When you start unpacking wreaths and lights for the holidays, your first thought is probably how to make your home look warm and welcoming. If you live in a historic D.C. rowhouse, you may also wonder how to decorate without harming the brick that has been part of your home for centuries. Old masonry reacts […]
Prepare the Fireplace for Winter Gatherings in Your Historic D.C. Home
When the temperature drops and the scent of wood smoke fills the air, few things feel more inviting than a fire crackling inside a historic D.C. home. Before you strike that first match of the season, though, it’s wise to take a closer look at your fireplace. Months of humidity, rain, and temperature swings can […]
Repair Your Historic Home’s Brickwork Before Holiday Guests Arrive
As the holidays approach, you’re probably thinking about stringing lights, hanging wreaths, and tidying up your home for guests. Before you start decorating for the holidays, though, take a moment to look a little closer at the brick and mortar that hold your home together. The same walls and walkways that have been proudly standing […]
How Interior Tuckpointing Can Warm Your Historic DC Home Before Winter
As the temperatures start to drop, there’s nothing like the comfort of a warm, inviting home. If you live in one of D.C.’s historic rowhouses or townhomes, your exposed brick walls add charm and character, but they may need attention before winter arrives. Interior tuckpointing is an easy way to preserve the beauty of your […]
The Importance of Fall Masonry Inspections for Historic Homes in DC
As the air cools and leaves begin to fall, Washington D.C. homeowners know it’s time to prepare for winter. You may be focused on your yard, but don’t overlook the brickwork! A professional fall masonry inspection is one of the most important steps you can take to spot minor problems early and avoid major […]
Preserving Historic Masonry: Essential Pre-Winter Chimney Maintenance
As you’re raking leaves and cleaning gutters this fall, it’s easy to overlook the highest point of your historic D.C. home: the chimney. But after a summer of rain and humidity, this exposed brickwork is often the first place winter finds a way in. A quick chimney inspection now can prevent costly water damage and […]
Autumn Maintenance: Clearing Leaves from Gutters in a Historic Home
When autumn settles over Washington, D.C., the city’s historic neighborhoods fill with color. It’s a beautiful season, but those falling leaves can create real problems for homeowners. If your home’s gutters are packed with leaves and debris, rainwater has nowhere to go. Instead of flowing safely through downspouts, it spills over the edges and runs […]
Autumn’s Impact on Historic Masonry: Sound Advice for D.C. Homeowners
When the air starts to cool and leaves begin to scatter across Washington, D.C., you’re likely to be focused on raking, cleaning gutters, and readying your landscaping for winter. What you may not be thinking about when you put together your fall home maintenance to-do list, though, is the brickwork holding up your historic home […]
Common Signs of Masonry Deterioration as Summer Draws to a Close in DC
As summer winds down in Washington, D.C., homeowners often begin preparing their historic properties for cooler weather. While attention usually goes to gardens and gutters, the condition of brickwork is just as important. Heat, humidity, and storms leave their mark on older masonry, and minor problems now can turn into major repairs by winter. Knowing […]
Why Autumn is Ideal for Masonry Repairs in Historic D.C. Neighborhoods
Living in a historic D.C. home means being a steward of its story. But after a long, humid summer, you might notice that story starting to fray in the details; a crumbling mortar joint on the front stoop or a new crack in the garden wall. Before winter arrives, autumn offers the perfect window to […]