Restoring this museum took a tough team
Pensacola, Florida Gibson Pro Painting
Nestled in the heart of Pensacola’s Seville Historic District, the Museum of Industry stands as a monument to the city’s robust industrial past.
The museum is housed in the 1884 Cobb Warehouse, a building with its own historical significance originally constructed for the Pensacola Ice Company. Today, the museum offers visitors a detailed exploration of Pensacola’s economic development through industries that shaped its history, including fishing, lumber, and brick making.
“The Museum of Industry is more than just a building, it’s a vibrant hub for the Pensacola community,” said Roland GIbson, of Gibson Pro Painting, which – along with Bear General Contractors – was tasked with restoring the museum to its original glory.
The existing paint was in rough shape, peeling and flaking from years of weathering. So step one was thorough surface prep, with ample scraping and sanding. Gibson caulked all the joints to prevent moisture intrusion, and filled any nail holes with putty.
For the finish, Gibson applied two coats of high-quality paint to all the interior walls and ceilings. Steel columns outside required a durable Tnemec paint system, which involved sanding between coats. To wrap up, they applied two coats of stain to the porch decking to protect it from the elements.
All told, the project took about 2,000 hours for 15 crew members to complete. It wasn’t always a straight line.
“Honestly, the Museum of Industry project threw us a few curveballs!” Gibson said. “The weather was a constant concern. Pensacola summers can be brutal, with scorching heat and unexpected thunderstorms. We had to carefully plan our work schedule around the weather to ensure the paint cured properly and our team stayed safe.”
But it was more than worth it to be part of such an important institution, Gibson said.
“This building isn’t just a collection of artifacts, it’s a living testament to the ingenuity and spirit of our community. Knowing that our work will help preserve this landmark for future generations is incredibly rewarding.”
Industrial Strength Materials Used
- Sherwin Williams Loxon Primer
- Preprite Problock
- Sherwin Williams Duration
- Flood Stains
- Tnemec Steel Coatings
