Yin Yu Tang House

In the late 20th century, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem, Massachusetts, undertook the ambitious project of relocating the Yin Yu Tang house to the United States. The house was carefully dismantled, transported, and reassembled at the museum, where it opened to the public in 2003. This on-going project aims to preserve and share the rich cultural heritage of the Huang family and the Huizhou region with a broader audience.

From 2023-2024, Allegrone Co. and John G. Waite Associates, Architects (JGWA) completed a series of comprehensive evaluations 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.  Sequentially, various salt and moisture tests were conducted on mockups to establish repair protocols for the project. 

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 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.