Western Specialty Contractors finishes Dunbar School restoration in San Marcos

Western Specialty Contractors completed an exterior restoration of the Historic Dunbar School Home Economics Building in San Marcos, Texas, for the City of San Marcos. The project aimed to preserve the building’s historic look while improving weather resistance, durability and drainage.

Why it matters: - The restoration helps protect a government-owned historic building in San Marcos while keeping its original appearance intact. - The work improves weather resistance and long-term durability, which can reduce future repair needs for a historic structure.

What happened: - Western Specialty Contractors’ Austin branch completed an exterior restoration at the Historic Dunbar School Home Economics Building in San Marcos, Texas. - Western served as the prime contractor for the City of San Marcos. - The project began in November 2025 and was completed in January 2026. - Western finished the work within budget and to the satisfaction of the City of San Marcos.

The details: - Crews hand-removed damaged siding to avoid disturbing adjacent historic materials. - Western sourced matching clapboard siding for replacement areas. - The team milled custom wood trim to replicate an existing damaged profile. - On the roof, Western removed deteriorated roof metal and decking. - Crews installed an ice and water barrier and new galvalume roof panels. - Workers sealed roof seams to improve watertight performance and long-term protection. - Western restored exterior metal bars by sandblasting, priming and coating them before reinstalling them on the building’s interior. - Below the structure, the project included vapor barrier installation, rock placement and leveling, and rebuilding and reinforcing the skirt. - The below-grade work preserved the historic configuration while improving drainage and future access.

Between the lines: - The restoration balanced preservation goals with practical building-envelope upgrades. - Historic projects often require custom fabrication and careful material matching, which can raise complexity but protect architectural authenticity. - Western coordinated closely with historic preservation representatives employed by the City of San Marcos throughout the project.

What's next: - The restored building should have better protection against weather-related deterioration. - The city will maintain the structure with a refreshed exterior that better supports long-term preservation.

The bottom line: - Western’s work aimed to preserve the Dunbar School Home Economics Building’s historic character while making the structure more resilient for the future.