Critical Signs of Rotting Wood at Apertures in Masonry Facades – Part 1
Today we are starting a new blog article here on our website that’s going to be part one of a two-part series. In this article, we’re going to take a look at a historic building where the original historic facade was more recently clad with a stone tile type covering.
It’s rare, but not unheard of, to cover a brick building with a tile, stone, or stucco cladding. It’s an interesting choice or decision because this type of cladding doesn’t help much, in any functional way. The aesthetics are questionable. It’s hard to imagine why someone might prefer the aesthetics of this type of facade. Stone built buildings, like the historic brownstones, for example, are beautiful. However there is a marked difference in the aesthetics of a stone tile, compared to an actual stone masonry built building.
From a functional perspective it could be argued that this extra covering provides an extra layer of defense from the exterior to the original facade of the building. However, a brick built exterior facade is both a structural partition and a suitable exterior barrier. The tile adds little though, in the way of waterproofing.
The picture below shows, if you’re looking downwards from above towards the bottom of a window opening where you can see the tile at the sill around the muntin between the double window. This particular window, in the associated window frame is similar to the original windows, installed at almost all of the historic typical row homes here in Washington DC. Although it is similar, as this modern type of replacement and the original were made for wood, there are differences which we will show below.
In various parts along with the masonry still and the wooden muntin and the remaining parts of the frame, there are signs of deterioration from exposure to water in the elements over years. Although we say that this is a modern or contemporary type of construction, it is not new. In many cases the DC building code requires that, specifically in historic areas and particular areas deemed or designated under specific covenants, that windows are replace with certain material types, not all are required to have wood exposed at the exterior of the wall. In some cases aluminum framing may be used as an alternative cladding on the exterior, even when the window frame is made from wood construction.
The picture below shows there are multiple different types and areas of deterioration. There is cracking around the joints of the different pieces of the muntin and stile at the frame or side of the opening. Also, there are several layers of the delamination. Oddly, when the frame was painted in previous iterations, they used a pink or red type paint. You can still see that paint extends out onto the surface of the stone sill at the lower part of the opening. You can also see as well that the white paint, where delaminated from the surface of the wood trim, was actually applied after the red paint.
You can see portions of that red or pink paint exposed out underneath where the surface or more exterior layers partially remain. Some people prefer bright and fluorescent type colors on the facades of buildings, but none of those colors were actually accurate for original to the historic construction. Reds were common because the iron elements in brickwork and the source clay became relatively bright and pronounced in the firing process. Whites and browns and even some earthtones were also relatively common in different types of stone and millwork.
We can Help
Our company focuses on historic restoration more than modern building upkeep, maintenance, and construction, but our company understands both types of construction very well and a full picture well-rounded approach is needed in any niche in the construction industry. Although we focus on historic restoration, repointing, tuckpointing and historic brick repair, our company also has technical knowledge and competencies in the areas of modern and contemporary construction as well as we become one of the leaders in that area of the market today. Understanding both historic and modern or contemporary construction is useful because both aspects help understand the challenges and potential solutions for challenges in building science and construction.
We can help with a variety of historic masonry restoration needs and upkeep, from modest tuckpointing and or repointing to complicated and extensive historic masonry restoration. Infinity Design Solutions is a historic restoration specialist contractor specializing in both historic masonry restoration such as tuckpointing our repointing, and brick repair. If you have questions about the architectural details or facade of your historic building in Washington DC, reach out and say hello and if we can help we’ll be glad to assist you. You can email us or call us on the telephone at the following link: contact us here.
