Riverbend Resort is located just a few miles from Wisconsin Interstate 43, tucked just far enough away from Lower Falls Road that the unknowing traveler would never know it’s there. Riverbend was built between 1921 and 1923 by Walter Kohler, Sr., who was then both the governor of Wisconsin and president of The Kohler Company.
The estate sits on 40 acres of land towards the southwest side of the village of Kohler and includes the main house, which is an exemplary example of Tudor Revival architecture, the coach house, and a cloister walk connecting the two buildings. The grounds are impeccably manicured and resort amenities include a heated swimming pool, a massive greenhouse, a croquet court, and views of the lower falls of the Sheboygan River.
Riverbend is on the National Register of Historic Places, having been sold to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the early 1980s by the Kohler family and then purchased back by the Kohler Company in 1985. The estate then sat empty for 15 years before being restored and transformed into an exclusive private club.
Late last year, the Kohler Co. initiated a massive renovation project to update the property and improve the overall condition of the estate. The project included a complete condition assessment and restoration plan for the property’s windows. The contract to restore the windows on the coach house was awarded to Thoughtful Craftsmen.Preserving and Restoring 69 Wooden Windows
The coach house is home to 69 total wood windows, all of which were in varying states of disrepair. The scope of work also included restoring 4 sets of double doors with twin sidelights and an additional 40 storm windows. A plan for the treatment and repair of the windows was carefully laid out, citing references that included the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Preservation Brief 9 – The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows.
Thoughtful Craftsmen were chosen for this project based on their impeccable reputation for high quality craftsmanship, and in this case, their ability to prioritize the work and complete the scope in an incredibly short timeframe. Construction didn’t begin until February and was required to be complete by May 31st.
Using LiquidWood and WoodEpox for Historic Window Restoration
A project with this many wooden features requires the ability to examine and assess the viability for salvaging and restoring wood versus the need for replacement. In accordance with historical preservation practices, wherever restoration is possible, Thoughtful Craftsmen utilized ABATRON® epoxies, LiquidWood® and WoodEpox® for consolidation and patching.
“We turn to ABATRON products on these projects because of the reliable performance and the ease of use. We can count on the system to perform to our standards. We’ve used over 12 gallons of LiquidWood and 10 gallons of WoodEpox on this job alone.”
– Joe Thomas, Thoughtful Craftsmen
Balancing Historic Accuracy with Modern Durability
Thoughtful Craftsmen is a full service restoration contractor located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that specializes in window restoration and tuning, porch & deck restoration, roofing and shingle installation, and historically accurate painting. Visit www.thoughtfulcraftsmen.com for more information.
LiquidWood and WoodEpox are continually specified for use in restoring damaged or rotted wood. LiquidWood hardens and stabilizes soft porous wood while WoodEpox patches, fills, and rebuilds and missing wood.
