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News and Insights on the Masonry Repair and Maintenance of Institutional, Commercial, and Condominium Buildings in
Eastern Massachusetts
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Volume 12 No. 3
September 2020
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In our Case Study article, we discuss another of Abbot's large masonry repair project involving 16 brick and stone apartment buildings in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Boston's Dorchester section. In our Masonry 101 tutorial, we describe the use of rebar to reinforce concrete structures.
We trust that you will benefit from the information provided in this publication. If you have any comments or questions, or would like an estimate on a masonry repair project, we can be reached by telephone at 617-445-0274 or at our web site at www.abbotbuilding.com.
Sincerely,
Abbot Building Restoration Company, Inc.
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Case Study
Abbot Completes Another Large Masonry Repair Project in Boston's Dorchester Section
Abbot recently completed a large masonry restoration project on a array of 16 brick and stone apartment buildings situated in and around a one-mile radius in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Dorchester, MA.
Abbot procured the project in a private bidding process among several competitive masonry restoration firms.
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44 Regent Street
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Prior to involving Abbot, the owner contracted with an architectural/engineering firm (Thompson & Lichtner, Canton, MA) to survey the properties, identify deficiencies, and develop a set of remediation plans.
In general, the scope of the project was as follows:
- Power washing all brick and stone buildings
- Repointing defective mortar joints
- Cutting out and caulking vertical expansion joints and perimeter of the windows
- Replacement of deteriorated brick and stone where necessary to match the original aesthetics
- Application of a waterproof elastomeric coating to all affected areas to provide a smooth, uniform appearance
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In conjunction with the above repairs, Abbot fabricated and replaced all deteriorated pre-cast headers and sills, and applied the same protective elastomeric coating to all of the headers and sills.
The project was complicated by the diverse locations of the buildings throughout the neighborhood. This required Abbot to mobilize their manpower and equipment as efficiently as possible to move from one work area to the next.
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Masonry 101
Rebar (Reinforcing Bar)
Concrete is strong under compression, but has weak tensile strength. To provide support the concrete, a mesh of steel wires known as "rebar" (short for reinforcing bar) is frequently used to strengthen and stabilize the concrete under tension.
Rebar is made from different alloys and grades of steel and is manufactured with ridges so that the concrete that is poured onto the bars can adhere easily to them. Stainless steel rebar is resistant to rust and is often used in the construction of buildings.
Rebar provides much stronger support than steel wires, reinforcing fiberglass, and many other products on the market.
Rebar is graded to indicate the amount of tensile strength it has in terms of pounds per square inch. By understanding the differences between the different rebar grades, you can much more easily find the right type for your project or upgrade to better structural strength for a little extra insurance.
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Abbot Building Restoration Co., Inc.
28 Allerton Street, Boston, MA 02119
Tel: 617-445-0274 ยท Fax: 617-445-0277
www.abbotbuilding.com
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