Stories From the Field
- Scaffolding Saves the Day (09/20/21)
- Reputation for Honesty & Integrity (07/16/21)
- We Leave Your Masonry Restoration Project Debris Free (06/18/21)
- Window Lintel Replacement Work in East Lakeview (05/28/21)
- An On-going Commitment to Safety (04/24/21)
- AAA-1 Masonry Goes International (04/01/21)
- Quality Work That Will Last For Generations (12/10/20)
- The End of the Work Season Approaches (11/20/20)
- Exceptional Masons Produce Exceptional Masonry Work (09/24/20)
- Changing of the Season (03/08/20)
- The Seasonality of the Masonry Restoration Trades (12/20/19)
- AAA-1 Masonry In A Nutshell (11/20/19)
- No Project Too Big or Too Small (11/08/19)
- What Sets Us Apart (10/19/19)
- Heavy-Duty Vinyl Tarpaulins - An Affordable Means of Stopping Water Infiltration Through Your Masonry Walls (10/01/19)
- Glass Block Windows (06/12/19)
- The Impact of Our Erratic Spring Weather (05/10/19)
- Many (Skilled) Hands Make Light Work (04/19/19)
- Recipient of the 2018 Angie’s List Super Service Award (03/15/19)
- Prohibition-Era Building Materials (01/31/19)
- Recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award (02/01/18)
- Repairing Mortar Joints in Lakeview (08/27/17)
- What's That Haze On My Bricks? (08/15/17)
- Grinding & Tuckpointing (07/14/17)
- Some Thoughts About Safety (#5 in a Series) (03/15/17)
- Masonry Restoration Work & Cold Weather Considerations (#2 in a Series) (02/13/17)
- Masonry Restoration Work & Cold Weather Considerations (#1 in a Series) (01/20/17)
- An Industry In Growing Demand (12/20/16)
- Some Thoughts About Safety (#4 in a Series) (07/28/16)
- "High Quality" Masonry Sealers (06/20/16)
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (05/18/16)
- Chimney Restoration in Hinsdale (04/30/16)
- Ask the Hard Questions (04/16/16)
- Masonry Restoration Case Study (04/06/16)
- Unique Flashing Detail (03/21/16)
- Valentine's Day Truth (02/14/16)
- Happy 30th Anniversary to Frank Kruk! (02/04/16)
- Some Thoughts About Safety (#3 in a Series) (01/20/16)
- Masonry Restoration at Second Church of Christ, Scientist (12/28/15)
- Expression of Gratitude (12/11/15)
- The Importance of Conducting Annual Inspections (11/25/15)
- Proper Site Protection Worth Every Cent (11/05/15)
- Former Dairy Undergoes Masonry Transformation (Part 2) (10/31/15)
- Unusual Brick Discovered (09/30/15)
- New Parapet Wall Project in East Ravenswood (09/16/15)
- Former Dairy Undergoes Masonry Transformation (Part 1) (07/14/15)
- Some Thoughts About Safety (#2 In a Series) (07/02/15)
- Some Thoughts About Safety (#1 In a Series) (06/29/15)
- Enduring Masonry in Oak Park (06/20/15)
- Whatever the Job Requires! (06/15/15)
- Residential Chimney Project in Glencoe (06/02/15)
- AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing is Your Restoration Company (05/09/15)
- Restoring Fourth Presbyterian Church's Historic Fountain (04/06/15)
- Water Leaks – Sound Familiar? (01/15/15)
- Some Thoughts About Safety & Insurance (12/11/14)
- Why Temperature Matters At This Time of Year (11/11/14)
- Kudos to Frank Kruk (09/15/14)
- Counting My Blessings! (07/31/14)
- Your Brick Structure Can Last Another 100+ Years with Preventative Maintenance (07/08/14)
- Masons Are Like Farmers (06/13/14)
- Look Up! (05/28/14)
- Bring Your Child to Work Day (04/24/14)
- AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Receives BBB's 2013 Complaint-Free Award (02/28/14)
- Heavy Duty Tarps: Effective, Durable Solution for Winter Leaks (02/18/14)
- Why Weather Matters (01/27/14)
- A Few Thoughts About Quality (12/10/13)
- If You Build It Right the First Time... (09/01/12)
- More Common Than You Think (07/06/12)
- Flashing or Through-Wall Flashing (05/05/12)
- Extensive Edison Park Office Project (Underway) (04/24/11)
- Wright Chimney Restoration (03/15/11)
- Lincoln Park Residential Restoration (09/09/10)
- Critical Facade Inspection Work (08/15/10)
- Residential Chimney Rebuild (07/01/10)
- Vehicular Impact With Building (07/20/09)
- Taken For A Ride (06/15/09)
- Chronic Water Damage (05/10/09)
- Brick Wall Repair (11/15/08)
Stories From the Field
Post: New Parapet Wall Project in East Ravenswood
Wednesday September 16, 2015
It was an exciting day for us, as we started up a new masonry restoration project in the East Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago. Not only is this masonry building a 100-year-old beauty full of quality hand-chiseled limestone elements, but the Condominium Association was extremely accommodating and moved all of their vehicles away from our staging area, unlocked all access points, and closed all of their windows prior to our 7:00am arrival.
This Condominium Association was unaware until very recently that large sections of their brick columns and parapet walls were starting to deflect and pitch severely due to decades of freeze/thaw action coupled with inadequate repair work (refer to photo below, typical). Despite the deflection in the wall, many "tradesmen" continued to tuckpoint (i.e., apply a thin coat of mortar over the existing mortar joints) because it was the most expeditious method of repair and did not require a permit to perform the work (many repairmen/handymen are not licensed mason contractors and lack the qualifications to legally procure Masonry Repair Permits within city limits).
On the brick column below at least three different mortar colors are apparent, meaning at least three separate applications of mortar had been made over the years. None of these mortar applications appear to be thicker than one's fingernail, so none of the repair mortar is capable of renewing the bond between the bricks or effectively thwarting wind-driven rain and sleet.
I'll be posting more pictures of this project as work continues over the course of the next week.