HomeMy WebLinkAbout24-D002 405 Route 6A Public Comment #3Sherman, Lisa
From: John Grady <j.gradyjr@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2024 9:27 AM
To: Sherman, Lisa
Cc: Robert Wilkins; Lisa Grady
Subject: Statement for May 13 Hearing for 405 6A and 8 Exhibits
Attachments: Statement to OKH re 405 6A.pdf; Yarmouth Old Homes cover.pdf; Y Old Homes 405
6A.pdf, MACRIS YARA23.pdf; bake or dutch oven.pdf; 1880 map partial.pdf; 1905 map
partial.pdf; 1858 map partia; pdf; How to tell if a brick is historic.pdf
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unless you are sure this email is from a known sender and you know the content is safe. Call the
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Hi Lisa,
Per our discussion please distribute the Statement and Exhibits to OKH Committee Members.
plan to read from the Statement at the Hearing for the record.
Thank you,
John Grady
415 Route 6A
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Chairman Wilkins, and Members of Yarmouth Old Kings Highway Committee.
I intend to offer observations regarding 405 6A and its "ell" chimney drawn from my experience with
antique homes and construction combined with evidence in the historical record.
First, my experience -
My wife, Lisa Grady, and I are neighbors of 405 6A in a half cape of the same period sharing many similar
characteristics with 405 6A. The half cape homes architectural features include a Federal door with old
glass side and transom lights, original pegged windows, with later 6 over 6 sash, a central fireplace
serving multiple fireplaces, and a rear "ell" with a chimney for a fireplace. The field cards show the
footprint of the original portion of our home at 415 to be very similar to 405 as it is today..
Before moving to Yarmouth Port in 2016 1 lived in and maintained another 1800's home for 35 years. A
mid 1800 Greek Revival addition that was built around an 1800 farmhouse. Lisa owned and lived in two
antique homes, a Greek Revival, and a 1790's reconstructed cape. We each are Real Estate Brokers
licensed for over 45 years. I developed small subdivisions and built architect designed custom homes in
western Middlesex and eastern Worcester Counties. We each have participated in the sale of antique
homes throughout New England. Our interest in 405 6A stems from experience with and appreciation
for antique homes. We believe architectural features in antique homes should be preserved.
Now, evidence from the historic record of 405 6A -
405 Route 6A is one of six half capes from the late 1700's and early 1800's located on the south side of
Route 6A between Union and Pine streets. Each of these included an architectural feature of a chimney
in its "ell". "Phoebe's Cottage", as 405 6A is known, remained in the same family for nearly 200 years
and has been preserved with minimal change since its original construction. OKH permits indicate the
previous owner added a gazebo and a new roof in 2003. During the past two years, a new boiler and
another new roof were added, and the septic system passed an inspection.
The age of the house is not "unknown". Documentation in the Massachusetts Cultural Resource
Information System (MACRIS), the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth files, the publication "Yarmouth
Old Homes and Gathering Places", and historic maps of Yarmouth Port from 1858,1880.and 1905
document its history. The historical record plus architectural features, and construction techniques and
materials date the origins and time of construction of "Phoebe's Cottage" to the early 1800's
Information from these sources is provided to the Committee.
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The chimney in the "ell" was intended to serve a cooking hearth. For example, our half cape (#415)
contains a chimney in its "ell" with a raised hearth Rumford fireplace with a crane (often referred to as a
"dutch oven") in the kitchen. A thimble to vent a wood or coal burning appliance is in the adjacent
room behind the fireplace. The fireplace in our front parlor also has a crane for a "dutch oven" (photo
of example is provided to Committee). Perhaps cooking was done in the front parlor during cold months
and in the "ell" during summer months. Thus the many 1800's homes on Old Kings Highway with "ells"
featuring a chimney.
Historical documents for 405 indicate a "dutch oven" in the "ell" was replaced with a fireplace in 1976.
Destruction of, or rebuilding of, the chimney would not be needed for this. We reconstructed a fireplace
in our home that a previous owner had removed to accommodate a wood stove. New construction of
"dutch ovens" ended with the advent of wood and coal burning iron stoves in the early to mid 191"
century.
Newspaper is evidence of the date of the newspaper, not of the chimney. Newspaper was used for
various purposes including sealing cavities and unused flues to reduce cold air infiltration. A Boston
Globe from 1920 was used as a vapor barrier in a portion of my prior 1800's home. A home in Yarmouth
Port with an original 1790 central chimney was found to have newspaper from the bombing of Pearl
Harbor in its chimney. A chimney built in the last 100 years would have modern brick, a tile lining, and a
metal damper below the smoke shelf. No evidence of tiles or a damper appears in the debris from
demolition of the chimney. The remaining bricks on site and those in the photo provided do not appear
to be contemporary bricks.
I do not believe "non historic" has any meaning or relevance in the context of 405 6A and its chimney.
The location of its roof penetration may or may not have been altered during original construction or
during maintenance over the past 200 years. It may or may not be "original" however bricks used and
the presence of a "dutch oven" date it to the early 1800's. The chimney may or may not have been
repairable as evidence of inspection by a qualified mason or architect is not provided. Inspection is no
longer possible as the evidence has been destroyed. Water leaking around a chimney is often due to
failed flashing and porous brick and mortar. Flashing can be restored, mortar can be re pointed, and
bricks can be sealed or parged to prevent water infiltration. We flashed and sealed the exterior of our
rear chimney after a leak in 2019. Its interior portions are sealed in the attic, and parged in the cavity
between the kitchen and adjacent room. A third chimney of later vintage (built to accommodate central
heating) has been parged above the roof. These are normal maintenance procedures for a chimney, not
cause for destruction.
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It is my understanding that Old Kings Highway Committee decisions are site specific, based upon the
unique character, setting, and history of each property. The Committee's decisions are not limited by
any precedent or actions taken on other Applications. Each Application must stand on its own merits.
The properties cited in the current Application may be interesting however differ from the current
Application in important respects. All were included in Applications submitted by construction
professionals and reviewed and approved by OKH prior to any demolition. Chimney removal was a
single element of a more extensive project in each case. These examples do not justify removal of a
chimney from a historic property without informed inspection, notice, and demolition permits from
both OKH and Yarmouth Building Department.
The residence at 405 6A is a treasure worthy of appropriate stewardship. Stewardship of a historic
home on Old Kings Highway includes an obligation to observe the protections all residents on our
National Scenic Highway enjoy and benefit from.
The issue at stake is what are the facts and what is the evidence?
Are any facts and evidence provided that would justify waiver or modification of the prior unanimous
decision to deny a demolition permit and require restoration of this architecturally significant chimney?
It is the Committee's duty to decide this based upon facts and guidance in the OKH Act and Bulletin
Exhibits:
Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) re 405 6A
Yarmouth Old Homes and Gathering Places cover and description of 405 6A
Maps of Yarmouth Port from 1858,1880,1905
Photo of a "dutch oven"
Article - "How to Tell if a Brick is Historic or Contemporary"
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YARMOUTH
OLD HOMES AND GATHERING PLACES
405 Cold King's Highway F C F I
c.180
Cape Half House
good example of the half Cape, this house rests
on a granite foundation which is probably ships'
ballast. The entranceway suggests a Federal influence.
The window frames appear to be very old; they
jut out and are pegged. The sash, six -over- six, is
newer. The interior of the house boasts original
wainscoting under the windows, antique doors with
old-fashioned door latches, and the floorboards
are as wide as 24 inches in some places. There were
originally three fireplaces and a Dutch oven; two
are in the front room now and a new fireplace in
the diming room replaces the Dutch oven.
This house has remained in the same family for
almost two hundred years. Some of those who
have inhabited this house include Henry Matthews
and his wife Rebecca (Gray); their daughter,
Sarah, who married Seth Hamblin, the f ino tis
sea captain, They had a so n, .1oseph E. wIi(�
married AWAe layl()r mi(I lived here. The 1101'se is
110w lived in by Miss Plhoebc Thlm' wI10 M0Vec-i
into the house with her mother in � ��s�. ........ A
Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System
Scanned Record Cover Page
Inventory No: YAR.123
Historic Name: Mathews, Henry House
Common Name:
Address: 405 Rt 6A
CityrTown: Yarmouth
Village/Neighborhood: Yarmouthport;
Local No:
348;
Year Constructed:
C 1800
Architectural Style(s):
Federal;
Use(s):
Single Family Dwelling House;
Significance:
Architecture;
Area(s):
YAR.A, YAR.G
Designation(s):
Local Historic District (05?01+1973) Nat'l Register District (11.124/1987);
Building Materials:
Wall: Wood; Wood Shingle;
Demolished
No
The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has converted this paper record to digital format as part of ongoing projects to scan
records of the Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth and National Register of Historic Places nominations for
Massachusetts. Efforts are ongoing and not all inventory or National Register records related to this resource may be available in
digital format at this time.
The MACRIS database and scanned files are highly dynamic; new information is added daily and both database records and
related scanned files may be updated as new information is incorporated into MHC files. Users should note that there may be a
considerable lag time between the receipt of new or updated records by MHC and the appearance of related information in
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Users may consult the records, files and maps available in MHC's public research area at its offices at the State Archives Building,
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, open M-F, 9-5.
Users of this digital material acknowledge that they have read and understood the MACRIS Information and Disclaimer lntto.;r.mhc-
mauis netHnacrisdFsclaimer.t�trm)
Data available via the MACRIS web interface, and associated scanned files are for information purposes only THE ACT OF CHECKING THIS
DATABASE AND ASSOCIATED SCANNED FILES DOES NOT SUBSTITUTE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LOCAL, STATE OR
FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. IF YOU ARE REPRESENTING A DEVELOPER ANDlOR A PROPOSED PROJECT THAT WILL
REQUIRE A PERMIT, LICENSE OR FUNDING FROM ANY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY YOU MUST SUBMIT A PROJECT NOTIFICATION
FORM TO MHC FOR MHC'S REVIEW AND COMMENT. You can obtain a copy of a PNF through the MHC web site'www.ser, state.ma uslmhc%
under the subject heading "MHC Forms."
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts Historical Commission
220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, Massachusetts 02125
www.sec.state.ma.uslmhc { RECEIVED
This file was accessed on: Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 7:10 PM
MAY 10 202{
YARMOUTH
OLD KIMP.I-Q utruInrnV
FORM B - BUILDING
MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Office of the Secretary, State House, Boston
77".
i. Map. ijraw SKetcn of ouiming Location
in relation to nearest cross streets and
other buildings. Indicate north..
MAY 10 2024
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6A
Pine Street
Winter
Street
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In Ardea no. Form no.
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Yarmouth
(Yarmouth Port)
ess I 405 6A
r MA"'o0 AC J-4, 0r41
use Home
nt owner Miss Phebe Taylor
800
urce Sight
Georgian 1/2 Cape
hitect
Exterior wall fabric Shake
Outbuildings (describe) Garage
Other features Federal lights around
door, transom
New window,
Altered fireol".ce Date 1976
Moved Date
5. Lot size..
One acre or less X Over one acre
Approximate frontage 350
Approximate distance of building from street
201
6. Recorded by Richard Hazelhurst
Yarmouth Historical
Organization Survey
Date Januar 1980
(over)
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. Original owner (if known) HenryMathews and Rebecca Grey
Original use Home
Subs quent uses (if any) and dates
;. Then.es (check as many as applicable)
Aboriginal
Conservation
Recreation
Agricultural
Education
Religion
Architectural
XExploration/
Science/
The Arts
settlement
invention
Commerce
industry
Social/
Coinmunication
Military
humanitarian X
Community development
Political
Transportation
). Historical significance (include explanation of themes checked above)
This house is a good example of the half Cape. The landscaping is
simple, but just right for the house. It's sitting on a granite (bal-
last?) foundation. Notice the Federal influence of the entranceway.
The window frames appear very old, they jut out and are pegged. The
sash, 6 over 6 is newer. Miss Taylor the owner told me there used to
be a marvelous barn in back and at one time the property was over
five acres.
Inside, the house abounds with the charm. The original wainscoting
under the windows, antique doors with old fashion door latches. OLD
furniture, sea chests, that sit on floorboards that are as wide as
24" in places.
There were 3 fireplaces and a Dutch oven, two now one in the front
room "that was used for funerals and weddings. And a new one in the
dining room replacing the Dutch oven.
Now to the people who lived there beginning with;
Henry Matthews and Rebecca Grey who had a daughter Sarah who married
Seth Hamblin who went on to become a famous sea captain. They had a
son Joseph E. who married a Taylor, Abbie by name and now Miss Phebe
Taylor who moved in the house in 1938 with her mother. They all lived
here one time or another the house remaining in the same family for
most two hundred years.
Miss Phebe speaks affectionately about her Uncle Joe and Aunt Abbie,
"Uncle Joe was the truant officer. He was such a jolly man, I can still
CONTINUED
4. Bibliography and/or references (such as local histories, deeds, assessor's records,
early maps, etc.)
Phebe Taylor, 75 year old lifetime resident and owner
Deeds RECEIVED
Records
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.dNTORY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET
MASSACKLISM75 HI STORI CAI, COM I SSION
Office of the Secretary, Boston
Commimi ty :
Form No:
Yarmouth
(Yarmouth Port)
Property Name:
Indicate each item on inventory form which is being continued below.
see him running after the boys and girls".
Miss Phebe Taylor, 75 years old, a wonderful, vital woman. I see her
most days walking down the street. She still works, in the hospital
30 4 sometimes 5 times a week. At one time she baked goods and sold
them out of the house. Jack Smith, down at the general store told me
if I ever wanted to taste a great apple pie to get Phebe to bake one for
me. Every Wednesday morning you can find her and her girlhood friends
having breakfast together down at the general store.
Well, to sum up.
The house has stayed in the same family almost 200 years, it's in good
shape. It stands sturdy, ready for what ever might cone its way.
Miss Phebe Taylor still lives here, sturdy, vital, still paying her
own way and ready for what ever might come its way.
RCCFIF-D
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Stap' to Inventory form at b )m O0�
CHINIlVEY DIRECT
himno, Fireplace Expeos Since 1998
FIREPLACE DUTCH OVEN
Fireplace Dutch
Oven
1880 MAP OF YARMOUTH - PARTIAL
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Top 5 Ways To Tell if a Brick is Historic or
Contemporary
• by admin
Table of Contents
whether a brick is historic or contemporary
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ere are the top 5 signs to identify
Often, we can walk right up to a building facade and immediately identify the era of construction from
which the brick originates, just from visual observation. There are telltale signs, even looking close at
the brick without taking the rest of the building into consideration. However, in some cases it's not so
cut -and -dry. Often it's difficult to discern whether a building or a brick was built or used in used in the
late 1800s or early 1900s or mid century or later. Sometimes modern bricks can look similar to historic
4ummun bricks.
There are ways to tell them apart; nonetheless, it's not always exact science. You can make a relatively
accurate, informed guess, like a hypothesis, most of the time by understanding a few key concepts and
principles related to identifying historic bricks versus contemporary or modern brick masonry.
When restoring or tuck pointing a historic masonry wall, it's extremely important to understand the
characteristics described in this week's article. At the time of tuckpointing or historic masonry
restoration, if improper or poorly compatible mortar is used, the effects can be consequentially
extremely negative and detrimental to the future longevity of a historic brick masonry wall and
building.
So this week, just looking closely at bricks by themselves, not mortar, just bricks. There's several items
or characteristics we can examine to identify whether a brick is modern or historic.
1. Brick size and dimensions
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2. Texture
3. Consistency
4. Iron spots
S. Planar variation
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When looking at a loose brick, outside of a building assembly, you can identify a lot more
characteristics of the brick. We take a closer look and examine these characteristics.
Brick size and dimensions
The quickest and generally easiest way to tell whether a brick is modern or historic is to measure the
brick width. Historic bricks are longer than modern bricks. Take a look at our encyclopedia, you can
learn a lot about brick and masonry and historic construction architecture but in our encyclopedia we
have included an entry just on the comparison of size between modern and historic bricks. They are
simply different dimensions. Modern bricks became standardized in standardized in the 20th century
and now most but not all modern bricks are a similar width that is approximately 7-%" wide in the
stretcher position.
A lot of people are surprised to learn that historic bricks are wider than modern bricks. Our customers
ask us why it changed. In around the 1920's-1930's, brick sizes were standardized. Prior to that brick
sizes weren't really coordinated between different manufacturers.
The picture below shows a modern and historic brick, side -by -side. Both bricks are the exact same
height, 2.25". This particular height allows for quick and easy quantification and mathematics when
calculating the quantity survey of bricks in an existing wall or needed for the construction of a new
partition or building assembly. Essentially the 2.25" height of the bricks allows for an approximately
3/8 inch mortar joint, to fit into a relatively easy calculation. There are 3 EA courses, for example
within a linear height of eight inches. Therefore, extrapolating and using the simple mathematics, a 2'
wall section would have 9 EA horizontal stretcher courses. A 20 foot tall wall would therefore have 90
courses. That simple standardization makes quantity calculation much easier.
In the image below you can see that the historic brick is 8-3/8 inch wide.
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By comparison, the modern brick is 7-5/8 inch wide.
In the pictures above it's also apparent that the historic bricks are actually thicker in the depth
dimension. This translates to the fact that historic brick walls, in a typical double or triple wythe
configuration are actually slightly thicker than modern brick walls.
On its own, a partition built with either historic or modern brick will work fine, from a dimensional
perspective. The modern brick partitions are easier to quantify quickly because of the facility of
mathematics in standardized brick sizes of modern brick. Also though, you can see a particular problem
or issue that comes up when historic brick infields or openings are infill ed with modern bricks. The
rich joints must be enlarged or cheated to make up for the smaller modern bricks if the prepend joint
layout is to maintain consistency.
Texture
When you look at the top of the bedroom face of a brick, in this case in the stretcher position, you can
see that the that the contemporary brick has a it's greater texture on the exposed face of the brick. You
think of the historic brick as having less consistency and homogeneity, and that's true, but the face is
actually smoother. The difference, which makes the contemporary brick have a rough face is that it is a
wire cut brick. Meanwhile the historic brick is Sox formed. A buck's swarming process gave the
historic brick a smoother they're outer texture. Meanwhile, the wire cut process of the modern plug
How much you create a modern brick gives the modern brick a rougher texture.
Plug is a giant mass of clay, when a giant mess of clay is extruded through the modern equipment,
imagine it being squeezed out like a giant block of Plato through a though through an extruder. At
large mass of clay, called plug, is then cut with wires. Those wires cut the plug into a to a straight faced
rectangular form. The bricks run on a conveyor belt and then are cut again to length. As those wires run
through the plug, the giant mass of clay, the small pieces of aggregate inside the relatively low moisture
plug are dragged removed a tiny bit and that creates a rough texture.
So, in summary, the modern brick generally, will have a rougher texture than the historic.This is a good
characteristic to observe when trying to determine if a brick is modern or historic.
One of the big differences between modern and historic bricks is that modern bricks are kiln fired at a
much higher temperature. That difference is not exactly visually obvious, but when breaking a brick
with a hammer or even cutting it with a zirconium disc saw, you can identify that the modern brick is
much harder, meaning that it has a higher compressive strength. Modern bricks are more vitreous.
This difference has several resultant effects. Historic bricks are more porous and water and hydration
will enter and move through a historic brick with greater ease than a modern brick. Therefore, historic
bricks are technically more susceptible to moisture from precipitation. Moisture from precipitation
though, by itself, does not cause or result in significant problems. Scam pointing however, can be
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devastating to the longevity of a historic brick wall due to the incompatibility and the fact that scam
pointing using modern mortars will trap moisture into a permeable historic brick.
While moisture permeability itself is not a detrimental quality of a historic brick, historic bricks
perform poorly to resist rising damp and rising damp can have significant negative effects on a brick
wall. Rising damp can normally be identified through moisture testing of brick partitions or through
the visual identification, even without the more extensive process of identifying water and leak trails.
In such circumstances, concentrated effloresrk-nce at or near the base of a masonry wall is generally
easy to identify.
Homogeneity of subrate components (Consistency)
In more detail, you can go further and break the brick in half and get a better look beyond the face of
the brick. You see the internal makeup of a historic brick in the adjacent image.
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Scam pointing can lead to spallin and surface delamination of bricks. Sandstone, such as
bro il.ston, in stone masonry is very susceptible to delamination because of the stratified layering in
the stone. ( ranke stone by comparison, when subjected to the same extermal environmental
conditions performs much better to resist these effects.) Historic brick is also more susceptible to
delamination than modern brick, also due to the heterogeneous nature of the substrate materials.
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Rick, when cared for properly, is an amazing building material which can last for hundreds 41 k , ,'S HIGHWAY
It's one of the rare and few building materials that is naturally resistant to ultraviolet rays, largely
resistant to the detrimental effects of precipitation and moisture, and a strong durable material that can
even resist fire. Considering the great technological advances in building materials over the last 100
years, even modern homvmalymers and heteropoo,lymers, while utilizing breakthroughs in flexibility
and elasticity, still cannot replicate the superior characteristics of brick masonry.
Iron Content
The pictures below show 2 bricks that have been cut in half, similar to a brick bat or closer brick.
By cutting these bricks in half, you can see a closer look at the internal substrate materials. There is a
significant difference between the internal makeup of a historic brick in the photo below on the left side
and a modern brick, shown in the photo below on the right side.
Bricks are red, not just because the substrate is generally a red color clay but specifically because that
red color comes from iron oxide present in the earth. Iron oxide, when fired, will become a brighter
red. Concentrations of small iron ore will become a darker black color. You can see dark black specks
in the historic bricks.
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The next photo below shows an even closer view. The historic brick on the left, has large portions of
rock and large iron materials inside of the brick. Whereas, by comparison, the modern brick on the
right side of the photo has a much greater consistency within or among the substrate materials. This
difference is due to the ability of hydraulic modern equipment to lift and move large amounts of heavy
material, with ease, through sifting and filtering materials before the plug is created.
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Planar Variation
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Mostly because of the consistency of the substrate materials, modern bricks have a much more regular
and consistent rectilinear form. Historic bricks, because of the wide variation in substrate materials, due
to the inability of historic processes to filter substrate materials to modern standards, the bricks would
change form slightly in the kiln firing process. Substrate materials such as the clay component of
bricks will fuse and bond and change shape when being fired, ever so slightly, but in the case of a
historic brick, with great variation in the substrates, the shape will change irregularly, in the firing
process.
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Here in Washington DC, historic masonry buildings are extremely expensive and the amount of
financial loss caused by improper repointing and low quality construction is staggering. However, in
addition to the direct financial value of the property, there is also a cultural loss when historic buildings
are damaged. By comparison, consider neighboring poor cities, when historic buildings are damaged,
it's not just the loss of value to the property owner, there's also a loss to all inhabitants and visitors of a
city, present and future, who care about architecture, history, and culture.
We encourage all of our clients, and all readers of this article and to our blog in general, to prioritize the
historic built environment of Washington DC and neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle,
and Georgetown and become educated on on the difference between proper historic preservation versus
improper work which leads to significant damage to the historic fabric of a building.
From a conservation and preservation perspective, several approaches can be taken to improve
conditions related to deteriorated historic brick masonry. Primarily, lime mortar brick joints and low
temperature fired soft red clay bricks should be inspected and checked on a routine maintenance
schedule, either seasonally or at least annually. If brick masonry is kept in good condition, the life of
embedded wood elements can be significantly extended. Hire a professional contractor which
specializes, understands and appreciates historic construction elements and buildings.
In this article we talked about the following terminology and concepts, follow the links below for more
related information from the IDS website:
• R1LUdiJ-LgW0q!s;
Common brick. historic
• Tuck oin ntinZ aka paint -up, rennindn
• Scam pointing
• S allin
. BrownMone
• Stone masonry
• Brick-w-miminfMa
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•Rising dartly
• F.fflore�ce�tre
* Brick mTthp
* Granite stone
* Brick hat ar closer brick
• Iron oxide
•Kiln firing of bricks
These concepts are part of the fundamentals of historic masonry restoration, tuckpointing, and brick
repair.
The links in the list above will take you to other articles with more information on defects, failures,
preservation and repair of historic masonry. You can learn a lot more on our blog. Feel free to check it
out. If you have questions about the historic masonry of your building in Washington DC, fill out the
webform below and drop us a line. We will be in touch if we can help.
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