Over thirty years of unconventional masonry restoration experience Alan Pettingale has become a top tier expert from all the knowledge and experience he has gained in over three decades of specialized experience within the world of masonry restoration. A craftsman, consultant, and educator, his work reflects not only technical mastery but a dedication to architectural integrity. From historic homes in Yorkshire to main streets in Texas, Alan’s journey shows the making of a true master of his trade.
Early Foundations in the UK
Alan’s career began in 1987 as an Area Manager with Brick Tie LTD in England, overseeing the installation of remedial wall ties, performin structural surveys, and liaising with engineers and architects. His work focused heavily on quality control and training, setting the foundation for his leadership in the field.
From 1994 to 1996, Alan worked as a subcontractor for WT Contracts on historic bridges, viaducts, and dock walls, employing diamond coring equipment to perform delicate restorations on high-value heritage structures in England. This was followed by a position at Structural Repair Services from 1996–2003. He also trained technicians and crews, developing a group of skilled professionals across the UK.
His work in England involved a many challenging projects, including Edwardian and Victorian homes, bridges, viaducts, churches, schools, dry stone walls – and even the York Wall built by the Romans 2000 years ago – and which is a structure that shows the lineage of masonry as craft.
Industry Evolution and Leadership in the U.S.
After a successful presentation to the US Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Knox, KY, in 2003 Alan returned to the United States. He then founded Specialized Masonry Restoration in Dallas, TX, where he served as owner until recently. Here he implemented comprehensive masonry repairs on churches, universities, commercial buildings, and historic residences across the country. Thousands of remedial wall ties were installed under his leadership, stabilizing veneers and correcting decades of hidden damage.
In 2017, Alan established AlanPettingale.com, based in the DFW area of Texas. Here, his philosophy of “one project at a time” guides a focused, high-integrity approach to structural stabilization. Whether it’s a historic church or a residential facade, every project benefits from his obsessive attention to detail.
Consulting and Collaborative Influence
Alan has served as a consultant to many of the country’s leading engineering and architectural firms, including Tom Witherspoon Engineers, Isbell Engineers, Huckabee Architects and Engineers, Atkinson and Nolan, Whitlock Dalrymple Poston & Associates, Nelson Forensics, Forensix Consulting, LLC, Envista Forensics, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates. His broad collaborations reflect the trust placed in his expertise by top-tier structural and forensic specialists nationwide.
High-Profile Projects
Alan’s portfolio includes high-profile projects across the United States, such as several structures at the University of Texas in Denton, the Heard House Museum in McKinney, the Legacy Shopping Mall in Dallas, Saint Marks Church in Houston, several apartment complexes in the DFW area, a variety of down town squares in Texas, Downtown Grand Saline, TX, historic office restoration in Mesquite, TX, museum in Caddo, OK, Kimball Homes in Fort Worth and recently working on an Indian reservation in Choctaw, OK and the 500 year old Spanish Fort in San Juan, PR. His work has also extended to a substantial number of residential homes across Texas, where his expertise in veneer stabilization and remedial wall ties has made a significant impact.
Thought Leadership & Professional Contributions
Alan has delivered presentations at numerous professional events, including The Masonry Society annual meetings in Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Pennsylvania; SEAoT in Dallas and Houston; the Foundation Repair Association in Dallas; the Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Knox, Kentucky; 6.5 hour historic preservation workshop in Brownsville, Texas; several Texas Historical Commission Main Street Programs with Jamie Crowley and his team, Kimball Homes Corporate; the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, and the Masonry Institute of Iowa. His outreach bridges both technical and educational audiences, advancing industry standards through dialogue and demonstration.
He also contributes to professional knowledge through Masonry Restoration Magazine and the BrickTalk.Live Podcast, along with a range of scholarly and practical publications. These include his white paper “The Hidden Problem” presented to the Foundation Repair Association in 2004, the conference paper “Use of Lateral Restraint Anchors” for the North American Masonry Conference in 2011, and an interview in the Dallas/Fort Worth Construction News (2005). He produced a demonstration video titled Archway Repair in 2010 showcasing Simpson Heli-Tie™ anchors and served as a consultant on Tom Witherspoon’s 2008 book “Infrastructure Evaluation Maintenance and Repair”. Patents & Innovations
Alan’s commitment to innovation is evident in his development of patented and patent-pending technologies. He designed a unique remedial anchoring system for masonry veneer, created a pointing machine for raking joints in historic buildings, and pioneered an imaging-based system to enhance the precision of remedial wall tie installations. These innovations demonstrate Alan’s role in pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques with modern technology, which also includes the use of drones and AI in his work.
Patents & Innovations
Alan’s commitment to innovation is evident in his development of patented and patent-pending technologies. He designed a unique remedial anchoring system for masonry veneer, created a pointing machine for raking joints in historic buildings, and pioneered an imaging-based system to enhance the precision of remedial wall tie installations. These innovations demonstrate Alan’s role in pushing the boundaries of traditional techniques with modern technology, which also includes the use of drones and AI in his work.
Philosophy & Mastery
Alan believes that being top-tier in masonry restoration is not a title, but a standard earned through thousands of hours of practice, discipline, and ongoing refinement. Drawing from a career that spans continents, historic periods, and structural challenges, Alan continues to lead by example—through thoughtful craftsmanship, relentless research, and mentoring the next generation of masonry professionals. His work, captured in lectures, writings, patents, and built structures, stands as a living archive of excellence in one of the world’s oldest and most enduring crafts,which is what makes him a tier one expert.
“Masonry Restoration is the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct. In essence, it involves mentally taking something apart to understand its components, and then reassembling it, often with modifications or a new perspective.”
– Alan Pettingale