What is the Craftwork Training Center?
The Craftwork Training Center, operating out of the historic Millhafen Farm, the headquarters of LimeWorks.us, is located at 3145 State Road, Telford, PA 18969. The training center offers hands-on, in-depth workshops covering a range of skills and trades including historic window restoration, plastering, gravestone preservation, mineral paints and stains, repointing brick and stone, and more.
Whether you are a team of masons, an upcoming tradesperson, or a historic homeowner looking to get your hands dirty and restore your buildings, our workshops offer the know-how to elevate your understanding of what materials, tools, and methods to use, when, where, and why.
What is our mission?
Our mission is to preserve both the traditional trades and the historic buildings, walls, bridges, and more that tell the story of our nation. While we offer plenty for seasoned tradespeople, we also aim to bring up the next generation to carry that legacy forward.
We honor the designs and traditions of yesteryear by instructing workshop attendees in the proper methods of historic preservation, masonry, and related trades, giving new life to old architecture. From an educational standpoint, we not only teach proper techniques and skills of a trade, but also go in depth into why certain materials are used and the purpose they serve. We don’t focus on basic patch repair or quick fixes—we focus on restoring historic masonry while honoring time-tested tradition.
Here’s why you should choose our workshops:
Our team is composed of experienced leaders in their respective trades, knowledgeable instructors who understand the nuance of their craft. We put great care and dedication into our workshops to ensure participants leave with strong, usable skills.
Our workshops are carefully curated to give you a solid foundation in traditional building and restoration methods.
Upcoming Workshops:
May 22nd – Stone Grave Marker & Monument Cleaning (FULL)
Hands-on training in the cleaning and conservation of historic stone grave markers and monuments using non-damaging preservation methods.
June 3rd-5th –Restoring Historic Wood Windows (Book Now!)
A hands-on workshop focused on the repair and restoration of historic wood windows, including sash mechanics and traditional conservation techniques.
June 12th – Repointing Special Joint Profiles (Book Now!)
Training in historic masonry repointing using lime mortar, with emphasis on matching and recreating traditional joint profiles and proper tooling techniques.
June 19th – Basic Plaster Wall Install(Plaster 1) (Book Now!)
An introductory hands-on workshop covering lime plaster wall systems, including surface preparation, scratch coats, and traditional plaster application techniques.
