It has been over 20 years since Yin Yu Tang was dismantled, transported from Southeastern China and re-erected at the Peabody Essex Museum.
Preserving a Chinese home in a New England climate
The home’s original location in the Huizhou region of Anhui Province has mild temperatures, wet summers and dry winters, similar to the climate of Virginia. Now, Yin Yu Tang endures the salty ocean air and colder temperatures that are typical of a New England winter. This climatic shift has impacted the performance of some of its construction materials.
Yin Yu Tang is a timber frame structure with masonry curtain walls. The original soft-fired bricks from China are laid on a section of original brownstone courses at the base of the building. The masonry curtain wall is coated with lime render, a material similar to plaster or stucco, and Keim®, a mineral-based paint that acts as a protective sealant.
Extensive damage to the brick and render coating on the East elevation of the annex. Photo by John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
The roof is a mixture of new and reused soft-fired clay tiles from China. All of the home’s building materials that could be salvaged were reincorporated when it was re-erected in Salem. They were supplemented with additional materials from Southeastern China and some Western construction materials.
How are Salem winters affecting Yin Yu Tang?
Over two decades, the constant expanding and contracting of the walls during freeze-thaw cycles has caused repeated stress to the masonry, producing cracks where water can enter. Like the materials in any 200-year-old home, many of the low-fired, porous bricks are weakening, along with the lime render surface. The clay roof tiles are also prone to occasional breakage during freeze-thaw cycles.
Extensive damage to the brick and render coating on the East elevation of the annex. Photo by John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
In 2022, John G. Waite Associates, Architects (JGWA) completed a comprehensive evaluation of the exterior structure of Yin Yu Tang to pinpoint the areas affected by water intrusion and analyze the resulting damage to the roof tiles and masonry walls. In 2023, JGWA and Allegrone Masonry conducted investigative probes and removed areas of render from the walls to examine the brick underneath.
This team of historic preservation experts began a series of tests and mockups to establish repair protocols for the project. They conducted salt and moisture tests on the render coating; tried numerous techniques to remove and apply render; tested cleaning products and procedures to reduce salt levels; installed new roof flashing (metal strips that redirect rainwater on a roof); and dismantled one horse-head wall to test new lead flashing at its base. From 2023 to 2024, JGWA and Allegrone monitored the mockups to evaluate the effectiveness of their methods and materials.
Architect Bill Brandow inspects roof tile samples at the Dreadnought Tiles factory in the UK. Photo by John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
Unsurprisingly, the side of Yin Yu Tang that faces the harbor shows the most weather damage. The East elevation of the building, along Charter Street, takes the brunt of the high winds, precipitation and salty air and requires the most preservation work to repair the render coating and the bricks. Moisture readings from the brickwork on the East side of the home were 80-90%, compared to only 30-40% on the South wall.
2025–2026 Preservation Work
Roof tile replacement
Previously, Yin Yu Tang’s roof was kept in good repair using “attic stock” — original materials left over from past work on the house. The stock of tiles has dwindled, and new roof tiles had to be sourced. The tiles that will be installed in the summer of 2025 were made by Dreadnought Tiles, a manufacturer of high-quality traditional clay tiles based in the U.K. Dreadnought worked directly from samples of Yin Yu Tang’s tiles to produce reproductions of 18th-century Chinese roof tiles in the right shapes and colors.
Architect Bill Brandow inspects roof tile samples at the Dreadnought Tiles factory in the UK. Photo by John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
The new tiles are more durable and resilient to freeze-thaw cycles and will require less annual maintenance. Approximately 47,200 tiles were produced to last through the current preservation project and future repairs. One slope of the roof will remain covered with the original Chinese roof tiles, and all original tiles will be salvaged to maintain this slope.
Horse-head walls and brick repairs
Yin Yu Tang’s 28 horse-head walls are a distinct feature of Huizhou architecture. These parapet-like, upward-curving extensions are designed to prevent fire from jumping from one building to the next. In the rural village of Huangcun, Yin Yu Tang’s original location, the buildings were densely packed to leave most of the land available for agriculture. Houses were heated with coal and open flames, so fire was a constant concern.
All the horse-head wall assemblies will be dismantled to install additional flashing for moisture prevention. A sheet of lead flashing will protect the flat area beneath each horse-head and prevent water from infiltrating the wall below. The walls will be reconstructed using specialty carved brick, also produced by Dreadnought.
New clay replica crown and drip tiles in production at the Dreadnought Tiles factory in the UK. Photo by John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
Render repairs
JGWA created a series of comprehensive drawings defining the level of repair required for each section of render. Based on their plans, masons will remove surface spalling (flaking and crumbling areas), remove stucco patches or replace the underlying brick. Stable areas of the walls will remain untouched.
New clay replica crown and drip tiles in production at the Dreadnought Tiles factory in the UK. Photo by John G. Waite Associates, Architects.
First, the exterior surface of the building will be chemically cleaned to remove salts and biological growth. Next, any failing render will be removed, maintaining straight, back-cut beveled edges to secure the new render patches. The bricks underneath will be repaired or replaced as necessary. Then, new render will be applied using a steel trowel and a rubber float to provide a more consistent coating. The surface will be lightly sanded with a high-grit sandpaper. Finally, once the render is completely dry, it will be sealed with a coating of Keim® mineral-based paint.
Mural painting
In China, the decorative painting of houses is undertaken by masons as the final flourish to the building. It is a skill passed down from one generation to another. During the re-erection in 2003, Yao Desheng, an accomplished mason from Anhui Province, painted the murals on the exterior of Yin Yu Tang and the images along the walls of the gallery ramp leading into the house. In 2026, he will be welcomed back to complete the mural painting on the exterior of the home.
Skylight refurbishment
Every November, PEM staff members install a removable skylight over Yin Yu Tang’s courtyard to mitigate cold temperatures and prevent snow and ice from reaching the interior of the house. This skylight, typically removed for the season in April, will undergo renovation to replace worn components. A new apron fabricated from synthetic rubber flaps and brushes will be added to act as a more solid barrier to birds and cold temperatures.
Stone thresholds
To improve visitor accessibility, the raised stone thresholds at the East and West entrances were engineered and modified to allow them to be raised and lowered. After 20 years, this system is being revamped with more efficient technology.
Follow the Peabody Essex Museum on social media @peabodyessex for updates about this exciting preservation process.