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The Iowa Department of Administrative Services is seeking contractors for the exterior building renovations and foundation waterproofing at the American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa.
The house, built between 1881 and 1882, served as the backdrop for Grant Wood’s famous 1930 painting, American Gothic. The house is now a popular tourist attraction and remains in its original location, adjacent to the American Gothic House Center, a museum that showcases Wood’s life and the history of the home.
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Images: Iowa Department of Administrative Services |
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The Iowa Department of Administrative Services is seeking contractors for the exterior building renovations and foundation waterproofing at the American Gothic House in Eldon, Iowa.
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Bids are due for this project by April 24.
Scope of the Painting Work
Renovation of the historic house will require painting exterior wood and metal roof surfaces. The house is constructed almost entirely of wood surfaces, including sheathing over wood frames, batten siding and internal shiplap siding, aside from the metal roof.
The awarded contractor will be responsible for the scraping and recoating of all loose and peeling areas of paint on the exterior siding, metal roof and wooden porch with a paint system that matches the pre-existing. Any deteriorated wood surfaces are to receive an epoxy wood filler as well as a liberal use of epoxy wood penetrants when necessary.
In addition to the exterior renovations, the interior basement walls are also in need of recoating to match the pre-existing paint system. The contractor will be required to apply a new foundation waterproofing and drainage system in the basement as well.
Repair solutions are expected to meet Iowa Historic Preservation requirements. The Secretary of Interior’s Preservation Standards are to be followed by the four approaches: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction. All deteriorated or damaged properties of the house will be reconstructed based on accurate duplication of historic features that are sustained by physical evidence. If any feature is beyond repair, new materials will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence so that no false sensory of history is present.
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The awarded contractor will be responsible for the scraping and recoating of all loose and peeling areas of paint on the exterior siding, metal roof and wooden porch with a paint system that matches the pre-existing. Any deteriorated wood surfaces are to receive an epoxy wood filler as well as a liberal use of epoxy wood penetrants when necessary.
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The house was last renovated in 1992, when the basement was remodeled.
History of the House, Artwork
The architecture of the farmhouse, formally known as Carpenter Gothic, inspired Wood while he was visiting the town and it spurred the famous painting, which features a man and woman standing in front of the house with a pitchfork.
According to the Art Institute of Chicago, Wood is quoted to say: “I imagined American Gothic people with their faces stretched out long to go with this American Gothic house.” The models for the painting were based on his sister and dentist, inspired by old family tintype photographs.
The National Register of Historic Places added the house, also known as the “Dibble House,” named after its original owner Charles Dibble, to its historic landmarks list in 1974.
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