3 Years and Over $2 Million: What It Costs to Restore a Frank Lloyd Wright Home
Sixty‑five years after his death, [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]’s homes remain coveted yet costly to maintain; Dwell spoke with owners and curators to map common problems and real restoration bills. From deferred‑maintenance overhauls like [[Still Bend]]—where the Ditmer brothers spent nearly $300,000 in year one to stabilize roofs, siding, brickwork, chimneys and balconies—to the Michigan duo who invested roughly $150,000 just to repair cement blocks on the [[Eppstein House]] (plus $50–70k for a new roof and ~$140k for HVAC/plumbing upgrades), owners report wide variance. Restoring wood and original fenestration, as at the [[Pratt House]] and [[Pew House]] (roughly $25k–$40k for doors, windows, and floors), adds up quickly. Major institutional projects like [[Samara]] can top $2 million, underscoring how materials, structural fixes, and stewardship goals drive wildly different price tags.