Washington DC’s historic neighborhoods are charming in the summer due to the brick retaining walls that frequently support tiered gardens in front of old homes. Read more below about the importance of maintenance and techniques to restore the brick to its original glory.We've had some rain over the past weeks and it is no surprise that homeowners are reaching out to us about their retaining walls. The shifting weight of soil and water can damage these hardworking structures. Visually inspect your walls frequently and contact an expert when you see cracked or out of place bricks.
Retaining Walls Do Heavy Lifting
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.
If Your Retaining Wall is Made of Old Brick…
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.
- To maintain the character of the wall, it is important that the replacement bricks match the historic originals. Masonry contractors will use as much of the original brick as possible when rebuilding a retaining wall. There are suppliers who can match just about any color and type of brick.
- The replacement mortar should be compatible with the historic mortar – limestone based. Even when the tuckpointing is done properly, the replacement mortar may look slightly different for a while until it weathers to match the existing mortar.
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. If your existing retaining wall needs repair or if you would like to build a new one, contact us for a free site visit and project quote.
