Traditional Masonry Archives

Qualified Masons for Historic
Masonry Restoration

One of the biggest challenges property owners face when considering masonry repairs on their homes and buildings is, "Who can I trust to carry out the work." So many people have been burnt by companies not qualified to work on historic masonry. Many property owners find out later, sometimes five years later that the material and techniques the mason used on their property is now beginning to cause irreversible damage to the brick.

The outcry for qualified masons is a nationwide challenge. Many people are relieved to learn that U.S. Heritage Group, a Chicago-based company can assist them with matching their mortar but the very next question is, "Can you recommend a mason that can repoint my property?" Mason contractors are simply not up to speed with the reintroduction of traditional materials once used for mortar, stucco and plaster, specifically lime putty. The difference between what masons use today and what they used 125 years ago is startling to say the least.

Not only the materials but the application of the traditional materials plays such an important role in the overall success of the project that a small refresher course is needed to make sure essential application steps are not skipped. Masons have no where to turn for this training which needs to be hands on. Historical mortar made from lime putty and sand was the dominant mix for many centuries With out cement, limes mortars set slower and produces a much more breathable material, which is far more beneficial in old masonry especially if the walls are thick.

Knowing the differences between lime mortars and cement based mortars is essential in masonry restoration repairs. Reports of masons contractors, even those who have been in the restoration business for many years, having trouble answering the simplest questions about historic lime mortars from their potential clients is becoming more and more common. For years mason contractors have enjoyed being the most knowledgeable person on the site when giving an estimate, However times are changing.

Today, contractors are caught off guard when asked, "So what kind of mortar formulation are you going to use to repoint my property?" Masons look confused and begin a defensive answer which generally starts with, "What do you mean? the same formulation that I used on the last house, which is the same mortar I've been using for the past 25 years!" This is where the contractors lose every time. Contractors need to wake up and smell the coffee and know that property owners are much more sophisticated now than in the past thanks to the Internet. Just type in the keywords; mortar, repointing and historic masonry in any search engine and you will see what I mean.

In a response to this need USHG has developed a unique certification program. Designed to weed out the good from the bad, this program assists property owners and architects in pre-qualifying mason contracting companies. The program requires contracting companies to commit to continuing education of their masons in traditional materials, history of the industry and submit a quality assurance program with checks and balances to deliver the highest quality workmanship possible. Today much of the masonry work is subcontracted out to other companies that work under the company the owners originally hired. This typically is not a problem but in either case, subcontracted or not, the owner of the property deserves the right to know if the mason performing the work is qualified to do so. Companies are certified after they meet qualifications, which are set forth by the member companies, a review committee and an international consultant board.

Marion, Inc., a Chicago-based masonry restoration company, was the first company to meet the qualification of the program. The company has already committed to the continuing education requirement by training 12 masons, estimators and foreman in traditional masonry techniques and materials. The requirement of training at least 25% of the masons on the payroll has been meet. Marion typically employs 45 masons in the peak season, requiring them to train 12 people.

Marion has been in business for 20 years with an annual sales volume of 3.5 million dollars. The company has goals of becoming the leader in historical masonry in the Chicago area, "Becoming part of the Qualified Heritage Contractor program will play an important part in meeting our company goals for 1999," according to Al Christopher, chief estimator for the firm. "We see our involvement in this program as a pivotal point for our clients in deciding who will be awarded the contract for masonry services. We consider being certified as a Qualified Heritage Contractor the most important aspect of our marketing efforts. We worked hard to attain the certification status in 1998 and look forward to receiving benefits from the program in 1999."

Under the USHG program Marion will be licensed to use the US Heritage Group logo on their letterhead business cards and trucks. Most important to Marion are the calls coming into USHG for referrals. Now Marion can be recommended by USHG as a qualified contractor to interested property owners looking for bid proposals because of their commitment to traditional materials and techniques in restoring and preserving historic masonry. USHG never intended to be involved at this level in assisting people with contractor selection but it proved to be a significant area that if left unattended would jeopardize the integrity of the firm to help preserve America's historic masonry.

TM