Masonry restoration is a broad term used to refer to any work on masonry on a home or commercial property that is already standing.
Masonry restoration is a broad term used to refer to any work on masonry on a home or commercial property that is already standing. It can refer to minor repairs in the brick outside or major restoration work on a historical building. Repointing is one of the most essential parts of masonry restoration, but it isn’t the only thing that occurs. Today we’re talking about masonry restoration, and what it is and is not.
Masonry Restoration 101
As we said above, masonry restoration is the process of getting old or damaged masonry back into great condition. Repointing is one of the most common parts of the process. Repointing is removing some mortar from a joint and replacing it with new mortar. This is often only done once throughout the lifespan of a building. If done properly and maintained well, many buildings will never even need masonry restoration.
Building Types that Need Masonry Restoration
Many buildings in cities and towns appear like they are masonry, but in reality they have thin brick veneers on the outside. True masonry buildings are defined as structures where the floor and roof are supported by masonry. True masonry buildings are often on the older side and smaller in size. Unreinforced masonry buildings are less structurally sound, as they haven’t had any retrofitting done. Reinforced masonry buildings have typically had masonry restoration done and are safer to occupy.
While many buildings just have masonry veneers on the outside, they may still need masonry restoration to repair the mortar between bricks. In a masonry building, repointing helps to repair the structure of the building. In a building with a masonry veneer, it is mainly done for waterproofing purposes.
Using the Right Mortar
The right mortar makes all of the difference when it comes to masonry restoration. If you are working with a historic building and use the wrong mix of elements, it won’t match the existing mortar. Depending on the construction era of your building, the mortar used for your masonry restoration may be very common or quite unique.
Your Preferred Masonry Restoration Professional Is Del Prete Masonry
If you are ready to upgrade your home or commercial building with professional masonry installation or replacement, Del Prete Masonry has the experience and expertise to get the job done right for the right price. To explore our residential and commercial services and set up a consultation, please give us a call at 410-683-0650 or contact us online. We currently serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and get more updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.
Tags: Baltimore masonry, masonry contractor, masonry restoration