Before, During & After: Recent Chicago Masonry Projects

Before: What We Found

Years of freeze-thaw cycles and moisture had broken down the mortar joints and made the original brick spall, leaving the upper wall leaning and allowing water to penetrate the building envelope.

During: How We Fixed It

1. Inspected the wall and marked the failing upper section.
2. Carefully dismantled the parapet down to structurally sound masonry.
3. Sourced brick matching the building's original brick.
4. Rebuilt the parapet to Chicago code using weather-resistant mortar made for harsh winter climates.
5. Installed new roofline flashing.
6. Set protective coping across the top course to shed water away from the wall.

After: The Result

A plumb, structurally secure parapet that matches the original architecture, meets Chicago code, and is protected against future moisture intrusion.

Before: What We Found

Worn and eroded mortar joints across the main elevations and corners left the brick exposed to moisture and freeze-thaw damage.

During: How We Fixed It

1. Protected the landscaping, walks, and surrounding property.
2. Ground out the failing joints to a uniform depth across the whole elevation, so the new mortar could form a structural bond with the existing masonry.
3. Tuckpointed every joint with weather-resistant mortar color-matched to the existing mortar.
4. Let the mortar cure fully.
5. Washed the brick with Sure-Clean to remove masonry dust and bring back its natural color.

After: The Result

Clean, tight, color-matched joints across the whole house.

Before: What We Found

The hidden steel lintels over the windows had rusted and expanded ('rust jacking'). The expansion pushed the brick above the openings and the pier between the windows outward, creating a structural safety risk and allowing moisture into the wall.

During: How We Fixed It

1. Temporarily shored the masonry above the openings.
2. Carefully took down the damaged brick around the windows.
3. Removed the rusted steel lintels completely.
4. Installed new heavy-duty structural steel lintels.
5. Installed waterproof flashing over the new steel to prevent future rust.
6. Rebuilt the pier between the windows and the surrounding brick using reclaimed brick and custom-blended mortar to match the original.

After: The Result

Straight, safe window openings with new steel and flashing. The repair is code-compliant and fully weatherproofed while preserving the building's original appearance.

Before: What We Found

Freeze-thaw damage had left the chimney with failing mortar joints, spalling brick, and an aging crown, putting the chimney at risk of further water intrusion.

During: How We Fixed It

1. Set up professional scaffolding for safe access.
2. Took the damaged brickwork down to the roofline while protecting the clay flue liner.
3. Rebuilt the chimney stack with weather-resistant brick and properly formulated mortar.
4. Installed a flashing membrane and thermal expansion joints around the flue.
5. Installed an overhanging one-piece concrete crown.

After: The Result

A fully rebuilt chimney with a solid crown that sheds water off the brick. It is structurally secure, code-compliant, and built to withstand Chicago weather.