant interior staircases which contribute to the richness of the interior 

spaces were constructed in a variety 

of designs and materials (see figure 

1). 

In the late 1970s, the Villard 

Houses were adapted to serve as 

function rooms for an adjacent hotel 

while portions were retained for use 

as existing offices. As part of the project, a system was designed for fitting 

the staircases with temporary protective coverings to avoid damage while 

still allowing for their use in the 

course of the extensive renovation 

work. 

Problem 

Historic staircases were rarely designed 

to take the abuse which occurs during 

major renovation work. Even when 

trash chutes and material hoists are 

located through windows, staircases 

are still subjected to dirt and heavy 

wear during construction work, and 

the risk remains of incurring costly or 

irreparable damage. Stairwall materials such as marble, wood wainscoting and Lincrusta wall covering, as 

well as balustrades and stair treads, 

are particularly vulnerable to damage. 

Where there are tight turns and narrow staircases, the risks of damage 

are even greater. Closing off the 

stairs usually is not practical either 

because the stairs are needed for daily 

use during construction or must be 

kept open for job safety. 

In most instances, the best preservation approach and the one that 

often proves economical in the long 

run is to provide sound and effective 

protection of the staircase in situ. The 

project architect should be the one to 

design a protection system for the 

staircase. 

In designing the protective system, care should be taken to protect 

the walls, the balustrade, and the 

staircase itself. With the Villard 

Houses, a simple, practical and effective system was developed to protect 

the staircases during the renovation 

work. The wide range of staircase 

designs, decoration, and finish work 

found in the Villard Houses furnished 

ample opportunity to test the broad 

applicability of this protective system. 

It is described in the following sections, with some liberty taken in making minor refinements for the benefit 

of others wishing to use it. 

PRESERVATION 

Tech Rotes 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

TEMPORARY 

PROTECTION 

NUMBER 1 

Temporary Protection of 

Historic Stairways during 

Rehabilitation Work 

Charles E. Fisher 

Preservation Assistance Division 

National Park Service 

Significant interior features in historic 

buildings should be protected during 

construction work. 
2 

Solution 

The basic system consisted of using 

plywood and padding to cover the 

walls, steps and balustrade without 

using any anchoring devices that 

would damage historic material (see 

figure 2). Screws were used rather 

than nails in fastening the wooden 

temporary pieces together to lessen 

the chances of accidental damage to 

historic fabric and to facilitate 

disassembly. 

Figure 1. The Villard Houses include stairways ranging from very elegant (seen here) 

to quite simple. All could have been 

damaged if not protected during the extensive rehabilitation work. Photo: Steven 

Zane, HABS Collection. 

1/2" FIRE 

RETARDANT 

PLYWOOD POWER 

SCREWED ONTO 

ANGLED SHORING 

BRACES SET 16" TO 

48" APART 

2" x 4" ANGLED 

SHORING BRACES 

PRE·ASSEMBLED 

AND FREE 

STANDING FROM 

MARBLE WALL 

--EXISTING MARBLE 

WALL WITH 

PROJECTING TRIM 

NEOPRENE PADS 

GLUED TO BRACES 

TO PROTECT 

PROJECTING TRIM 

~~~~~= SEE FIGURE 3 FOR DETAIL 

Figure 2. A system for protecting the 

decorative staircases was drawn and 

specified by the project architect. 

Drawing: Christina Henry. 

Stairsteps 

Both the marble and the wooden 

stairsteps were identified in the planning stage as being vulnerable to 

damage and excessive wear during the 

renovation work. The decision was 

made to lay a temporary wooden 

covering over the existing stairs in a 

manner which would provide for 

maximum protection of the historic 

fabric without hindering daily use of 

the stairs by the construction crew 

(see figure 3). A sheet of soft fiberboard served as a cushion between 

the wooden covering and the historic 

stairsteps. The fiberboards extended 

approximately one inch past the existing treads to provide better protection for the delicate nosing. For each 

step, a second piece of fiberboard 

was cut to rest against the riser. The 

temporary wooden treads applied 

over the fiberboard were cut out of 

plywood rather than planking, since 

plywood has a greater resistance to 

cracking and curling in such wide 

widths. For the risers, less expensive 

planking sufficed. In both cases, fire 

retardant wood was specified. 

In assembling the temporary 

steps, power-driven screws of 

specified length were used. Screws 

rather than nails were chosen in order 

to avoid pounding damage to the 

masonry joints and the relatively thin 

historic marble panels used in the 

staircase construction, and also to 

reduce the chances of damage during 

disassembly. 
3 

Wooden stops measuring one 

inch square were first screwed onto 

the end of the plywood treads; the 

plywood set onto and against the two 

fiberboards used on each step; and 

then the planking used for the risers 

was set in and secured in place with 

screws. For disassembly, the process 

was reversed. 

Balustrade 

Once the temporary wood floors were 

installed, the balustrades were encased 

in plywood (see figure 4). For the sections running on top of the handrail, 

5/8" or 3/4" plywood was used, cut 

wider than the handrail to permit attachment of 2 by 4 blocking on the 

underside for securing the 112 " 

plywood side walls away from the 

balustrade (see figure 5). For padding, neoprene was glued to the face 

of the blocking closest to the edge of 

the handrail as a cushion in case the 

covering was jarred. The handrail was 

cushioned further by soft fiberboard 

glued to the underside of the plywood 

top. After the top section was assembled, the side plywood walls were cut 

and attached; the side walls were additionally blocked out wherever the 

newel posts protruded beyond the 

balustrade (figure 6). The entire assemblage was secured tightly with 

judicious use of braces and blocking 

or where necessary was screwed to the 

temporary wood floor. 

NOTE: USE ONLY FIRE RETARDANT 

LUMBER 

./ 

./ 

./ 

./ 

./ 

./ 

./ 

./. 

./ 

5/8" OR 3/4" PLYWOOD 

CONTINUOUS WALL 

TO WALL 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

/' 

./ 

./ 

./ NOMINAL 2" PLANK 

f--' ......... ~---':-- CONTINUOUS WALL 

I ./ ./ 

./. TO WALL 

) 

J-:./ 

JQ7I-H+--- 1" x 1" WOOD STOP 

./ 

./ ./~~~~~~~~~~~~ ;1 ____ SCREWEDTOTREAD 

1/2" HOMASOTE 

I-

+114-- SCREW FASTENER 

EXISTING MARBLE 

STAIR 

BOARD (OR SIMILAR 

PRODUCT) EXTENDS 

BEYOND EXISTING 

NOSING 

Figure 3. The plywood treads extended past the nosing on the historic steps with soft 

fiberboard set in place beforehand as additional protection. Drawing: Christina Henry. 

EXISTINGMARBLE 

WALL 

., 

'. 

LES 

E 

AT 

\ 

I 

\ 

r fl 

.. ~ y . /~\ !' J 

----,: ~\\ \ 

\ . f---- ~ I 

/ , - I~ 

~ 

2" x 4" ANGLED 

SHORING BRAC 

WITH NEOPREN 

PADS GLUED ON 

POINTS OF PRO 

MARBLE TRIM 

JECTI NG 

• 

1/2" 

2 

B 

" x 4" SHORING 

RACES PRE· 

SSEMBLED PRIOR 

o INSTALLATION 

A 

T 

PLY 

FIRE RETARDANT 

WOOD POWER 

SCR EWED ONTO 

ANG LED SHORING 

BRA CES 

SEE 

DET 

EXI 

PLYWOOD PROTECTIVE 

COVERING ENCASING 

EXISTING MARBLE 

BALUSTRADE 

FIGURE 5 FOR 

AIL 

STING MARBLE 

BAL USTRADE 

FIR 

ON 

E RETARDANT PLYWOOD 

HOMASOTE BOARDS TO 

PROTECT MARBLE STEPS 

Figure 4. This cross-section of one of the staircases shows that the entire historic 

balustrade was temporarily encased in wood during the renovation work. 

Drawing: Christina Henry. 

T/ ~----5/8" OR 3/4" PLYWOOD T ·SCREW FASTENER 

~~~~~ .< ~~~~~~~~-------

i,~ 1 " < ,'J ~ g~~;Ev~g~~ERSIDE : \ .... :' :,".>, ~ \ 

: :~'.'" '.:::': YiIIi ----NEOPRENE PADS ADHERED TO 

2" x 4" BLOCKING @ l ' O,C, .:: ',' 

,' . " 

" ". 

~ .. 

.; .. 

.: .. ' 

HI ~--- 1/2" FIRE RETARDANT 

PLYWOOD 

-,...,..--+tI----+-::::XISTING MARBLE BALUSTRADE 

Figure 5. As with the step detailing, the 

temporary protection over the balustrade 

and hand railing used plywood padding, 

blocking, and screw fasteners to minimize 

possible damage. Drawing: Christina 

Henry. 
_---llM-------------------EXIsTING MARBLE WALL 

AND PROJECTING TRIM 

PRIOR TO INSTALLATION 

OF PROTECTIVE PANELS 

-------------1/2" FIRE 

j 

II 

RETARDANT 

PLYWOOD 4' x 8' 

SHEETS IN PLACE 

SCREWED TO 

SHORING BRACES 

JIoI---------2" x 4" ANGLED 

SHORING BRACES 

SET 16" TO 48" 

APART 

~--- EXISTING MARBLE 

WALL WITH 

PROJECTING TRIM 

~-----NEOPRENEPADS 

GLUED TO BACK OF 

2" x 4" BRACES AT 

POINTS OF 

CONTACT WITH 

PROJECTING TRIM 

---~r-H-+-+t1It-+-tt1Ir+---- FI RE RETARDANT ~--------------4, PLYWOOD OVER 

HOMASOTE BOARDS 

TO PROTECT MARBLE 

STAIRS 

\~++-H++-t----- 1" x 4" BOTTOM 

STRINGER 

NOTCHED INTO 

ANGLED BRACE 

)-____________ ~~~;t----2" x 4" BOTTOM 

PLATE FOR 

BRACE-LENGTH 

APPROXI MATEL Y 

12" 

Figure 7. The temporary waD covering going up the stairs consisted of plywood mounted on a wooden frame. Neoprene padding was 

used where the frame abutted the historic walls. The method shown here requires no fasteners to be used, avoiding possible damage to 

4 the decorative walls. Drawing: Sharon Park, A.LA. 
Stairwalls 

A temporary eight foot high wall was 

constructed to protect the historic 

wood paneling, marble and decorative 

trim typically found along the stairs. 

The wall covering consisted of 

plywood attached to a wood frame 

that had been designed so as to require no anchor attachments to the 

historic walls (see figure 7). The 

triangular shaped sectio~s of the 

frame which supported the plywood 

rested on the plywood floor covering. 

Wherever the frame abutted historic 

material, a thin neoprene pad was 

glued to the wood beforehand to 

avoid scratching. For greater rigidity, 

2 by 4 sleepers were added in various 

locations to connect the triangular 

sections of the frame. In cases where 

the historic handrail protruded considerably and was not temporarily 

removed during construction, the 

triangular sections were not preassembled, but rather constructed in 

place around the railing. 

Figure 6. The balustrade on the left side of the photograph has been entirely encased in 

plywood to protect it from damage. Note that the kick-out at the end is due to the 

protrusion of the newel post. Photo: Charles Fisher. 

Evaluation 

The cost of this work was quite 

modest and the protective system was 

sufficiently flexible to be adapted to 

staircases of different dimensions, 

designs and material. It was easy to 

construct and required only common 

fasteners "and materials. Most importantly, this system effectively protected the staircases against damage 

during the renovation work (see 

figure 8). 

Figure 8. Tbe entire bistoric staircase bas 

been protected against possible damage 

during tbe renovation work. Tbe balustrade on the left has been encased in 

plywood; the floors have been covered; 

and a temporary plywood wall constructed, shown on the right and at the 

landing. Note that the plywood wraps 

around the wall at the entranceway. 

Photo: Charles Fisher. 5 
6 

PROJECT DATA: 

Building: 

Project Date: 1977-1980 

Architect: 

Project Cost: 

The cost of the overall rehabilitation 

work was approximately $10,000,000; 

cost for the temporary stair covering 

was too small to be broken out in the 

construction cost. 

Villard Houses 

New York, New York 

Emery Roth and Sons, P .C. 

845 Third Avenue 

Developer: 

The Palace Company 

Helmsley-Spear, Inc. 

New York, New York 

New York, New York 

This PRESERVATION TECH NOTE was prepared by the National Park Service. Charles E. Fisher, Preservation Assistance 

Division, National Park Service, serves as Technical Coordinator for the PRESERVATION TECH NOTES. Information 

on the staircase protection system was supplied by the architects for the project, Emery Roth and Sons, P.C. of New 

York City. Drawings appearing in figures 2, 3,4 and 5 were 

redrawn by National Park Service staff based on material 

originally prepared by the architects. Special thanks go to the 

following Preservation Assistance Division staff who contributed to the production: Michael J. Auer, Christina Henry, 

Brenda Johnson, Sharon Park, Martha A. Gutrick, Terry 

Robinson and Janet Thomas. 

Cover photo: HABS Collection. 

PRESERVATION TECH NOTES are designed to provide 

practical information on innovative techniques and practices 

for successfully maintaining and preserving cultural resources. 

All techniques and practices described herein conform to 

established National Park Service policies, procedures, and 

standards. This Tech Note was prepared pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 which 

direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop and make 

available to government agencies and individuals information 

concerning professional methods and techniques for the preservation of historic properties. 

Comments on the usefulness of this information are welcomed 

and should be addressed to Tech Notes, Preservation 

Assistance Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, 

Washington, D.C. 20013-7127. This publication is not 

copyrighted and can be reproduced without penalty. Normal 

procedures for credit to the author and the National Park Service are appreciated. 

ISSN: 0741-9023 PTN-IO March 1985