New photos reveal completed White House renovations

Donald Trump reportedly called the White House ‘a real dump’ this summer – that’s a claim he later denied, but either way he’d be hard pressed to make such a remark now that a two-week-long renovation has wrapped up.

As seen in these photos, the exterior of the building, along with the Oval Office, Roosevelt Room and other areas of the West Wing have been given an overhaul.

But the real work went on beneath the building’s floors and in its walls, as the ailing HVAC system was replaced, the heating system upgraded and IT infrastructure given a boost.

Despite the considerable work performed on the building, however, it’s now a shining white as ever – and ready for the president to get back behind the Resolute Desk.

 

Renovated: The White house was looking as shiny and new as it ever did on Tuesday as a two-week renovation on the exterior and interoir of the building wrapped up

Back in action: The Oval Office was open for business once more. All of the furniture had been removed for the renovation, which had involved - in part - replacing the building's ailing HVAC system

Back in action: The Oval Office was open for business once more. All of the furniture had been removed for the renovation, which had involved – in part – replacing the building’s ailing HVAC system

Seal of approval: The presidential seal can be seen here on the ceiling of the Oval Office on Tuesday. Although the building's HVAC system installed just 27 years ago, it had been in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year since then

Seal of approval: The presidential seal can be seen here on the ceiling of the Oval Office on Tuesday. Although the building’s HVAC system installed just 27 years ago, it had been in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year since then

Problem resolved: The Resolute Desk is seen ready to welcome back Donald Trump on Tuesday. Because it had been running constantly for 27 years, the HVAC system's  age was estimated to be more like 81 years of conventional use

Problem resolved: The Resolute Desk is seen ready to welcome back Donald Trump on Tuesday. Because it had been running constantly for 27 years, the HVAC system’s age was estimated to be more like 81 years of conventional use

They've got it covered: New wallpaper is seen covering the walls of the Oval Office - one of the aesthetic changes to the largely practical changes that have been made

They’ve got it covered: New wallpaper is seen covering the walls of the Oval Office – one of the aesthetic changes to the largely practical changes that have been made

A light touch: An eagle chandelier is seen outside the Oval Office on Wednesday. The fixtures in the building have largely remained the same, but wallpaper has been changed and new coats of paint laid down

A light touch: An eagle chandelier is seen outside the Oval Office on Wednesday. The fixtures in the building have largely remained the same, but wallpaper has been changed and new coats of paint laid down

Teddy boy's room: The Roosevelt Room (pictured) has also undergone renovation - although the pictures, including the portrait of Roosevelt on the right and the landscape picture have remained

Teddy boy’s room: The Roosevelt Room (pictured) has also undergone renovation – although the pictures, including the portrait of Roosevelt on the right and the landscape picture have remained

Gone to ground: One of the major changes in here was swapping the beige, flat-colored Obama-era carpet for one with a more detailed design

Gone to ground: One of the major changes in here was swapping the beige, flat-colored Obama-era carpet for one with a more detailed design

Flags of our  fathers: The flags on display in the room have not changed, however; neither has the sofa that can be seen on the far-left-hand side

Flags of our fathers: The flags on display in the room have not changed, however; neither has the sofa that can be seen on the far-left-hand side

Nicely polished: A detail of the table from the Roosevelt room, showing flip-up sections through which power cables can be passed. The White House has also had an IT upgrade, along with the HVAC replacement

Nicely polished: A detail of the table from the Roosevelt room, showing flip-up sections through which power cables can be passed. The White House has also had an IT upgrade, along with the HVAC replacement

Profile of a president: This charming picture of Roosevelt has also remained - appropriately - in the Roosevelt Room

Profile of a president: This charming picture of Roosevelt has also remained – appropriately – in the Roosevelt Room

Winging it: The West Wing's lobby also has the Roosevelt Room carpet running through it 

Winging it: The West Wing’s lobby also has the Roosevelt Room carpet running through it 

Among the work carried out on the building was re-carpeting the West Wing’s lobby and the Roosevelt Room, and changing the wallpaper in the Oval Office.

The IT equipment was also being upgraded.

But the biggest job appeared to be the replacement of the White House’s heating and AC equipment.

During a mid-renovation visit on August 11, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told reporters: ‘The HVAC systems are 27 years old, but due to the 24/7, 365-day use a year, the estimated age of the system based off of usage is 81 years old.’

According to Walters, the South Portico steps on the South Lawn are also getting fixed, the first restoration in 64 years.

Trump allegedly made the remark about the White House being a ‘dump’ to patrons at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, in July.

However, in August he denied that claim, saying on Twitter: ‘I love the White House, one of the most beautiful buildings (homes) I have ever seen. But Fake News said I called it a dump – TOTALLY UNTRUE. 

Welcome to the White House: The West Wing's looby is seen in this wider, post-renovation shot on Tuesday

Welcome to the White House: The West Wing’s looby is seen in this wider, post-renovation shot on Tuesday

Tray chic: A ray engraved with the presidential seal is placed on a stand in the West Wing lobby on Tuesday

Tray chic: A ray engraved with the presidential seal is placed on a stand in the West Wing lobby on Tuesday

Stepping up: The South Portico porch stairs on the south lawn have received their first restoration in 64 years. They were still being touched up as of Tuesday

Stepping up: The South Portico porch stairs on the south lawn have received their first restoration in 64 years. They were still being touched up as of Tuesday

Step away: Yellow barrels block off the South Portico steps after painters get to work there

Step away: Yellow barrels block off the South Portico steps after painters get to work there

White washing - the good kind: A US Park Service employee paints the White House during the renovation on Tuesday

White washing – the good kind: A US Park Service employee paints the White House during the renovation on Tuesday

Craning up: A pair of cranes are seen on the South Lawn on August 11, as renovations were underway

Craning up: A pair of cranes are seen on the South Lawn on August 11, as renovations were underway

Chipping away: Workers break off the old steps on the South Portico to apply new ones on August 11

Chipping away: Workers break off the old steps on the South Portico to apply new ones on August 11

Emptied out: The Oval Office is emptied of almost everything on August 11, ahead of renovation work; note the two cables poking out of the floor

Emptied out: The Oval Office is emptied of almost everything on August 11, ahead of renovation work; note the two cables poking out of the floor

No more room: The Roosevelt Room acts as a temporary tool, supply and materials storage space during rennovation work on August 11

No more room: The Roosevelt Room acts as a temporary tool, supply and materials storage space during rennovation work on August 11

Cutting a rug: Workers cut new carpeting for the interior of the White House on the driveway outside the White House's West Wing on August 11

Cutting a rug: Workers cut new carpeting for the interior of the White House on the driveway outside the White House’s West Wing on August 11

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