So much for the anti-aging, anti-oxidant propaganda.  It turns out that good ‘ol yogurt has the power to make the sturdiest facade look ancient.

It’s true! Designers of the renovated balustrade were puzzling through how to make the newly cut limestone columns match their eighty-year-old counterparts.  While the shape and size of the new columns was spot-on, age had stained the original stone with a rich patina.  The youthful additions were considerably paler.

Given the fact that yogurt has been widely used to encourage mossy growth on rock, it seemed reasonable to test its effect on the surfaces of the fresh limestone forms.

In fact, a little grocery-store yogurt and a little time did give the columns a less-youthful appearance.  Although this dairy experiment was a success, the design team ultimately favored a more controlled approach: blending the effect of two conventional construction stains to create a textured, natural looking patina.

An original, renovated portion of the balustrade.

A brand new addition to the balustrade - aged to perfection.

The results were so good, even the pros are hard-pressed to tell the difference. Can you?

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