Historic Brick Masonry Restoration Guide

Keeping up historic buildings that have been around for 50 years or more while also preserving their integrity is no small task. The art of such restoration methods entails extensive modifications and upgrades to bring an old building up to code and also tailor it to modern-day life and homeowner needs. Here’s a breakdown of what goes into a historic masonry restoration and common issues to look for that might call for one. 

What Is Historic Masonry?

Stone, brick, terra cotta, concrete block, cast stone, and mortar form the basis for many historic homes and are often utilized solely as the foundations for these traditional structures. You’ll also find that many older buildings are constructed entirely of brick and mortar, making it a challenge for the average DIYer to renovate and maintain because the heavy lifting and manipulation of these masonry materials is hard work.

What Does a Historic Masonry Restoration Entail?

If you’re considering taking on a masonry repair project, it’s important to evaluate a few factors that can impact the project's costs and scope. Here are a few things to check as you proceed. 

Repairing Cracks in the Brick

If there are large-scale breaks in the brick that appear to follow the grout lines along a vertical plane, it’s possible that you have structural issues that might involve extensive and costly repairs before you even begin to do the repairs to the masonry itself. A local structural engineer will be able to evaluate the situation. 

Also, note that there’s a distinct difference between what a historic preservationist would consider historic brick versus simply old brick that doesn’t have any actual historical value. An expert will be able to evaluate its merit and whether you should pay for a full restoration of historic masonry, versus a less costly replacement with a comparable, modern product. 

Addressing Moisture Issues

A common failure point in homes, particularly with historic masonry like brick, is the long-term intrusion of water into the substrate. Older bricks have a tendency to break down back to their clay component parts if they’re left in a constantly moist situation. Foundations made of brick that both meet the soil directly and are in a wet area of the landscape are especially susceptible to this wicking effect. You need to replace bricks once they’ve deteriorated to this level.

Evaluating Paint Condition

Painting older brick is often the best way to preserve the integrity of a building. However, if the finish on the structure has not been maintained properly over the years, there will be problems. 

If the building was painted before 1978, lead paint is a concern. You’ll also want to look for paint with bubbling and efflorescence. This condition indicates an excessive moisture buildup, which comes from the soil as the brick and mortar leach minerals from the ground. Correct the underlying issue of water along the foundation of your home before you scrape, clean, prime, and repaint historic masonry. 

Matching Old Material

You’ll likely run into trouble finding newer products that match the originals since they have long been replaced. Decades prior, brick manufacturing plants were never standardized for color or ingredients since they used locally available and suitable clay. While you might get close to the original by researching reclamation companies that specialize in this problem, it’s likely that there will still be a noticeable difference between your historic masonry and the repair.

Can You DIY Restore Historic Brick?

Restoring historic brick is not a DIY task. It may seem like a simple cosmetic fix you can do yourself, like repairing damaged drywall, but old brick is fragile. Using the wrong tools, mortar, or cleaning agents can cause irreversible damage to not just the appearance of the building but the integrity of the structure. 

Hiring a professional ensures that the correct materials and techniques are used to preserve the historic bricks and fix existing damage safely and effectively. 

How Much Does Masonry Repair Cost?

Like many home renovation projects, the cost of historic masonry restoration is highly variable depending on the conditions of the deterioration. Brick repair costs $1,650 on average and typically ranges anywhere from $20 to $40 per square foot, depending on the level of damage and repairs required. If you’re working with a sagging building that clearly isn’t level, you’ll spend much more money on the project than if you simply have a couple of loose bricks or a seam crack that needs fresh mortar pointing. 

Who Do You Hire for a Historic Masonry Restoration?

Matching and repairing brick or masonry on an old building—and making it look good in the process—is an art form. While you might get lucky and find a regular masonry company that can accomplish the task of revitalizing your historic home, as this type of work is fairly specialized, you’ll want to set aside a budget to hire a masonry contractor and have them restore the historic building back to its former glory. 

As with any project of this nature, you’ll want to take a look at a contractor’s previous work and have clear lines of communication open with them about your expectations. Structural issues can trigger the necessity of an engineer, as well, so you might need to hire multiple trades to do the job right. 

What Are the Different Types of Stone Masonry?

The most common type of masonry is a system of brick and mortar that is layered up to build a foundation or entire building. Depending on the age of your structure or the location, you might encounter limestone rock, which was fairly easy to cut back in the day, while some more esoteric buildings will have been built out of whatever local stone was available at the time. 

In any case, the individual pieces will be bound together with a lime mortar that will break down faster than the rock or brick. Paying special attention to this portion of the masonry often fixes a lot of issues like paint failure, moisture intrusion inside the building, or overall sagging of the home.