Do Not Paint Granite!
The latest Trump renovation project would violate a basic rule of building maintenance.
TL;DR
- President Trump wants to paint the granite Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB) white, believing it should match the White House.
- Historic preservationists have sued, arguing that painting granite damages the stone, requires costly maintenance, and detracts from the building's historical significance.
- A federal judge has temporarily blocked the White House from applying test paint patches to the EEOB.
- Experts dispute the claim that a special mineral-silicate paint can be used on granite without causing damage.
- Critics fear the Trump administration's attempt to bypass standard review processes for the EEOB project could set a dangerous precedent for future federal construction.
- The EEOB, built between 1871 and 1888, is a National Historic Landmark designed by Alfred Mullett.