Western Specialty Contractors’ Austin branch completed an exterior restoration project at the Historic Dunbar School Home Economics Building, a government-owned historic building in San Marcos, Texas. Serving as the prime contractor for the City of San Marcos, Western performed a variety of building-envelope improvements designed to preserve the structure’s historic appearance while enhancing its weather resistance and long-term durability.
A primary focus of the project was repairing deteriorated exterior materials while maintaining the building’s historic character. Western carefully hand-removed damaged siding to avoid disturbing adjacent historic materials and sourced matching clapboard siding for replacement areas. Crews also milled custom wood trim to replicate an existing damaged profile.
The restoration extended to the building’s roof, where Western removed deteriorated roof metal and decking, installed an ice and water barrier, and added new galvalume roof panels. Seams were sealed to improve the roof’s watertight performance and provide better long-term protection for the structure.
Western also restored exterior metal bars by sandblasting, priming and coating them before reinstalling them on the building’s interior. Additional work addressed conditions below the structure, including coordinating vapor barrier installation, rock placement and leveling, and rebuilding and reinforcing the skirt to maintain its historic configuration while improving drainage and future access.
“One of the most important aspects of this project was finding ways to improve the building’s performance without losing the historic details that make it unique,” said Michael Walker, Western Specialty Contractors Project Manager. “From sourcing matching clapboard siding to milling custom wood trim, our team took a careful approach to making the necessary repairs while respecting the building’s original character.”
Western also coordinated closely with historic preservation representatives employed by the City of San Marcos throughout the restoration, helping ensure the improvements remained sensitive to the historic structure.
The project began in November 2025 and was completed in January 2026. Western finished the work within budget to the satisfaction of the City of San Marcos.
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About Western Specialty Contractors
Family-owned and operated for more than 100 years, Western Specialty Contractors is the nation’s largest specialty contractor in masonry and concrete restoration, waterproofing, and specialty roofing. Western offers a nationwide network of expertise that building owners, engineers, architects, and property managers can count on to develop cost-effective, corrective measures that can add years of useful life to a variety of structures, including industrial, commercial, healthcare, historic, educational and government buildings, parking structures, and sports stadiums. Western is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, with 30 branch offices nationwide and employs more than 1,200 salaried and hourly professionals who offer the best, time-tested techniques and innovative technology. For more information about Western Specialty Contractors, visit https://westernspecialtycontractors.com.