It’s always best to work with a professional when you need to treat and restore historical brick buildings.
Many of us understand the significance of historical buildings. While modern designs may make for great places to live and work, historical brick buildings can be a great reminder of where we came from. While we all recognize the importance in preserving historical brick buildings, we may not realize the care and detail that goes into doing so.
If you’re dealing with historical brick buildings that are in need of some work to get back to their former glory, we have a few tips for you on how to treat and restore that brick to get the most out of it.
Identify Problem Areas
The first step to addressing any problem is to figure out what the problem really is. Take a look at the building and see if you can tell what’s actually damaged and what might become even more damaged if left unaddressed. Remember that the parts of historical brick buildings are interconnected and where one area may be already damaged, it could soon cause another area to become damaged as well. If you’re unsure of how to do this kind of inspection, hire a professional, particularly if you see cracks or flaking masonry. You also want to look for signs of water damage which ought to be addressed quickly.
Learn the History
This aspect of repairing historic brick buildings often goes underlooked: do your research. Gaining a clearer understanding of the building’s past will help you understand its current condition a bit better, as you might find out what renovations were made and when. You also want to do your best, while doing any repairs, to preserve what history you can and work with experts to maintain those necessary features.
Clean the Bricks
Cleaning bricks isn’t as easy as one might think, so if you’re unsure of how to do it, working with a professional is probably your best bet. Remember that damage can’t always be undone and that can be especially bad when dealing with historic buildings!
Pressure washing might be advisable for especially-dirty bricks, but for the most part, you want to be as gentle as possible. Test your cleaning methods and supplies on inconspicuous spots first.
Fix the Bricks
Again, this is a job best left to pros. Avoid filling in gaps with stucco or cement. You should also avoid modern solutions like water-repellent coatings, which may impact the historical look of the building and could even make the problem worse. Brick and mortar can be repaired via repointing, which a professional masonry company can help you with.
CONTACT DELPRETE MASONRY TODAY!
Whether you are ready to start your next masonry project or are still hesitant and have questions, DelPrete Masonry is here to help. We have the experience and expertise to get it right the first time. Questions? Want to visit some of our residential or commercial projects? Ready to set up a consultation? Feel free to give us a call at 410-683-0650 or visit us online. We are happy to serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and to keep up with our new and exciting projects, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.