New Orleans Contractor Preserves Legacy Plaster in 'Benjamin Button' House Restoration

Jason Bertoniere LLC focuses on Level-5 finishing and plaster repair to honor historic craftsmanship while delivering modern drywall performance.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 5:34am

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In New Orleans, historic housing stock demands more than standard drywall production. Finish contractors must deliver high-level surface quality while preserving legacy plaster assemblies. That balance is central to the current restoration of the 'Benjamin Button' house by Jason Bertoniere LLC, a New Orleans-based firm specializing in high-end drywall finishing, decorative painting, and plaster repair.

Why it matters

The 'Benjamin Button' house carries architectural and cinematic relevance, having been featured in the 2008 film of the same name. While the film production introduced some exterior modifications and interior patching, the original plaster walls and ceilings remain largely intact, bringing age-related deterioration typical of Gulf Coast structures. Jason Bertoniere LLC's comprehensive restoration work highlights the challenges of honoring historic craftsmanship while delivering modern performance in legacy markets like New Orleans.

The details

Jason Bertoniere LLC is performing comprehensive drywall and plaster restoration, including stabilizing existing plaster substrates, repairing cracks, addressing moisture-damaged sections, and restoring decorative details. Rather than wholesale demolition, the team is anchoring loose plaster, consolidating weakened sections, and blending repairs to maintain continuity in texture and plane. Surface preparation has been central to the project's execution, with crews patching and skim coating to achieve a uniform substrate prior to coating application. The firm is also completing interior and exterior painting, using high-performance primers and premium topcoats to deliver durability in the humid climate while maintaining the home's historic character.

  • The Benjamin Button property was featured in the 2008 film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'.
  • The current restoration work by Jason Bertoniere LLC is ongoing in 2026.

The players

Jason Bertoniere LLC

A New Orleans-based firm specializing in high-end drywall finishing, decorative painting, and plaster repair.

Don Burt

Production Manager for the 2008 film 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'.

Yamila Bertoniere

President of Jason Bertoniere LLC, featured in this month's 'Women Who Build' feature.

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What they’re saying

“Indeed, it was some years ago and I am a bit uncertain as to what became of it after our filming. We really did not do any structural interior work to any of the existing walls outside of patching and painting and our work was restricted to the exterior and downstairs interior only.”

— Don Burt, Production Manager (wconline.com)

“We also did extensive work to the brick wall which at that time enclosed the property from an adjacent street.”

— Don Burt, Production Manager (wconline.com)

What’s next

The restoration work by Jason Bertoniere LLC is ongoing, with the team continuing to stabilize existing plaster, repair cracks, and restore decorative details to maintain the historic character of the Benjamin Button house.

The takeaway

This project highlights the challenges faced by finish contractors in legacy markets like New Orleans, where they must balance preserving historic craftsmanship with delivering modern drywall performance. Jason Bertoniere LLC's comprehensive approach to plaster restoration and surface preparation demonstrates the artisanal skills required to honor the original construction while meeting contemporary design and durability expectations.