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Investigation & Budgeting

Many times the issues with buildings lie behind the surface and are not easily detected without some investigation work.

By investigating problem areas prior to a major project we can assist with planning, and up-front budgeting. This ensures projects can be completed successfully, within budget and on-time.

Thermal image showing temperature variations on a roof and chimney with a physical photo of the same area below.
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Proactive Masonry Maintenance

Regular building evaluations are essential for preventing costly masonry problems. Our team uses advanced technology, including drone inspections with thermal imaging, to identify potential issues before they escalate. This allows us to provide timely recommendations and prevent expensive emergency repairs.

  • Sealant (Caulking ) Failures
  • Failing Mortar Joints
  • Brick/Block Absorbing Too Much Moisture
  • And More!
/ Services

Investigation & Budgeting Services

masonry-investigations, project-scope-budgeting-assistance
Stone Rebuilding

When stone masonry has shifted, bulged, or deteriorated past the point of patching, it has to come apart and go back together correctly. TNT dismantles failing stonework and rebuilds it to its original line, plumb, and profile, using salvaged and color-matched units set in mortar compatible with the wall.

Rebuilt limestone entrance arch and curved stone wall at the Fort Des Moines monument, Des Moines, Iowa
Brick Repair & Replacement

When brick faces spall, crack, or break away, TNT cuts out the failed units and replaces them with brick matched in size, color, and texture, restoring the strength and watertight envelope of commercial and historic walls.

Brick wall at Chateau Knoll Apartments in Bettendorf, Iowa after brick replacement and tuckpointing
Crack / Epoxy Injection

Crack injection seals active leaks and structurally re-bonds cracked concrete and masonry from the inside, without large-scale demolition.

Masonry Waterproofing & Water Repellents

Waterproofing a commercial masonry building starts with the repairs (tuckpointing, through-wall flashing, and sealants), then a breathable penetrating water repellent that cuts water absorption while letting trapped moisture escape.

Worker in a boom lift applying water repellent to a concrete block wall
Vertical & Overhead Concrete Repairs

Spalled and deteriorated concrete on walls, columns, and overhead surfaces is repaired with structural materials that bond, last, and protect the rebar.

Spalled concrete beam and ceiling awaiting vertical and overhead concrete repair
Tuckpointing

TNT is a commercial tuckpointing contractor serving Iowa, the Quad Cities, and western Illinois. We renew the mortar joints that hold your masonry together and keep water out, with mortar matched to your building so the repair lasts.

Masons pointing mortar joints on a tan brick wall from scaffolding
Through-Wall Flashing

Through-wall flashing catches the water that gets into a masonry wall and sends it back out. TNT installs and replaces flashing at lintels, shelf angles, parapets, and window heads, so leaks stop at the source instead of being chased from the inside.

Through-wall flashing installed in openings along the base of a red brick wall
Terra Cotta Repair/Replacement

Architectural terra cotta defines many historic facades. We repair and replace deteriorated units while preserving the building's original detail.

Terra cotta cornice and window surround on a brick building
Limestone & Stone Repair

From chipped edges to spalled faces, TNT restores limestone and architectural stone on commercial and historic buildings, patching with color-matched mortars and replacing units past saving. Stone that has moved out of plane needs stone rebuilding.

Hand holding a stone color sample against a limestone column to match a patch
Stone Consolidation

Stone consolidation strengthens crumbling, friable stone in place, preserving irreplaceable original material rather than replacing it.

Worker spraying stone consolidant on a carved column capital
Project Scope & Budgeting Assistance

Define the right scope and budget before work begins. We help owners and managers plan masonry projects so there are no costly surprises mid-project.

Deteriorated brick and corroded steel exposed at a building corner during assessment
Parking Garage Repair & Coatings

Traffic coating systems waterproof the surfaces people and vehicles travel on. TNT applies pedestrian and vehicular coatings to parking garages, ramps, plazas, and walkways to protect the concrete structure below.

Concrete stadium bleachers after a protective coating
Parapet Repair & Rebuilding

Parapets take weather on both faces and across the top, so they are usually the first masonry on a building to fail. TNT repairs and rebuilds parapet walls, integrating new coping and through-wall flashing to keep water out of the wall below.

Parapet wall being rebuilt with brick and block next to stone trim
Paint Stripping

Removing old paint from masonry restores the wall's ability to breathe and reveals the original brick or stone, done gently to protect the substrate.

Test patch where paint was stripped from a painted brick wall, revealing red brick
Masonry & Facade Investigations

A facade inspection and masonry investigation puts trained hands and eyes directly on your building to find what's failing, prove why, and define exactly what it will take to fix it, before you set a budget.

Measuring a deteriorated stone piece removed from a building facade
Lintel Repair/Replacement

Lintels carry the masonry above your windows and doors. When they corrode or sag, the openings crack, and the fix protects the wall above.

Mason working beside a new steel lintel installed above a window
Facade Stabilization

When a facade begins to bow, separate, or shift, stabilization re-anchors and secures the masonry before it becomes a structural failure.

Worker drilling into a stone wall to install a stabilization anchor
Exterior Wall Coating

A breathable elastomeric coating protects and unifies an aging facade, bridging hairline cracks and shedding water while letting the wall breathe.

Worker rolling white coating onto a concrete surface
Commercial Caulking & Sealants

Sealant joints are sacrificial: they age, crack, and pull away. TNT removes failed caulking at windows, expansion joints, and precast and panel seams, and installs high-performance sealants that keep water and air out.

Worker applying sealant along the base of a fieldstone wall
Building Cleaning

Decades of dirt, carbon, and biological growth dull a facade. Careful cleaning restores its appearance without harming the masonry beneath.

Crew in a boom lift cleaning the stone facade of a multistory building
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Why Investigation & Budgeting Matters?

  • Accurate Project Scope
  • Budgeted Costs & Scheduled Projections
  • Understanding The Current Construction
  • Identifying & Assessing Unforeseen Conditions

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Our skilled team is here to bring your building to life. Contact us today to discuss your project!

FAQs

A facility manager should schedule an investigation when visible deterioration appears, when interior water infiltration occurs, before major capital planning cycles, or as part of a routine inspection program every three to five years. Early identification of problems prevents costly emergency repairs.

Investigation reports document existing conditions and recommended work in a format that can support grant applications, historic tax credit filings, and other funding processes that require professional documentation of a building's masonry condition and restoration needs.

Yes. We provide written documentation of investigation findings, including identified conditions, recommended repairs, and scope of work. This report serves as the basis for budgeting decisions and project planning. Findings are delivered as part of the project proposal, and every project also includes a closeout package with final photography, written warranty, and product data sheets.

After an estimator is assigned, an on-site visit is typically scheduled within one to two weeks. The investigation itself varies in duration depending on building size and complexity, and the resulting proposal and report follow approximately two weeks after the site visit.

Our investigation methods include close-up visual inspection using swing stages or lifts, documentation of conditions with photography and mapping, exploratory openings to examine concealed conditions, and testing when warranted. The approach is tailored to each building's needs.

Yes. Diagnosing the source and pathway of water infiltration is a core part of our investigation services. Our team evaluates mortar joints, sealants, flashing, masonry units, and the overall wall assembly to determine where and why water is entering.

We help owners understand what work is needed now versus what can be deferred, identify the highest-priority items, and structure project phasing to spread costs over time. Projects range from $2,500 to the millions, and we work with owners to align scope with budget.

We work with building owners to define the full scope of masonry work needed, prioritize items by urgency and structural significance, and develop budgets that align with available capital. This includes phasing larger projects across multiple budget cycles when needed. We provide this as a core part of our service to every commercial building owner we work with.

A typical investigation includes a visual survey of the building exterior, documentation of deterioration types and locations, assessment of mortar and masonry unit conditions, evaluation of sealants and flashing, and identification of moisture entry points. Findings are compiled into a written report.

Without a proper assessment, budgets are based on assumptions that often underestimate or mischaracterize the actual conditions. A masonry investigation identifies what work is truly needed, allows owners to prioritize critical items, and reduces the risk of unexpected costs once work begins.

A masonry investigation is a systematic evaluation of a building's masonry envelope to identify deterioration, diagnose its causes, and determine the scope of work needed to address it. It goes beyond a visual walk-around to determine what is failing, why it is failing, and what repair methods are appropriate. It provides the factual basis for informed budgeting and repair planning.

Yes. We clean brick, stone, terra cotta, concrete, and other commercial masonry substrates. We serve commercial buildings across Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois and do not perform residential work.