246 W 3rd Street – Historic Masonry Restoration

Project Overview

The masonry restoration at 246 W 3rd Street began as a targeted façade repair and ultimately expanded into a multi-phase restoration of several building elevations and historic features. Due to the age and historic significance of the property, all work was completed in close coordination with Davenport Historic Preservation Consulting, LLC, ensuring materials, methods, and finishes aligned with the building’s original construction.

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Phase 1 (West & East Elevations)

Initial work focused on restoring the building’s primary façades and included:

1. Spot tuckpointing
2. Individual brick replacement
3. Sealant and caulking replacement
4. Minor stone patching and stone consolidation

A critical early step was performing a mortar analysis to identify the original mortar composition. Once testing results were returned, TNT matched both the sand gradation and mortar recipe to replicate the original mortar as closely as possible.

Another key requirement was matching the building’s original 8.5-inch brick, which differs from modern standard and modular sizes. TNT sourced salvaged brick from the same era as the original construction, allowing for seamless integration and approval by the historic consultant. Upon approval of both mortar and brick matches, the West and East elevations were successfully restored.

Access, Permitting & Public Safety

The building is located at a downtown intersection where a city roadway meets a State highway, requiring coordination with both the City of Davenport and the State of Iowa. TNT secured the necessary permits and installed overhead sidewalk protection scaffolding, allowing pedestrian traffic to remain open and safe throughout the project.

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Phase 2 (North Elevation)

Following completion of the initial elevations, 2MK Properties engaged TNT to restore a third elevation. This phase included:

1. Solid tuckpointing of the lower one-third of the North Elevation
2. Replacement of cracked and spalled brick

A new mortar analysis revealed that this elevation utilized a larger aggregate sand than the previous façades. TNT adjusted the mortar mix accordingly, secured approval, and completed the restoration to match the original construction. The successful execution of this phase led directly to a third contract on the same property.

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Phase 3 (Roofline Elevation & Historic Chimney)

The final phase focused on a smaller roofline elevation and the building’s original chimney. Work included:

1. Solid tuckpointing
2. Replacement of deteriorated individual brick
3. Mortar and brick matching consistent with previous phases

The primary challenge during this phase was access. Approximately 7 linear feet of wall was located directly above a skylight, preventing conventional scaffold installation. Leveraging TNT’s in-house expertise with complex access systems, the crew rigged suspended scaffolding from the upper roofline, allowing safe access without damaging the skylight and reducing overall project time and cost.