CoMo Preservation is looking to shine a light on downtown history through a project called “Brick & Mortar,” according to ABC17NEWS.
When a community starts telling stories about its older buildings, brick, block, and stone are usually at the center of it. Those walls are the streetscape people remember, and they are also the assemblies that need the most informed maintenance. For mason contractors, preservation-focused campaigns can lead to more calls for condition assessments, repointing scopes, and long-term plans that keep historic masonry performing.
If you get pulled into work tied to a local preservation push, a few field basics help keep expectations realistic. Start with a close visual survey and photo documentation of cracking, spalls, displaced units, and open head joints. Pay special attention to where water gets in, parapet caps, copings, window heads, and any areas where flashing or drip edges may be missing or failing. Most chronic masonry problems still start with bulk water and poor drainage paths.
Mortar selection and workmanship matter even more on older brickwork. Match the joint profile and tooling, and confirm the mortar is compatible with the existing units so the wall can move and shed water as intended. Cleaning should be conservative, too. Avoid aggressive methods that can damage the face of brick or drive water deeper into the wall.
There is also a business development angle contractors should not ignore. When local media covers preservation, it creates a short window where owners are paying attention. Contractors who can explain masonry problems in plain language, show photos, and offer a clear next step often become the ones reporters and building owners call back first.
Read the full, original article and watch the video from ABC17NEWS here.