Greetings!
In this issue, our Case Study article describes Abbot's renovation to the exterior of two adjacent brick apartment buildings in Cambridge. Our Masonry 101 article provides xxxxxx.
We trust that you will benefit from the information provided in this publication. If you have any comments or questions, or would like an estimate on a masonry repair project, we can be reached at
617-445-0274 or at www.abbotbuilding.com.
Sincerely,
Michael Norman, President
Abbot Building Restoration Company, Inc.
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Abbot Renovates Facade of Converted Cambridge Apartment Buildings
Modifies Windows and Doors to Complement the New Apartment Layouts
 | | 124 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA |
Abbot recently completed a major masonry renovation project on the exterior of two adjacent brick apartment buildings at 124 and 126 Rindge Avenue in Cambridge. Formerly used for parochial educational purposes, the 2-story buildings had been vacated for several years until their subsequent conversion to residential apartments. Under the direction of general contractor, Delphi Construction (Waltham, MA), Abbot was contracted to modify multiple window and door openings to complement the interior layout of apartments according to the plans and specifications of the overall renovation.
The scope of Abbot's work included cleaning of the brick, repointing of the brick joints, and caulking the windows and doors after installation. Significantly, Abbot had new pre-cast stones fabricated to match the original stones in color and texture, and researched and located a new brick that matched the original brick.
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Matching Original Brick
In our Case Study article above, we mention that we resourced brick and stones to match the original appearance of the buildings.
When attempting to introduce non-original bricks into an older structure, it is important to match not only the size and appearance of the existing bricks but also their functional properties. In particular, bricks manufactured using more modern techniques may be harder and less porous. Inserting incompatible bricks into an existing wall can prevent the façade from operating as a coherent structure.  | 126 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA.
Abbot researched replacement bricks and stones to match the appearance of the originals. |
Testing the existing building to determine material properties and finding compatible replacements can be a painstaking task, but is well worth the effort in the long run.We've all seen buildings with sections of old bricks that have been replaced with new ones. The contrast often is painfully obvious. But the problems are often deeper than just the appearance. Modern manufactured bricks may have different rates of thermal expansion and contraction, different moisture vapor transmission, even different compressive strength and weight bearing capabilities than the bricks being replaced. Further, mixing bricks can hasten deterioration and open leak paths. This is why research is important before choosing new brick. In addition, modern mortars and joint sealing compounds are stronger and stiffer than historic mortars, so when a wall moves the bricks are more likely to crack before the mortar. Whatever the mortar used, it must be softer than the masonry. If enough original bricks are not available, a fallback strategy is to blend the new matching bricks with the originals, or segregate new bricks from old in separate parts of the building.
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Abbot Building Restoration Company, Inc.
28 Allerton Street, Boston, MA 02119
Tel: 617-445-0274 · Fax: 617-445-0277
info@abbotbuilding.com · www.abbotbuilding.com
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Featured Articles
Case Study
Abbot recently completed renovation of the exteriror of two brick apartment buildings in Cambridge.
See full article below
Masonry 101
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See full article below
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