35 Tips for Restoring Old Houses

The Old House Journal is celebrating it's 35th year and has compiled 35 Tips for Restoring Old Houses after drawing from their wealth of experience.

Here are their Masonry tips by Jacob Arndt, Preservation Consultant, Architectural Stone Carver

1. Know your maintenance cycles. Most buildings need tuckpointing maintenance every 50 to 60 years.
2. Match the mortar. New mortar should match as closely as possible in color, consistency, and elevation. Using too much Portland cement in the mix creates hard mortars, which can damage old buildings.
3. Never grind out joints. Only deteriorated mortar should be removed. If someone tells you otherwise, run.
4. Never use sealers. Sealers trap moisture, compounding problems during freeze/thaw cycles.
5. Replace in kind. Damaged masonry units should be replaced whole or via Dutchmen of the same material. Voids filled with putty don't last.

Click here for the rest of the list.

    November 10, 2008 | Comments ()