A stronger mortar is not automatically a better mortar. In fact, on a historic brick wall, choosing the harder material can put the original brick at greater risk. The mortar and brick were meant to work together, and the wrong combination can shift the wear onto the very masonry you are trying to preserve. For […]
Spalling Brick in Washington DC: Causes and What To Do
Spalling brick in Washington DC is one of the most common brick problems we see, and one of the most misunderstood. When a brick face starts flaking, chipping, or crumbling, it is easy to assume the brick itself is the problem. On an older building, though, that damage can point to moisture, mortar deterioration, or […]
Brick Repair Cost in Washington DC: What to Expect
See a cracked or crumbling brick on your DC rowhouse? Naturally, the next question is, “How much is this going to cost?” The answer to brick repair cost in Washington DC depends on more than counting damaged bricks. Matching the existing masonry, accessing the repair area, addressing surrounding mortar, and defining the full extent of […]
Brick Repair & Historic Masonry Restoration in Washington DC
Searching for brick repair in Washington, DC usually starts with a visible problem. You might notice loose bricks, crumbling mortar, cracks, or pieces of brick collecting below an exterior wall. While those signs are easy to spot, deciding how to repair them is not always as straightforward. Brick repair and historic masonry restoration are closely […]
Tuckpointing vs. Repointing: What DC Homeowners Should Know
Homeowners researching tuckpointing vs repointing while planning brick repair in Washington, DC, quickly notice that some contractors use one term over the other. The difference in wording has led to plenty of unnecessary confusion, especially when both appear to describe the same type of masonry repair. In American masonry, they generally do. After more than […]
Tuckpointing Cost in Washington, DC: Factors That Affect Your Estimate
How much does tuckpointing cost in Washington, DC? It is one of the first questions homeowners ask, and the answer depends on the property. Historic masonry repairs vary according to the building’s condition, repair area, access, materials, and related masonry work. This article focuses specifically on the factors that affect tuckpointing cost. If you are […]
Signs Your Washington, DC Rowhouse Needs Tuckpointing
Washington is known for its extensive collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century brick rowhouses. Although architectural details vary across the city, these buildings share an important characteristic. The mortar binding the masonry together has a shorter service life than the brick itself. That is not a defect; it is how traditional masonry was intended to […]
