Philadelphia is widely regarded as America’s most historic large city. Yet as housing affordability dominates civic debate, historic preservation has increasingly been portrayed as an obstacle to growth. Is that criticism justified — or is it misplaced? Why Preservation Is Under Scrutiny Recent legal challenges to newly designated historic districts, including Washington Square West and…
A Hard-Learned Lesson in Moisture, Masonry, and Structural Risk Moisture intrusion remains the most persistent and underestimated cause of masonry deterioration. The evolution of the weep hole—from ignored void to critical drainage element—reveals a long history of builders misunderstanding how water actually behaves inside walls. This article traces the shift from ventilation-based thinking to drainage-based…
Historic masonry restoration always hides structural surprises. Learn why expecting the unexpected is the first rule—and how professionals manage risk.
Published: January 4, 2024 A garage door opening is often the widest structural opening in a home. Remove that much masonry, and you remove a tremendous amount of natural support. The only thing standing between a stable wall and a structural failure is the steel lintel above the garage door. If that lintel is undersized,…
Masonry veneer failures rarely give generous warning. When they occur, they are often sudden, localized, and dangerous—especially where veneer is overhead at entrances, sidewalks, or school corridors. The problem? The most critical component of the system—the veneer anchorage—is concealed within the wall cavity. This article examines how anchored masonry veneer systems work, why they fail,…
Alan Pettingale & J. Eric Peterson Multiwythe masonry walls—particularly those in 19th and early 20th century mercantile buildings—were designed as mass systems. They rely on thickness, gravity, and diaphragm action rather than modern reinforcement. When maintenance lapses, loads shift, or moisture accelerates deterioration, these walls begin to move out of plane. Left unchecked, bulging progresses…
The masonry repair industry is facing a reckoning. Back in 2009, Alan Pettingale raised concerns about dangerous trends developing across the building sector. More than a decade later, those warnings are not only still relevant—they are accelerating. Billions are spent every year fixing structural failures, yet the root cause often goes ignored: neglected masonry systems….
A leaning chimney isn’t charming. It isn’t quirky. It isn’t something to “keep an eye on.”It’s a structural failure in progress. If your brick chimney is visibly tilting—even slightly—you are already past the point where passive concern is appropriate. Chimneys are tall, rigid masonry structures sitting on foundations that often move independently from the rest…
Boom lifts have become the lazy default on too many masonry restoration projects. They’re fast. They’re convenient. They reduce setup time. And they quietly introduce catastrophic risk when used by crews who don’t fully understand masonry environments. This isn’t a generic construction safety issue. Boom lifts behave very differently when used around historic masonry, unstable…
Brick repair fixes components. Masonry restoration addresses systems. Learn why confusing the two leads to recurring failure and wasted money.
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