A Guide to Repointing and Restoring Historic Brick Homes in Connecticut

Connecticut is rich in history, home to thousands of antique and colonial-era houses. These historic properties often feature magnificent, decades-old (or centuries-old) brickwork. However, caring for historic masonry is vastly different from maintaining a modern home—and the wrong repair can cause irreversible, expensive damage.

The Danger of Modern Cement on Historic Bricks

The biggest mistake unspecialized contractors make when repairing historic Connecticut homes is using modern Portland cement to repoint the brickwork. Bricks created before the late 19th and early 20th century were fired at lower temperatures, making them much softer and more porous than modern bricks.

Historically, these soft bricks were laid using traditional lime-based mortar. Lime mortar is highly flexible and breathable. It allows moisture trapped in the wall to smoothly evaporate outside. It also easily accommodates the natural expansion and contraction of the building during Connecticut's extreme temperature swings.

If you repair a historic brick home with modern Portland cement, it becomes harder than the brick itself. The cement traps moisture inside the wall. During the winter freeze-thaw cycle, the pressure forces the softer historic brick to shatter, spall, and crumble, while the cement mortar remains intact. This completely ruins the face of the brick.

The Right Approach: Professional Repointing

Restoring a historic brick facade, chimney, or antique fireplace requires a deep understanding of structural restoration.

• Mortar Matching: A professional masonry restoration team will test the existing mortar to replicate its exact chemical composition, color, and compressive strength—ensuring the new mortar won't damage the ancient brick.
• Proper Material Removal: The failing old mortar must be ground out carefully, taking great care not to nick, chip, or score the antique brick edges in the process.
• Sourcing Antique Bricks: When bricks are heavily damaged, they must be replaced. A specialty mason maintains relationships to source historically accurate, salvaged bricks to flawlessly blend repairs into the existing facade.

Trust Your Historic Home to Specialists

We believe protecting Connecticut's architectural heritage is incredibly important. At Innovative Masonry & Restoration, our team specializes in structural restoration, ensuring your home is repaired using historically accurate, safe, and beautiful methods. Whether it's a 200-year-old colonial or a mid-century brick cape, we have the expertise to match original materials and restore lasting integrity.