For over 140 years, Calvary Baptist Church, located in the heart of Minneapolis’ Whittier neighborhood, has stood as a historic landmark. With its towering steeple, the church has been an architectural and spiritual beacon for the community. However, time and the elements had taken a toll on this iconic structure, necessitating a full-scale steeple and bell tower restoration.
Continue reading “Church Steeple Restoration & Bell Tower Repair at Calvary Baptist Church”
Masonry buildings are valued for their durability, but their strength relies on more than just brick and mortar. Hidden steel components—such as lintels, shelf angles, relief angles, and ties—play a crucial role in supporting masonry facades. However, when moisture infiltrates the structure, corrosion weakens these elements, leading to rust jacking, section loss, and displaced masonry.
A well-installed through-wall flashing system is Continue reading “How Through-Wall Flashing Prevents Steel Corrosion in Masonry Wall Assemblies”
Masonry facades are built to last, but exposure to the elements and lack of maintenance can lead to serious deterioration. Water infiltration, mortar joint failure, and environmental wear all contribute to long-term structural risks that, if left unaddressed, can weaken an entire building envelope.
For commercial property owners, facility managers, and those overseeing historic buildings, understanding these risks and implementing proactive maintenance is Continue reading “Masonry Deterioration & Structural Risk Building Protection”
Façades, or facades are the first line of defense against winter’s harsh conditions, but freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can take a toll on masonry, brick, and joint sealants. Proactively inspecting and maintaining these elements helps preserve your building’s structural integrity, prevents costly damage, and ensures your property stands strong through Continue reading “Winterizing Façades: Protect Masonry, Brick, Joint Sealants from Winter Damage”
Commercial caulking and joint sealants are critical for maintaining a building’s exterior, protecting against water infiltration, air leaks, and structural damage while ensuring long-term durability. Whether your property is a high-rise office building, apartment complex, or historic landmark, proper sealant maintenance preserves its value, functionality, and energy efficiency.
Continue reading “On Commercial Caulking Replacement for Joint Sealant Failures”
When it comes to maintaining the integrity and appearance of brick buildings, the terms “tuckpointing,” “repointing,” and “brick pointing” are often mentioned. While they may sound similar, these processes serve distinct purposes in the building restoration industry. Understanding the differences can help you make informed decisions about your property’s maintenance. Let’s break it down…
Continue reading “Tuckpointing vs Repointing: Brick Pointing and Mortar Repair”
Continue reading “Building Restoration Corporation Earns Top Safety Award”
Efflorescence is a common occurrence and is not a cause for immediate concern on its own. However, it can be an indication of underlying moisture issues or water intrusion, which can lead to more significant problems if not properly addressed. Proper identification and management of efflorescence are essential to prevent potential long-term damage to the building materials and maintain the aesthetics and structural integrity of the surfaces. Continue reading “What is Efflorescence?”
Situated in the small town of Decorah, Iowa, the seat of Winneshiek County’s governance has stood tall and proud for over 100 years, and BRC is working to restore the historic courthouse.
A showcase of the BRC Sheet Metal Shop’s skill, our team restored a 114 year old dome and Lady Justice statue on top of the Jackson County Courthouse last summer.
Continue reading “BRC Metal Shop Restores Courthouse Dome, Lady Justice”
What a great week! The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation gave an award for the Gates of Heaven Project in Madison, Wisconsin. BRC-Madison worked closely with the owner, City of Madison, and architect, InSite Architects, LLC, while completing the masonry restoration portion of the project.
See all the winners at the Madison Trust’s Website.
Continue reading “Madison Branch of BRC Earns Madison Historic Trust Award”
The Building Restoration Corporation restoration of Bowman Hall at University of Wisconsin, Stout won the 2020 Associated Builders and Contractors, Minnesota and North Dakota, Eagle And Innovation Award.
See all the winners at the ABC MN/ND website.
The Building Restoration Corporation restoration of the Mayo Clinic Plummer Building has won the 2020 MCMCA Excellence Award. The Minnesota Concrete & Masonry Contractors Association awarded this project the excellence award in the Masonry Healthcare category.
See all the winners at the MCMCA website.
Continue reading “Building Restoration Corporation Wins MCMCA Excellence Award for Mayo Plummer Building”
The Building Restoration Corporation 2018 Guardian Building restoration was featured in an article published in the Rethos (Preservation Alliance of Minnesota) magazine. This project was nominated for the 2019 Minnesota Preservation Awards.
View and Download PDF: DOWNLOAD
Visit rethos.org for the full version of this magazine.
BRC has received the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota Honor Award for our work completed on the Waldmann Brewery & Wurstery in Saint Paul. The scope of work completed by BRC was tuckpointing, reconstruction of stone walls, and individual stone replacement.
The building was constructed in 1857 — six months before Minnesota became a state, nearly four years before the Civil War began, and at a time when less than 10,000 people lived in Saint Paul. It is the oldest surviving commercial building in the Twin Cities and is designated as an official Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Site.
Continue reading “BRC Wins Preservation Alliance of MN Honor Award”
Many of our employees have been asking about using headphones while working. Normal headphones are not safe to use as most of our job sites require ear protection. Safety Director Chris Towle has found OSHA and ANSI approved ear bud headphones that are safe to use in a loud construction environment. Please talk with your foreman about when it is appropriate to use headphones on a job site.
Click here for more information on the OSHA and ANSI approved ear bud headphones.
Building Restoration Corporation is excited to begin 2018 with recognition from the Finance and Commerce 2017 Reader Rankings. BRC was selected by readers as the “Best Restoration Company.” Thank you to the Finance and Commerce readers who voted. We will continue to strive towards offering the best masonry restoration services in the Midwest in 2018.
Continue reading “BRC Named Best Restoration Company by Finance and Commerce Reader Rankings”
The restoration project at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis has reached new heights. In order to get a lift into the courtyard of the church, a crane had to hoist the lift up and over the building and place it in the courtyard.
Project Highlight: Lakewood Cemetery – Minneapolis, MN
Project Manager: Mark Bailey | Foreman: Dustin Thiel
The BRC crew at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis is hard at work on this exterior restoration. The project scope includes tuckpointing, acid washing, individual stone replacement, re-caulking, waterproofing, control joint installation, and sheet metal work.
The restoration at Lakewood Cemetery is not just a dead-end job. People are literally dying to see it and with thousands of people staying at the cemetery, we haven’t had one single complaint!
A team from BRC recently attended a construction fabrication and restoration product training by Bonstone Materials Corporation. Building Restoration Corporation is always pushing to improve and utilize cutting edge technology and techniques to best serve our clients. Building Restoration Corporation provides the Midwest a multitude of masonry restoration services including: