I have a 1905 Victorian house in Atlanta, GA that needs some brick
work. Specifically, some front steps have sagged and need to be
rebuilt. I've been reluctant to hire a mason out of the Yellow Pages,
since we'd like to match the existing brick and mortar colors exactly,
and I'm told that requires a mason who has a great deal of experience
working with historic brick and mortar.

Are there historic brick masons in my area?

Dear nochka-ga;

Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting
question. What you have been told about matching historic mortars is
indeed correct; this appears to be somewhat of a scientific vocation
if not an art.

You can contact any of the following persons, businesses or
organizations for more information about the restoration of historic
masonry:

Eclectic Stoneworks
http://www.eclecticstoneworks.com/

Company owner, Ray Hall is a master mason with 40 years of experience
specializing in historic preservation among many other things. You can
contact him here or through his web site for consultation:

Ray Hall
Eclectic Stoneworks
1038 East Confederate Ave.
Atlanta, Georgia 30316
Phone: (404) 627-1093

Cell phone: (404) 218-0818

ray@eclecticstoneworks.com


Alternatively you can contact the Georgia Historic Preservation
Division or the American Institute of Architects to possibly get some
recommendations on restoration companies in your area or surrounding
area:

Georgia Historic Preservation Division
Department of Natural Resources
500 Healey Division
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 656-2840
http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/histpres/
(Here is a “link” site affiliated with them where you will find a
number of agencies that might also be able to direct you to historic
masonry restoration companies in your specific area:
http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/histpres/)

The American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Ave., NW 
Washington, DC 20006-5292
http://www.aia.org/hrc/
Phone: 800-AIA-3837 or 202-626-7300
Fax: 202-626-7547
E-mail: infocentral@aia.org



Since there don’t appear to be many historic masonry restorers in your
area, I will include these as well. It appears that the best of the
best in this field bring their services to Atlanta from elsewhere.
These are actually headquartered outside your area but they have
recently done notable restoration work in and around Atlanta and they
appear to be highly qualified to do exactly what you are hoping to
achieve:

ABSTRACT MASONRY RESTORATION, INC.
http://www.masonry-restoration.com/services.htm
Abstract Masonry Restoration, Inc.
6530 S. 400 W. 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84107 
Tel (801)262-6344
Boston Office: (781)488-3088

john@masonry-restoration.com

Not only will this company will match your mortar to one of the known
426 historic mortars, it will do so by analyzing the content of the
existing mortar in their own laboratory. This company is a full
service restoration business and addresses all areas of historic
restoration. They are not in your area, but they travel and they
recently restored the Historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia and the
General Robert E. Lee Civil War Headquarters near Lewisburg, West
Virginia.



US HERITAGE GROUP is another company that is really outside your area
but they do contract work in Georgia:
http://www.usheritage.com/recent.htm

“U.S. Heritage Group makes available the products and services
necessary to ensure that your historic mortar is properly identified,
produced, and installed. We provide mortar testing, mortar matching,
and custom mortar production. We have a full range of pre-blended
historic mortars ready to install.”

Take a look at their wide ranges of historic masonry restoration
services here:
http://www.usheritage.com/about.htm

Among their recent projects is the restoration of the Georgia State
Capitol building see here:
http://www.usheritage.com/recent.htm

Contact them at (773) 286-2100 or through their web site.


Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga


INFORMATION SOURCES

Defined above

SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

HISTORIC MASONRY RESTORATION

HISTORIC MASONRY REPOINTING

HISTORIC MASONRY MATCHING

HISTORIC MASONRY RECONSTRUCTION

HISTORIC MASONRY ANALYZING

Each used with the search terms “ATLANTA” and “GEORGIA”

Wow -- You found a mason who specializes in historic masonry and lives
2 miles from my house! Money well spent. Thank you!