Take a walk in one of Washington DC’s historic neighborhoods and notice the brick retaining walls that support tiered gardens in front of the old homes. These gardens are full of colorful and fragrant plants and flowers. Owners know that the hardworking structures add value and authenticity to the home and should be preserved and maintained with traditional design and materials.
A retaining wall is a specially designed structure that holds the weight of soil on one side and is free standing on the other. It is used to separate public from private spaces and to support urban gardens, walkways, and fences. Because it must support substantial weight – soil and water – only the most well designed walls survive over time. Crumbling retaining walls are both unsightly and unsafe and need to be restored.
It is not uncommon in old DC brick structures to have missing or damaged bricks. These should be replaced. Extensive damage may even require rebuilding of the structure. There are a few things you need to know about restoration before you take any action. You want to avoid the kind of repairs that detract from the integrity of the structure.
No matter how gracious and elegant these walls may be, they are first and foremost durable structures that must function as designed. Repairs require the proper materials and construction techniques available with masonry contractors in Washington DC who have expertise and experience in brick restoration in DC's historic neighborhoods.
Renaissance Development, a leader in brick restoration and historic preservation, specializes in the restoration of a historic brick building’s mortar joints using traditional methods (tuckpointing) and materials. Contact us for a free site visit and project quote.