Old houses are known for their many hand-crafted features, like hardwood floors, which give unique character to these buildings. These old floors, laid with the craft and materials of a previous time, have most likely seen lots of use. Restoring the worn, scratched and stained old floors is a favorite winter project. 

If your historic home in DC has brick steps that are crumbling, it’s time for repair. When these classic entryways were built, they were designed to last for decades. Bricks are very durable, but your steps and walkways will eventually need some kind of repair. You can maintain the original design and historic integrity if […]

In the historic neighborhoods of Washington DC, brick restoration and repair are essential for preserving the stately old buildings. Well-preserved brick and mortar protects the authenticity of the original architecture and boosts the property values of the homes. Traditional materials and techniques will maintain these brick facades for another generation.

Like most owners of historic homes, your renovation plans probably include matching as many of the authentic building parts – doors, flooring, fixtures, and millwork – as possible. It is possible to find reasonably priced, period materials by shopping the salvage market. 

Historic brick homes in DC are known for their unique and stately classic features. However, like the lovely but leaky original windows, many of these features are not as energy efficient as you would like. Fortunately, there are strategies to improve energy efficiency in historic brick homes without compromising their authenticity.

If you own one of the many historic brick rowhouses in the Washington DC neighborhoods, you are probably curious about who built your home and when. Thanks to the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS), a free resource is available to guide homeowners who want to research historic brick homes in DC.

The windows in historic DC brick homes are frequently an important element of the architectural integrity. Their design, craftsmanship, or other qualities may make them worthy of preservation. Although old windows can be a challenge to maintain and repair, there are many benefits to retaining existing windows.

Your gracious historic DC brick home is showing signs of brick and mortar deterioration, and the confirmed remedy is tuckpointing. You have hired a masonry contractor who specializes in historic brick restoration. The contract is signed and the permitting process completed. Here’s what to expect when your historic home becomes a tuckpointing worksite. 

Brick and masonry might be among the longest-lasting, most weatherproof building elements, but old brick buildings still require maintenance and repair. To ensure long-lasting structural integrity, homeowners should regularly check for water damage, conduct periodic cleaning, and have masonry joints repointed when necessary. 

Owners of historic DC brick homes have likely heard of tuckpointing. Also known as repointing, it is the process by which the facades of brick structures are restored and maintained. Even the most savvy owners of historic homes may not know the right way to handle upkeep of a historic building’s masonry.