Rehab Lab: Historic Finishes-Varnishes, Stains, Dyes, and Wax

This class is sold out.

This class, taught by Mark Johnston of Historic Design Consulting, introduces you to wood finishes commonly found in older homes. Mark will discuss the differences between varnish, stain, dyes, and waxes.  He'll describe how to identify these finishes in your home and will demonstrate best practices for application, cleaning, and repair. Come with your questions and curiosities about historic wood finishes! We'll supply all the tools and materials.

Mark is the founder of Historic Design Consulting.  He is a member of the Minnesota Society of Architectural Historians and the Association of Preservation Technology and meets the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Professional Qualifications Standards for History and Architectural History. Mark has a particular interest in 19th century building trades and does much of his work using authentic materials and techniques. Historic Design Consulting offers a wide range of restoration services for property owners, including historic paint colors, millwork, research, maintenance plans, window restoration, and more.

Tickets for this workshop are $45.

Rethos is committed to providing affordable options for everyone to learn perservation skills. If the ticket price would cause financial hardships, please submit an application for our education scholarship to attend at a reduced cost. Questions about registration prices, COVID-19 protocol, or refunds/cancellations? Read our Need-To-Know page!

This class is brought to you by the Education program at Rethos: Places Reimagined. Rethos is proud to offer a variety of classes to homeowners, students, realtors, and anyone who loves old buildings. The Rethos Education program is funded in part by the Arts & Cultural Legacy Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.