During spring 2015, University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture graduate students had an opportunity to investigate original building materials of the Vandeveer-Dorbandt House in Burnet County, Texas. The investigation was a research project for students in Fran Gale’s Materials Conservation: Lab Methods course. During a March site visit, students met with the owner and obtained small samples of limestone, sandstone, mortar, plaster and nails for examination and testing in UT’s Architectural Conservation Laboratory. The report of their archival and laboratory research provides information about the composition and properties of original building materials that will be helpful in future efforts to preserve this remarkable 19th century structure.
The Vandeveer-Dorbandt House was included Preservation Texas’ 2014 list of Most Endangered Places.
Andrew Leith
Jessica Kulow
