06/19/2026
🔍 TAKE A CLOSER LOOK! 🔍
This week we started another exciting project in historic downtown Dandridge!
This time, we’re working on the beautiful Hopewell Presbyterian Church, a congregation that was founded all the way back in 1785, making it one of the oldest churches in East Tennessee. The building that stands today was constructed in 1872 and has been a part of Dandridge history for well over 150 years.
At first glance, these windows may not look too bad when driving by, but when you take a closer look, you’ll find windows and shutters that are in desperate need of some TLC. In many areas, the paint is peeling and failing, the glazing is dried out and crumbling, and several panes of glass have been damaged over the years.
Our team has been hard at work carefully removing all loose, peeling, and failing paint, along with deteriorated glazing compound. We are also replacing broken glass panes with new glass to restore the windows while preserving their historic character.
Many people don’t realize how important proper glazing is to a window. Glazing is the putty-like material that seals the glass to the wood sash. It helps keep water from getting behind the glass, prevents insects from entering through gaps, improves energy efficiency by reducing air leaks, and helps hold the glass securely in place.
Before any glazing or reglazing can be performed, it is critical that the bare wood be properly primed. Unprimed wood will draw moisture and oils out of the glazing compound, causing it to dry out prematurely, crack, crumble, and ultimately fail. Proper priming helps ensure the new glazing bonds correctly and lasts for years to come.
We’re also replacing missing and damaged glazing points. These small metal fasteners play a big role by securely holding each pane of glass in place before glazing is applied. Without them, glass can shift, loosen, or even break over time.
Our task is not only to scrape, repair, and restore failing materials, but also to preserve the historic look and craftsmanship of these original windows. Once repairs are complete, we will be applying a high-quality exterior paint to the windows and shutters and re-staining the interior window surfaces.
Our goal is simple: make these windows and shutters shine again, protect them for years to come, and help preserve another important piece of Dandridge history.
Stay tuned as we continue our hard work and take a look at the progress down below!
To learn more about us or to request a free estimate click the link below.
Call: 865-310-6650
Website: www.semospainting.com
Email: [email protected]
Owner: Michael J. Seminetta, Jr.