Historic & Specialised Restoration Sydney

When people in Sydney call me about lath and plaster, it’s usually because their ceiling or wall has started to crack, sag, or even crumble. Most of these homes—terraces in Glebe, old cottages in Balmain, or Federation houses in Paddington—were built more than a hundred years ago, and the plaster has done well to last this long. But time, moisture, and movement eventually catch up, and that’s when I step in.

Restoring lath and plaster isn’t a quick fix. I always tell clients that the job takes patience and care, because the goal isn’t just to patch a hole—it’s to bring the plaster back to the way it was, so it feels like nothing was ever wrong. I’ve had projects where ornate cornices were hanging off a ceiling that was close to collapse, and the owners thought it was beyond saving. With the right reinforcement, lime plaster mixes, and mould work, we gave that room its life back.

One of my clients summed up this kind of work better than I could: “John has done some fantastic work for me. From custom arches & cornices made on-site, to small repair works. Always exceeding the clients expectations. Highly recommended.” – James Horton

That review means a lot, because it shows the value of doing things properly. Sometimes it’s reattaching loose plaster to the original laths, sometimes it’s cutting out sections and rebuilding them, and sometimes it’s replicating decorative details so they match the surrounding design perfectly. Every house has its own story, and the plaster is part of that story—it deserves to be kept, not just replaced.

When I finish a lath and plaster restoration, I don’t want anyone to see where the work was done. The best compliment is when a client walks into the room and says it looks like it did fifty years ago. That’s when I know the job has been done right.

Historic home renovation is about striking the perfect balance between preservation and modernisation. Sydney’s older homes — from weatherboard cottages in Newtown to sandstone villas in Hunters Hill — often hide layers of history in their walls, ceilings, and façades. Renovating them requires care, patience, and a thorough understanding of traditional construction methods.

We start by identifying features worth saving — original plaster mouldings, decorative ceilings, or hand-trowelled stucco finishes. Then we plan upgrades that improve functionality without erasing the home’s character. That might mean repairing existing plaster rather than replacing it, or integrating modern insulation discreetly behind restored walls.

These projects are as much about storytelling as construction. Every crack, curve, and cornice tells you something about the era it was built in, and our job is to make sure those details survive while creating a home that’s comfortable for today’s living.

Stucco mouldings are often the details that give a building its identity. Whether it’s decorative trims around windows, cornices on a façade, or patterned mouldings along a ceiling, these features make Sydney homes and heritage properties unique. But with time, weather, and movement, stucco mouldings can crack, chip, or even fall away. At Art of Plaster, we specialise in restoring these details so they look as sharp and authentic as the day they were first made.

Restoring mouldings takes patience and skill. It’s not enough to just fill a crack or patch over damage—the proportions, curves, and profiles all need to be matched precisely. We often take moulds of the original sections and use traditional techniques to rebuild missing pieces so the repair blends perfectly with the rest of the design. That way, when the restoration is complete, you can’t tell where the old ends and the new begins.

Why Sydney homeowners and builders choose Art of Plaster for moulding restoration:

• Expertise in both heritage and modern stucco mouldings

• Ability to create custom moulds for missing or damaged sections

• Use of durable mixes suited to Sydney’s climate

• Fully licensed and insured team (Contractor Licence 398795C)

• Track record of restoring mouldings in terraces, heritage homes, and commercial buildings across the city

What makes us different is the way we approach each job. Instead of treating mouldings as an afterthought, we see them as central to the building’s style. We take the time to ensure every repair is invisible and every recreated detail is faithful to the original.

For us, stucco moulding restoration isn’t just about fixing plaster—it’s about protecting the character of Sydney’s buildings and keeping their architectural details alive for the next generation.