Preserve the Past. Protect the Present. Plan for the Future.

You can subscribe to the monthly email newsletter through our website or follow the Brick & Banter LinkedIn newsletter for the same content on that platform. Both deliver new articles as soon as they are published.

Yes. Brick & Banter regularly features detailed project walkthroughs with photography, and many clients have dedicated portfolio pages on our website. These cover churches, courthouses, schools, and commercial properties across our four-state service area.

Look for a contractor that self-performs all masonry restoration work with its own crews, carries a meaningful track record on commercial and historic buildings, provides a written warranty, and can show documented project results. We have over 30 years of experience, a 20+ person team, and self-perform every project.

Water enters mortar joints and porous masonry, then expands as it freezes, cracking joints and spalling brick or stone faces. Repeated cycles progressively worsen the damage, making early repair far less costly than deferring maintenance.

Our primary season runs from mid-February through the end of November, when temperatures support proper mortar curing. Some off-season work is possible depending on conditions, so it is worth reaching out early to discuss scheduling and phasing.

Grant and tax credit programs for historic restoration do exist at both the state and federal level, and eligibility varies by property type, location, and historic designation. We have extensive experience with historic projects and can help owners understand what their building may qualify for.

Most commercial masonry buildings benefit from a professional inspection every three to five years, with maintenance performed as conditions warrant. Buildings exposed to heavy freeze-thaw cycling or moisture may need more frequent attention.

All three terms involve mortar joint work, but they differ in scope. Pointing is the original application of mortar during construction, repointing is the removal and replacement of deteriorated mortar, and tuckpointing traditionally refers to a decorative technique using two contrasting mortar colors, though in the Midwest the term is commonly used interchangeably with repointing.

The most common signs are cracked or missing mortar joints, spalling brick or stone faces, efflorescence (white salt deposits), water leaks through exterior walls, and bowing or bulging wall sections. Any of these warrant a professional assessment before the damage compounds.

Tuckpointing is the process of removing deteriorated mortar from masonry joints and replacing it with fresh mortar to restore structural integrity and weather resistance. Commercial buildings typically need tuckpointing when mortar joints show cracking, crumbling, recessing, or when water infiltration becomes evident.

New articles are published regularly, and a monthly email newsletter delivers the latest posts directly to subscribers. Brick & Banter is also published as a LinkedIn newsletter for professionals who prefer that platform.

Brick & Banter covers commercial masonry restoration, tuckpointing techniques, historic preservation, building maintenance strategies, and industry trends across Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. Topics range from technical how-tos to project walkthroughs on churches, courthouses, schools, and commercial properties.