As a skilled bricklayer, I see myself as the latest link in a long chain of master craftsmen.

Explore my portfolio of some of my favorite past and ongoing projects to see the difference that this approach can make.

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S. 14th Chimney Repair

One winter away from a major collapse that would have destroyed the roof below it, this chimney was a textbook example of the dangers of incorrect repairs on historic structures. The top six courses had been laid in portland to extend the chimney to support a flue liner that was too large for the chimney itself. This flue liner allowed gases from the oil furnace below to escape into the masonry units which eroded not only the bricks but also the flue liners below the oversized one. I removed the flue liners in question, replaced them with new, relaid 5 feet of the west face, and relaid the brick above the corbel to the required two feet above the nearby peak to allow for proper draft. Then I repointed the entire chimney in a custom slaked-lime mortar, giving it a like-new appearance while remaining a testament to the historicity of the home and the chimney itself.

This chimney was in rough shape when I began repairs. The entire west face was pulling away and I discovered that a prior “repair” had caused extensive damage, requiring a large portion of the face to be relaid.

July 2025

After a complete repoint, replacing three flue liners and relaying the top four courses, we were able to keep the chimney tall enough to stay up to code without burying the tops of the flues, allowing for better draft through the chimney system.

July 2025

Beginning phase 2 of Olde North repairs.

September 2025

OLDE NORTH CHAPEL

July 2025—-Ongoing

Built between the years of 1866-1868, the United Presbyterian Church of Richmond Indiana was built by the finest architects and craftsmen of the day, financed by local entrepreneur Daniel Reid, who would go on to finance the Reid Chapel and Reid Hospital that carried his name. The architectural details are unlike any other structure in the area, featuring unique mirrored decorative brick bracketing below the soffits, brick buttresses with stone coping, Tiffany glass and gothic arches that illustrate the level of care and detail that went into its construction.

The beautiful church has changed hands numerous times since the post-Civil War era during which it was built, and after over a century and a half of well-meaning maintenance and repairs, both correct and incorrect, it is in desperate need of restoration by a knowledgeable and qualified craftsman.

That’s where we come in, and we are just getting started on the restoration of one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Richmond, IN.

Before phase 2 (buttress and bracket detail below soffits). Phase 1 consisted of repairing both arches and all bracketing just to the left of the buttress shown here.

After phase 2. The stone repair pictured can be seen here as the bottom piece of coping.

This stone was pushing its way out of the buttress to such extent that it caused cracking of the bricks supporting it. Also visible are a number of severely spalled bricks that had been parged over by prior masons.

After removal of all failing units, this portion of the buttress was relaid with a custom slaked lime mortar and reclaimed farmhouse brick from the same era that the chapel was constructed in.

Historic Cambridge City Water Works

A six-figure repair 15 years ago has left this beautiful early example of portland-based construction a mess. The entire building was repointed with modern type N portland, not at all historically accurate as a material. Unfortunately, the mistakes don’t stop there. Brush strokes can be seen in every joint as the mortar was struck and brushed incorrectly and way too wet, and “bee holes” can be seen dotting every inch of the repair work, indicating a shallow repoint that will not hold or serve as a repair. This initial repair was to address major mortar loss caused by water ingress and those incorrect repairs, and it showcases the seamless repairs I have built a career on. Color matching is an art form in this trade, particularly when limited by the materials necessary for a correct repair. In this case this was a mix of O.C. Type N mortar mix, both heavy and fine aggregates, slaked lime putty, and colorant that allowed for a high-quality end result without sacrificing historic material matching.