Encyclopedia of Historic Masonry Restoration

Exploring stainless steel – Where fashion meets functionality Stainless steel, like steel and iron, is a ferrous metal, except in contrast, stainless steel has a proportion of chromium, which adds a resistance to oxidation. A picture of an outdoor uncovered stainless steel bench follows below.… Read More »Discover the Versatility of Stainless Steel | IDS-DMV Encyclopedia

What makes dome strainers essential for rooftop maintenance? Many of the buildings in Washington DC with commercial style flat roofs do not have internal drains. Instead, they have rear terminations which feed into guttering and downspout systems. However, flat roofs that are larger or wider… Read More »Dome Strainer for Rooftop Drainage | IDS-DMV

mansard dormer quoining Federal Italianate Romanesque Queen Anne Classical Revival   Cheek wall Pigeonhole wall joint  

Learn how drip edge enhances your roof’s lifespan – Expert insights Drip edges and flashings are impermeable or low-permeability materials, concentrically built to cover exposed areas susceptible to water entry. Fascia and rake boards terminate in a way to overlap the joints between the roof… Read More »Drip Edge | Essential Roofing Component | IDS-DMV

Efflorescence explained – Who’s at risk and how to prevent it Efflorescence is a chalky white-ish salt deposit left of the exposed face of masonry, concrete, and cementitious building assemblies. The following picture shows a painted brick screen wall with significant efflorescence. When a masonry… Read More »Efflorescence Guide | What Is It? | IDS-DMV

Discover the intricate craftsmanship behind egg and dart molding Egg and Dart is a architectural pattern common in the Washington DC historic neighborhoods such as Georgetown, Capitol Hill, and Dupont Circle. The pattern uses an oval and an interspersed vertical arrow between each circle. This… Read More »Egg and Dart: A Classic Architectural Detail | IDS-DMV

Explore the secrets of electrogalvanization and zinc for maximum impact The barnstar in the photo below is secured to the building’exterior brick facade using a threaded rod, washer, and a 3/4″ nut.  This hardware holds the star in tension to resist the lateral defection of… Read More »Electrogalvanization and Zinc: What You Need to Know | IDS-DMV

Exploring the craftsmanship behind English bond brickwork The English brick bond is extremely common in the United states. Here in Washington DC it is not the very most common of all brick bonds, but it is still ubiquitous and found throughout the historic areas of… Read More »English Bond Brickwork | IDS-DMV

Truncated dome paving traffic texturing – Where safety meets innovation Truncated dome paving traffic texturing is used as a tactile indicator.   The dome shape on the floor or ground paving adds resistance to prevent slipping and also is set approximately 1/4 inch above the adjacent… Read More »Enhance Safety with Truncated Dome Paving Traffic Texturing