Architectural Gilding on Carved Monument Letters

We finished some architectural gilding at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. We applied traditional gold leaf to carved monument letters. The photos below show two phases of a typical surface gilding project. From our shop in Edgewater, Maryland, we handle this kind of architectural gilding for monuments and buildings.

How Do You Put Gold Leaf onto a Rough Surface?

You don’t. First, we prepare the letters so the surface is smooth. A rough surface would be too difficult to work with, because gold leaf sheets are flat and very fragile. Laying them onto a rough surface would fail. Once the surface is ready, we apply an adhesive layer called size. When the size begins to set, we place the gold leaf carefully by hand.

The process takes time, so we can only finish a few letters at once. The job moves slowly, but that pace gives clean results.

With Architectural Gilding, Timing Is Everything

The timing of the gold leaf application is critical. First of all, if the size is too wet, the gold leaf will sink and crack. However, if the size is too dry, the gold leaf will not stick completely. In the photo above, you can see the difference between a finished gold leaf letter and a letter that has size but has not yet been gilded.

Monument Carving and Architectural Gilding

We can handle large blasting projects. However, not every project suits the style of work we do. If you have a blasting or gilding project that needs consideration, contact us. We may be able to advise you, or bid on the project if it is a good fit. Usually, we can bid by email. When it is time to proceed with an architectural gilding project, we make a site visit first so we can plan and complete the work properly.

Contact Designs & Signs

Ready for architectural gilding? Send us a message through our contact form, or call (410) 798-5115.