Brick steps add durability and curb appeal to any home, but over time the mortar joints between bricks can crack, crumble, or pull away. When water seeps into these gaps and freezes, the damage accelerates, turning a minor cosmetic issue into a structural hazard. Repointing, which removes old failed mortar and replaces it with fresh […]
Every skilled tradesperson has an origin story, and few are as unexpected as the journey of Mark McCullough, the beloved mason from This Old House and Ask This Old House. Before he became one of the most recognizable masons on television, McCullough was a teenager unloading watermelons in Chelsea, Massachusetts. His path from that humble
Brick has anchored construction for millennia, prized for its durability, texture, and timeless character. Yet as building envelopes demand higher thermal performance, faster installation, and lower embodied carbon, traditional fired-clay masonry faces real constraints. Engineers and manufacturers have responded with a wave of brick alternatives that deliver the familiar aesthetic without the weight, labor intensity,
Loadbearing masonry walls have been a foundational element of building construction for centuries, offering durability, fire resistance, and thermal mass that few modern systems can match. However, the structural behavior of these walls depends on continuous load paths and proper support conditions — factors that are easily compromised during renovations. When loadbearing masonry walls are
Understanding Structural Stone Walls A structural stone wall is one of the oldest and most durable forms of building construction, relying on the compressive strength of natural stone to carry vertical loads and resist lateral forces. Unlike veneer applications, a true structural stone wall supports the weight of roofs, upper floors, and other building elements
If you have ever worked on an old brick row house or a historic masonry building, you have likely noticed star-shaped metal plates bolted to the exterior walls. These distinctive fittings, known as building stars or star plates, are far more than decorative ornaments. They play a critical structural role in stabilizing masonry walls that
Old stone structures, from pre-Civil War barn foundations to historic retaining walls, represent an irreplaceable craft tradition. The work that went into gathering and shaping these stones, often involving hundreds of tons of carefully selected fieldstone, gives these structures a head start even when they need extensive repair. Understanding how to properly repair old stone
Planning and Preparation for a Brick Chimney Installation Replacing a metal furnace flue with a brick chimney requires careful planning and a thorough understanding of local building codes. The first consideration is whether the existing metal flue can simply be removed and replaced, or if a new chimney structure needs to be built adjacent to
Understanding Fireplace Construction Fundamentals A well-built fireplace serves as both a functional heating element and an architectural focal point in any home. Building a fireplace requires careful coordination between framing carpenters, designers, and masons to ensure structural integrity, proper airflow, and lasting durability. The process begins far before the first brick is laid, starting at
Proper flue spacing in multiple-flue chimneys is a critical aspect of masonry construction that directly affects both the structural integrity and thermal performance of a chimney system. When a single chimney houses multiple flues servicing different appliances such as furnaces and fireplaces, the spacing between individual flue tiles must be carefully calculated to prevent overheating,
