If authenticity is important to you, then the type of walkway material you choose for your historic brick home matters. You want your walkway to match your home’s architectural structure without sticking out like a sore thumb. You may want to restore the path leading to the house and wonder what the original owners would […]

If you’re looking to install a new driveway, you’re most likely trying to choose between the two most popular materials: asphalt or concrete. Both options are made from similar substances of sand and stone and installed over gravel. Concrete and asphalt have similar advantages and disadvantages, making it hard to decide which one is best.

If you’re looking to install a new driveway, you’re most likely trying to choose between the two most popular materials: asphalt or concrete. Both options are made from similar substances of sand and stone and installed over gravel. Concrete and asphalt have similar advantages and disadvantages, making it hard to decide which one is best.

When you purchase on an old brick house in the Washington DC area, you have taken a step into history. Many neighborhoods, particularly those located in Historic Districts, are known for their stately and well-preserved architecture; some for their storybook charm. So, if your home was built in or before the early 20th century, it […]

Are you thinking about painting the exterior of your historic brick home? If a home’s brick exterior needs a makeover, painting it can give the property a fresh look, boosting curb appeal and perhaps even resale value. Whatever your reasons for a change, think carefully before making that decision. Once you paint brick, you are committed to […]

Are you thinking about painting the exterior of your historic brick home? If a home’s brick exterior needs a makeover, painting it can give the property a fresh look, boosting curb appeal and perhaps even resale value. Whatever your reasons for a change, think carefully before making that decision. Once you paint brick, you are committed to […]

Do you have ivy growing on the walls of your brick home? It can certainly look beautiful, particularly during the warm months when the ivy blooms. It adds a thick green texture to the wall and gives your home a woodsy feel. However, ivy can be destructive for historic DC brick homes. Here’s why:

Do you have ivy growing on the walls of your brick home? It can certainly look beautiful, particularly during the warm months when the ivy blooms. It adds a thick green texture to the wall and gives your home a woodsy feel. However, ivy can be destructive for historic DC brick homes. Here’s why:

The stately historic brick homes in most DC neighborhoods were constructed with relatively soft, porous bricks and limestone mortar. Many of the interiors were covered with lime plaster. Occasionally these plastered walls, spackled and repainted during a renovation, show signs of bubbling. This is often caused by water damage to the exterior brick and mortar.