Historical homes require added attention that a recently constructed home doesn’t need. For example, homes built before 1870 did not use Portland cement as part of the mortar mix. What this means is that Portland cement is very hard and can easily crack the soft brick of a historical building.
Even with the careful restoration of a historical building, improper maintenance or prolonged exposure to weather or moisture can cause damage to the brick and mortar. Regular maintenance should be performed to eliminate leaks and deterioration. Historic home restoration in Philadelphia, PA includes:
* Installing masonry ties.
* Repointing mortar joints.
* Rebuilding deteriorated masonry and matching the brick.
* Replacing crumbed or spalled brick.
* Portland Cement
Although Portland cement is used is mortar for today’s buildings, it should never be used for historical restoration. The bricks that were made 100 years ago are soft and will be easily destroyed when the Portland cement hardens. The faces of the brick will crack, fall off, and turn into a powder because the mortar does not allow for expansion and contraction to take place.
Prohibits Breathing
Historical masonry is not waterproof and allows a building to take in moisture and let it back out. When Portland cement is used in a historical building, moisture will be trapped in the wall and call premature failure and damage of the brick. Moisture will also build up indoors during the winter and cause poor indoor air quality.
Removing Damaged Mortar
As part of a historic home restoration in Philadelphia, PA, the damaged mortar will have to be removed with a cold chisel and hammer. In certain situations, a saw can be used to remove whole bricks without causing damage to the surrounding ones. Mortar should be removed to a depth of two and a half times the width of the mortar.
Once the mortar is removed, the joint should be vacuumed out, and the area moistened. The joint shouldn’t be drenched, but the surface of old bricks will benefit from moisture being added to the surface.
A historical home will last for years to come and increase in value when it’s restored by an experienced restoration company. For more information, visit the website.
