Historic Masonry Restoration in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota & Wisconsin

Only when a unit can't reasonably be repaired. Standard 6 calls for repair before replacement. When replacement is needed, the new material matches the old in design, color, texture and, where possible, material. NPS Preservation Brief 16 covers when substitute materials are appropriate.

It may. For the federal 20% credit, the building must be listed in the National Register (or contribute to a registered historic district), be income-producing, and the work must meet the Standards for Rehabilitation. Iowa's state program also accepts buildings SHPO determines are eligible for the Register, and has its own rules and funding rounds. We're not a tax advisor, but we can provide documentation for your consultant's application.

Usually preservation (maintain and repair what's there) or rehabilitation (repair and update for continued use while keeping historic character). Rehabilitation is the treatment used for historic tax credit projects. The choice is normally made with your architect or preservation consultant, and we can help by documenting conditions first.

No, and no contractor is. NPS doesn't certify or approve contractors. It publishes the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and the Preservation Briefs, and on tax credit projects NPS and the SHPO review the work itself. We follow those Standards and Briefs, and we've done work for NPS-managed sites such as Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

Yes. Brief 2 says repointing mortar should be softer or more permeable than the brick or stone, and no harder or less permeable than the historic mortar. We match the original mortar's strength, permeability, color, texture and joint profile. On significant buildings, we start with mortar analysis. On 246 W 3rd Street in Davenport, mortar analysis guided how we matched the sand and recipe on each elevation.

We collaborate directly with SHPOs, preservation consultants, and architects throughout the project, providing documentation, mock-ups, and test panels as required. About half of our work is historic preservation, so these working relationships are well established.

It depends on the material and the building. Some modern products perform well and are appropriate, while others can cause damage to historic masonry. We select repair materials based on compatibility with the original construction, not simply what is newest on the market.

Timelines depend on the building's size, condition, and the scope of work. Our active field season runs from mid-February through the end of November, and larger historic projects are often phased across multiple seasons to align with budgets and preservation review timelines.

Structural integrity and historic character are not mutually exclusive. We use repair methods and materials that meet structural requirements while respecting the building's original fabric, ensuring the work satisfies both engineering standards and preservation guidelines.

These are among the most common building types we restore. Churches and government buildings make up a large share of our historic preservation work, with courthouses typically our largest projects by dollar value.

Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois each offer state-level historic preservation tax credits, and many communities have local grant programs for historic buildings. Federal historic tax credits are also available for income-producing properties. We can help you understand what documentation your project will need.

We repair, replicate, and restore ornamental terra cotta, carved stone, corbelled brickwork, and other decorative elements using techniques and materials appropriate to the building's period. Where original elements are too deteriorated to save, we fabricate accurate replacements.

Yes. We have extensive experience restoring National Register-listed buildings including churches, courthouses, and civic landmarks. We understand the review processes and documentation requirements these projects demand.

Every project receives a closeout package with photography, warranty, and product data sheets. On historic projects, we provide additional documentation as needed to support tax credit applications, grant requirements, and State Historic Preservation Office reviews.

It can be. Masonry work is commonly part of a certified rehabilitation. The federal program offers a 20% credit for income-producing buildings that are certified historic structures. Iowa's state program offers up to 25% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures. In both, the work is reviewed against the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. We provide the documentation reviewers ask for. Eligibility is decided through SHPO and NPS review, so talk to your preservation consultant and a tax professional.

We analyze the existing mortar composition, color, texture, and joint profile, then develop custom mortar mixes to match. For brick, we source salvage material or work with suppliers who produce historically accurate replacements to maintain the building's original character.

Yes. Our historic work follows the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, published by the National Park Service, and the NPS Preservation Briefs for the specific materials involved. For example, Brief 2 for repointing and Briefs 1 and 6 for cleaning. Roughly half of our project volume is historic preservation, so these standards guide our daily work, not just occasional projects. NPS doesn't certify or approve contractors. What the Standards measure is the work itself, and that's what reviewers look at.