Somerville

Somerville a city located to the Northwest of Boston in Middlesex County has a large variety of homes and businesses.  Historic homes to elegant restorations make up todays landscape. All Somerville early construction homes from the unique Enoch Robinson House // 1854 to the Charles Bradshaw house // 1899 were built with stone and brick foundations. These foundations along with all stone foundations in Somerville were constructed with lime mortar. Lime mortar is a mixture of sand local aggregates and Hydrated or Hydraulic lime. This mortar is completely void of Portland cement. Some argue a superior form of masonry cement compared to todays very hard brittle mixtures. 

Lime mortar is breathable and more elastic than modern cement which allows for its longevity in construction.

 Period masons when constructing New England masonry foundations used lime mixes for bedding mortar to support the brick or stone. Lime coatings for interior renderings to create smooth walls and a finished surface. With foundation construction it was standard practice to coat the interior foundation walls with lime coatings to create enough volume to insulate and waterproof the basement. These white wash coatings are vital to hold the interior foundation walls together structurally and control basement air quality. When rendering lime mortar through tooling and brushes a calcium creme would rise to the surface of  the mortar and create a seal. 

 Lime coating's were traditionally repaired with white wash coatings, over the years ground water has dried out neglected foundations and the aged mortar has lost its bond, crumbled causing stones to loosen, bricks to spall, mortar to turn to sand and the basements to require restoration. 

 At Thompson & Crowley Masonry Inc. we specialize in lime mortar stone foundation restoration. We are professional masons with three generations of masonry foundation experience. We have worked with lime mortar and stone foundations since the 1960's. Beyond business longevity our company has the experience of restoring 1000's of foundations. There is no guess work with materials and sealants. Lime is breathable and requires agreeable products that bond well with lime. 

 Often Somerville stone foundations were built with rubble stone, flagging, pudding stone and brick being held together with a body of lime. So simply removing all the lime and replacing it with high strength mortar is not an option.  Although good for the salesman and may sound better on the surface it's actually harmful to foundation.

     Removing all sound masonry joints loosens stones, bricks sink and twist causing sill voids, seismic settling and air pockets behind the stone walls. Air pockets create cracks, reduce the wall density and harm tensile strength in foundation. Repointing with modern non lime mortar can trap moisture and possibly creates mold. Modern mortar can damage sedimentary stone and period soft bricks creating spalling.

 When restoring stone foundations that carry load pressure from homes. We are careful to stabilize all walls before making any structural repairs. Being stone masons we have the experience and training not to remove stone or stone wedges that support larger building stones or tie stones that hold the wall together. 

 Stones are much harder than mortar so by incorrectly disturbing stone masonry and repointing with mortar, it creates stress on joints and eventually cracks appear.  When building stone foundations and stone walls its always good practice to have stones set by themselves interlocking not relying on mortar. 

 There are several common building styles two over one, one over two that create a European stone bond. Later  1900's homes a more sophisticated polygonal stone masonry started to appear in New England with the advent of dimensional quarried stone masonry. We have worked with and built countless walls in these stone masonry styles. Qualifying us to provide professional restoration from beginning preparation stages of the job. Removing failing mortar and wall coatings to repairing, stone setting, brick laying and final sealant.

 Experience counts and cant be achieved without doing the work. From passed on family knowledge and implementing countless historic plans from Architects and Historic Societies. We know exactly what works with stone foundations and restorations and what will stand the test of time. 

 Today our company uses historic lime mixes and fortified masonry cements to achieve long lasting restorations. Sealants are required to preserve air quality and waterproof stone and brick. 

Sealants are a double edged sword. 

How can something be waterproof and still breathable. Thats where masonry repairs payoff. By fully repairing all stone, brick work and masonry joints we are not relying on sealant alone. A complete foundation restoration comes from experience with materials, professional masonry and job integrity.

 For all your Somerville Stone foundation repairs and restoration contact us today for a free estimate thompsonandcrowley@gmail.com