Extruded Mortar Joints – Part II
Extruded Mortar Joints Washington DC This previous week, we looked at this particular construction with masonry that had an extruded mortar joint. This joint hasn’t
Extruded Mortar Joints – Part I
Extruded vs. Struck Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry – Part I At first glance, the extruded style mortar might look interesting. A couple of different
Learning from Other’s Masonry Mistakes – Part II
Historic Masonry Mistakes and Proper Repointing – Part II This past week we looked at examples of masonry that was built with poor quality. The
Learning from Other’s Masonry Mistakes – Part I
Common Masonry Mistakes in Historic Washington DC Buildings A lot of the things we look at here on our website are not just about the
Formstone Coverings over Historic Brick – Part II
Formstone Coverings Over Historic Brick in DC Town This past week we looked at examples of cementitious type formstone coverings applied directly on top of
Formstone Coverings over Historic Brick – Part I
Formstone is an interesting part of historic row home history here in DC. Formstone is a type of cementitious covering, not entirely different from stucco.
Concave Brick Mortar Joints
Concave Brick Mortar Joints vs Historic Flush Joints This past week we looked at a bunch of different relatively newly restored and refurbished brick mortar
Freshly Repointed Historic Brick – Part II
Repointed Historic Brick After Restoration in Washington DC This past week we looked at an area of freshly repointed historic brick. The brick is old
Freshly Repointed Historic Brick – Part I
Repointed Historic Brick Masonry and Mortar Compatibility Here on our website and in our blog we look at a handful of different parts of the
Open Asphalt Paving to Brick Wall Joint – Part II
Open Asphalt Paving to Brick Wall Joint Repair This past week, we looked at photographs of a historic brick masonry wall alongside an alleyway. The
Open Asphalt Paving to Brick Wall Joint – Part I
Asphalt Paving Adjacent to Historic Masonry – Part I In the past, we have looked at many of the different ways that historic brick buildings
Historic Building with Wood together in Masonry – Part III
We looked at a historic building over the past couple weeks. This building was built with elements similar to masonry interspersed with wooden elements like
Historic Building with Wood together in Masonry – Part II
Historic Buildings with Wood and Masonry: Traditional Methods This past week, we looked at a really old building that has some extremely interesting historic qualities.
Historic Building with Wood together in Masonry – Part I
Historic Building with Wood together in Masonry – Part I Today we’re looking at a really old historic building, built before almost all of the
Masonry Color Change from Chemical Weathering – Part II
This past week we got to take a look at a particular type of very thick sandstone used as a capstone in a retaining wall.
Masonry Color Change from Chemical Weathering – Part I
There are a handful of concepts that people understand about construction, even if they aren’t really trained or haven’t studied the principles of engineering or
Large Span Modern Brick Openings – Part II
Large Span Modern Brick Openings in DC Homes Last week, we looked at this large brick opening and we talked about how brick openings are
Large Span Modern Brick Openings – Part I
Large Span Modern Brick Openings: Structural Guide There’s nothing modern about the concept of door spans or window spans. Our understanding of the history of
Areaway Drains – Part II
Previously, we talked about areaway drains and how they are used and why they are needed, particularly at suppressed or below grade wells or paved
Plant Bags at Brick Recess – Part II
Plant Bags in Brick Recess – Part II This past week, we started looking at a series of photographs of a type of fabric used
Plant Bags at Brick Recess – Part I
Plant Growth and Moisture Damage at Brick Recesses Today we are looking at an interesting element that was added to a historic building. The particular
Concrete Shingles at Column Caps – Part II
Expert Concrete Shingles at Column Caps in Washington, DC This past week, we took a look at a particular set of fence posts, built with
Concrete Shingles at Column Caps – Part I
Concrete Shingles for Column Caps: Benefits, Design, and Installation Today we’re going to look at something that’s really interesting. It’s a “trompe l’oeil”. That is
Poorly Matching Brick Replacement
Mismatched Brick Replacement: Common Issues and How to Fix Them Once in a while, in the life of the old historic brick building, a brick