Restoring Masonry Buildings: A Comprehensive Guide to Preservation and Safety - Part Three

Nov 5

In Part One and Two of our three-part series, we discussed the importance of repairing masonry buildings, key considerations involving repairs, types of masonry deficiencies, and identifying damaged masonry. In Part Three of our in-depth guide, we’ll discuss how to prevent damage to masonry in buildings for better sustainability, which helps a building’s longevity.

Preventing Damage to Masonry:

1. Proper Joint Materials: Using the appropriate mortar and joint materials is necessary for durability and compatibility with the existing masonry.

2. Control and Expansion Joints: Provide control and expansion joints to allow for movement to reduce stress on the masonry.

3. Cracking: Immediately address any cracks to prevent water infiltration and further deterioration.

4. Remove Plant Growth: Vegetation can accelerate masonry decay, and it should be regularly removed to preserve the masonry.

5. Climate-Appropriate Joint Types: Select the appropriate joint types for the climate to prevent issues related to expansion and contraction.

Prioritizing Masonry Repairs:

The single most important aspect of preventing future deterioration of the stone, concrete, and brick exterior envelope is by way of closing off all routes for water infiltration. These water-proofing efforts should be well-planned and highly coordinated to ensure execution in the most efficient manner possible. This likely means performing repairs from the top down. Starting with the roof, parapet caps, roof & brick flashing, eventually moving down to the exterior envelope at the interface with the ground. If there are failures or deficiencies in any of the bricks/blocks, either in quantity or severity, in the exterior envelope, the façade will always be at risk of further damage and deterioration due to water infiltration, moisture migration, and freeze/thaw damage of bricks, blocks, and mortar joints.

If the masonry repairs seem daunting when taken as a whole, this work becomes a pill much easier to swallow when it is broken into a prioritized list of projects that can be planned and budgeted over several years. This can easily be accomplished by cataloging the masonry pieces and prioritizing their need for immediate or eventual repair, replacement, or cleaning to achieve and maintain a watertight building envelope.

Brick masonry restoration is a meticulous and skilled process requiring a deep understanding of both historical construction methods and modern building science. By carefully assessing, planning, and executing restoration projects, we can ensure the preservation of our architectural heritage while extending the lifespan of our buildings.