Greetings!
In this issue of Building Solutions, we continue to feature Case Study articles on our historic and period restoration projects, this time
describing a major restoration project at the historic St. James Church in Cambridge. We also include a Building Basics article on Repairing Mortar Joints.
We
trust that you will benefit from the information provided in this
publication. If you have any comments or questions, we can be reached
at 617-445-0274 or at www.abbotbuilding.com.
Sincerely, Michael Norman
Vice President
Abbot Building Restoration Company, Inc.
617-445-0274
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Abbot Restores Historic Bell Tower at St. James Episcopal Church
 Constructed in 1888, St. James Episcopal Church is a historically significant brownstone structure designed in a Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style popular in that era. Over the years, the sanctuary has come to house many beautiful stained glass windows and a historic bell re-cast by Paul Revere.
In 2007, an architectural firm (Davies & Bibbons, Cambridge, MA) was contracted to inspect the bell tower located at the north side of the building, and determined that mortar holding the stones had severely deteriorated over time causing the stones to dislodge.
Abbot was contracted to remove the entire bell tower down to the roofline, and rebuild the tower. Under the direction of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Abbot carefully removed and numbered each of the stones, applied new mortar, and replaced the stones in the exact order as they were removed thereby preserving the historical integrity of the structure.
In addition, Abbot dismantled and replaced a series of buttresses installed to reinforce several corners of the church building. |
Repointing Mortar Joints
 Repointing is the process of removing deteriorating mortar from the joints of a masonry wall and replacing it with new mortar. Properly done, repointing restores the visual and physical integrity of the masonry. Improperly done, repointing not only detracts from the appearance of the building, but may, in fact, cause physical damage to the masonry units themselves.
Loose brick and water leakage are signs that a mortar bond is failing and that repointing may be necessary. Removal of existing mortar is the most critical step in the repointing process.
Standard industry practice is to remove mortar to a minimum depth of 1/2 inch by mechanically grinding the brick joints with special four-inch diamond blades. Then the brick and joint should be cleaned and dampened. Depending on the depth of the joint, new mortar should then be applied in layers to ensure that it bonds well with the existing mortar and brickwork. |
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About Abbot Building Restoration
Abbot Building Restoration Company, Inc., has been providing quality construction and restoration services for more than 50 years. We have built our reputation on a strong work ethic, a high level of technical expertise, and longstanding relationships with a variety of clients in the public, institutional, and commercial sectors.
We specialize in restoring and preserving the integrity of the building envelope of aging and problem structures in the greater Boston area. We also provide remedial weatherproofing services to correct construction deficiencies in newer structures. Our specific areas of expertise include:
o Masonry construction and repairs
o Weatherproofing services
o Caulking
o Pointing
o Waterproofing
o Special coatings and sealants
o Roof repair, replacement, or resurfacingCall Abbot today at 617-445-0274 to arrange for a FREE INSPECTIONAL INVESTIGATION, or visit our web site at www.abbotbuilding.com. |
Abbot Building Restoration Company, Inc.
28 Allerton Street, Boston, MA 02119
Tel: 617-445-0274 · Fax: 617-445-0277
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IN THIS ISSUE
Case Study
Abbot recently completed a major restoration of the historic bell tower at St. James Episcopal Church in Cambridge.See full article below.Building Basics
Loose brick and water leakage are signs that a mortar bond is failing and that repointing may be necessary. Removal of existing mortar is the most critical step in the repointing process.
See full article below.
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We've Been Busy!!
As the torrential rains of the early spring have taken their
toll on many buildings in the Greater Boston area, we have been
inundated with calls and emails from building owners and property
managers asking us to inspect and repair damaged masonry and roofing. As an
example of this activity, we received more than twice as many visitors to our web site in April as in March.
With some herculean efforts by our crews, we were able to provide
prompt, professional service to identify and make the necessary repairs
in the majority of cases.
As the summer season approaches and the rain hopefully subsides, we
look forward to working with many of you to weatherproof your buildings
so that they will be able to withstand whatever mother nature has to
offer in the future.
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