Before & After ~ The right materials make a world of difference!
The mortar used in historic masonry is different than the mortar that is commonly available today. The differences are not only aesthetic. Unfortunately, many masons do not realize the materials and methods they use for new construction are inappropriate for historic buildings and can cause extensive damage to them.
The image at left shows this c. 1910 fieldstone arch on a Shingle Style house some years after being repointed with an inappropriate standard modern mortar. It not only looks bad, but it is also cracking and crumbling, and the stones are shifting their positions. Left uncorrected, the arch will become unstable due to the wrong mortar being used.
The image at right shows the same arch with the inappropriate mortar removed and replaced by an appropriate custom mix of natural cement and aggregate matching that in the historic mortar remaining on the building.
Learn how and why to do repair and restoration work on historic masonry appropriately in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.” Sources for less common materials like lime and natural cement mortars are included.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2025.
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