Sacred spaces are not ordinary buildings. They hold the memory of generations: arched ceilings, painted murals, ornate plasterwork, and surfaces that a congregation has gathered around for a century or more. When those surfaces need attention, the contractor you choose must understand what’s at stake — in craft, in history, and in the trust a congregation places in everyone who works within those walls.
H. J. Holtz & Son, Inc. has served Richmond-area houses of worship since 1936. We have restored century-old murals by hand. We have painted choir lofts 34 feet in the air. We have completed full sanctuary projects ahead of schedule, working around midday services, unscheduled funerals, and the ordinary rhythms of a congregation’s life.
This is not work most painters can do. It is work we have done at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Congregation Beth Ahabah, and St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, for institutions that trusted us with something irreplaceable.
Why Our Clients Choose H. J. Holtz & Son
- Experience with active worship spaces. We plan around your calendar, not ours. If services, funerals, weddings, and choir rehearsals can possibly continue while we work, we will make it so.
- Expertise in historic surfaces and mural restoration. Cracked plaster. Faded painted arches. Decorative ceilings that haven’t been touched since the 1920s. Our craftspeople have the training and the patience these surfaces require. We work with trusted preservation tradespeople when the scope demands it.
- Precision color matching on historic palettes. Historic paint colors are rarely documented and almost never available off the shelf. We develop custom samples, match to existing sections, and stay until it’s right, even when “right” is genuinely difficult to achieve.
- A track record Richmond trusts. We don’t ask you to take our word for it. We have named projects at named institutions, with clients you can call. We win competitive bids against out-of-state firms. Our references speak for themselves.
How We Work in Sacred Spaces
Before any brush touches a wall, we consult with your team. We want to understand your liturgical calendar, your congregation’s schedule, and the historical significance of every surface we’ll be working on. A mural donated in 1913 is not a wall. We approach it accordingly.
Our craftspeople are trained in scaffolding at height, specialized surface preparation, and the kind of careful, methodical work that high-visibility historic spaces demand. Where plaster repair or structural restoration is needed, we coordinate directly with qualified preservation tradespeople so that every phase of the project meets the same standard.
We keep your stakeholders informed. Facilities managers and board chairs will not be left wondering what is happening or when. Our project management team are reachable throughout the project. Our owner, Rick Holtz, remains personally involved in projects of this complexity. When we tell you a project will be done before your fall services begin, we mean it.
Our Services for Places of Worship
- Interior painting — walls, ceilings, trim, and ornate architectural details at any scale, including soaring vaulted spaces requiring scaffolding
- Mural restoration and conservation — historic painted artwork, decorative arch motifs, and painted ceiling panels
- Decorative finishes — gold leaf, faux finishes, stencil work, and color matching to historic palettes
- Exterior painting and façade restoration — highlighting architectural details, column painting, and historic masonry
- Plaster repair and surface restoration — in coordination with trusted preservation tradespeople
- Project scheduling designed around active congregation calendars
Our Work
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond, VA
The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is a Virginia Historic Landmark and a property on the National Register of Historic Places. An Italian Renaissance Revival church more than 100 years old, it is finished with rosettes, scrolls, and faux gold leaf throughout. H. J. Holtz & Son was selected through a competitive bid process to repaint the choir loft in preparation for the installation of a new pipe organ from Montreal.
The work required specialized scaffolding reaching 34 feet above the balcony floor, precise color matching to the existing sanctuary, and coordination around a full schedule of midday services and unscheduled funerals. We finished ahead of schedule.
“The Holtz team’s attention to detail was great. The colors were so hard to match, and they really worked hard to get them right. Even with interruptions, they still managed to finish ahead of schedule.” — John Marike, Facilities Manager, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Congregation Beth Ahabah, Richmond, VA
Congregation Beth Ahabah is Richmond’s oldest and largest synagogue. The proscenium arch mural, donated by the Ladies’ Auxiliary in 1913, spans 30 feet end to end and reaches 50 feet at its apex. H. J. Holtz & Son was selected after a competitive bid that included contractors from other states. We were the only Richmond firm in the process.
The restoration took eight weeks, completed during summer while the congregation worshiped in a smaller sanctuary. Our craftspeople repaired cracked plaster in partnership with Taylor & Son LLC, then repainted the mural using hand-made stencils and fine brushes to restore the crisp edge work on the leaf fronds and scroll designs. We also repainted the Goldburg Auditorium and the synagogue foyer.
“There are only a handful of companies who want to do and who can do this type of work. We now have a relationship with a local company with a skill set we need. We would not hesitate to use them again.” — Larry Salzman, Immediate Past President, Board of Managers, Congregation Beth Ahabah
St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, Richmond, VA
St. Elizabeth’s held its first mass on Christmas Day, 1925. When we were brought in to paint the front façade, the Corinthian columns and architectural details had been obscured for decades under a single drab gray.
We used three to four colors to restore the building’s original visual character, and painted the basement multipurpose room, the rectory interior, and the metal cabinets in the sacristy, some of which had not been painted since the 1920s.
“They had great ideas on how to do the work and they took the time to help. H. J. Holtz & Son brought a lot of life into the place, and people have recognized it.” — Rev. James Arsenault, Pastor, St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church
To discuss your project, call us at (804) 358-4109 or contact us online. Request your free, no-obligation estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you work around our service schedule?
Yes. That is a core part of how we plan every project in a house of worship. We work with your facilities team before the project begins to map your liturgical calendar, scheduled services, and any anticipated events. Our craftspeople have completed projects alongside midday services, weekend funerals, and choir rehearsals without disruption to the congregation.
How do you handle mural restoration in historic sanctuaries?
We begin with a thorough assessment of the surface condition: cracked plaster, paint adhesion, color fading, and any areas of structural concern. Where plaster repair is needed before painting can begin, we coordinate with qualified preservation tradespeople. Our craftspeople use hand-made stencils, fine brushes, and careful custom color matching to restore the original artwork. We do not rush this work.
Do you have experience with high ceilings and scaffolding?
We do. Our craftspeople have worked at heights of 34 feet and above, including the choir loft at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. We design our scaffolding approach around the specific architecture of each space.
How do you match colors on historic painted surfaces?
Historic colors are rarely documented and seldom available as a commercial paint match. We develop custom samples, compare them against existing painted sections in various lighting conditions, and refine until the match is accurate. John Marike at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart noted that the colors were “so hard to match” and that we “really worked hard to get them right.”
Do you serve congregations outside Richmond?
H. J. Holtz & Son serves Central Virginia, including Richmond, Charlottesville, and surrounding communities. Contact us to discuss your location.
We have served Richmond’s sacred spaces since 1936. We would be honored to serve yours. To discuss your project, call us at (804) 358-4109 or contact us online. Request your free, no-obligation estimate.