Restoring Historic Hotel with Strategy, Skill & Clear Communication

Preserving the historic integrity of a building like The Andrews Hotel requires expertise, flexibility, and careful coordination. Because many conditions in older structures aren’t fully visible until work begins, the CertaPro Painters® team approached this project with a plan that balanced preparation with transparency.

Planning for the Unknown in Historic Restoration

Historic masonry buildings often conceal damage beneath the surface, and addressing those conditions properly is essential for long-term protection.

While inspecting the building, our crews noticed signs of significant spalling on the upper right of the building. Spalling is the deterioration of concrete or brick surfaces, mainly due to moisture freezing and thawing cycles that cause cracking, bulging and crumbling within the masonry. Most historic buildings in San Francisco use reinforcing bars to provide additional strength and support to withstand seismic activity. Rebar work requires the removal of rust from exposed areas, applying rust primer and waterproof resealing.

Because the condition of the masonry and extent of the repairs could only be determined once the building was fully accessible to the team; our crews remained alert for signs of deteriorated wood, masonry and rebar issues during the preparation phase of the project, providing a detailed scope on the additional repair work required to ensure durability and historically appropriate restoration.

CertaPro Painters of San Francisco maintains an experienced in-house carpenter, allowing us to assess and quickly fix damaged areas as they were uncovered. When additional repairs were needed on the pressed glass windows, which included replacing curved glass, clear documentation and a detailed estimate were provided before proceeding. This allowed the property owner to maintain full control of the scope of work throughout the project.

Complex Access and Multi-Phase Exterior Work

The Andrews Hotel’s downtown location and building height required careful coordination to safely access all exterior surfaces. Work on the exposed east side of the building was completed by staging from the roof, with occasional coordination and permission to safely access neighboring roof areas. This allowed our team to reach difficult sections while maintaining safety and minimizing disruption.

On the upper west façade, from the decorative band up to the roofline, our crews encountered visible signs of extensive masonry failure. As is often the case with historic buildings, the exact repair requirements could only be determined once proper access was established. Once on site, our team evaluated conditions, stabilized the masonry, and prepared the surfaces to ensure they were properly sealed and protected before painting.

As the project progressed, the scope expanded to include masonry repairs, restoration of windows and doors, and the application of an anti-graffiti coating along the lower 10 feet of the building. This was an added layer of protection well-suited for a high-traffic urban environment.

A Proven Paint System and Detailed Finish Work

To deliver long-lasting results, all surfaces received a full prime coat followed by two complete coats paint, creating a three-coat system designed for durability, breathability, and performance in San Francisco’s climate.

The wooden windows on the east side were oil-primed and finished with two additional coats for enhanced moisture resistance and longevity. Special care was taken to preserve the building’s architectural character while improving overall performance.

For the finishing touch, all emblems on the front façade were carefully painted with Sheffield gold paint, restoring their visual prominence and highlighting the historic detailing that makes The Andrews Hotel such a distinct downtown landmark.

A Commitment to Quality and Communication

Clear communication remained a priority from start to finish. As the project neared completion, a preliminary walk-through with the foreman allowed any final adjustments to be addressed quickly, helping to ensure the finished work met expectations and reduced the need for future touch-ups.

Behind every successful project is a skilled and dedicated team. CertaPro Painters of San Francisco’s painters are long-term employees, many with seven or more years of experience. By investing in training, benefits, and respectful treatment, we empower our crews to deliver exceptional craftsmanship and service on every project.

The true measure of success is trust.

Ultimately, the trust built throughout this project led the property owner to choose CertaPro Painters of San Francisco for three additional restorations—demonstrating the value of clear communication and skilled craftsmanship. Repeat business is the highest compliment, and a testament to CertaPro Painters’ expertise in historic restoration, clear communication and long-term building protection.