As a result, researchers will have access to more of the structure. Careful research is preceding construction work, Webster said. Over the years there have been many changes and alterations to the structure. For example, in the 1920s, original mortar was repaired and replaced with portland cement in some places. That s being removed to match the original mortar.
Studies are under way on the plaster and wallpaper to determine what s most historically accurate.
The house will have a new color scheme, based on a scientific color analysis. And workers are reinstalling some features that had been removed, such as the timber roll-the lead roof cap. It s a huge research project to interpret to the public how and why we made these decisions, Webster said. Kenmore has been shrouded in scaffolding for months now. When the exterior is completed, the work will focus on the interior, and then to the landscaping around the structure.