Quality Siding

Quality Siding

I was recently studying some details of construction in the UK, and I was struck by several things when learning about their interesting and ancient architecture.  First, the usual difference in the use of long lasting materials.  The use of stone as roofing, and clay...
Lime Mortar vs. Portland Cement

Lime Mortar vs. Portland Cement

Last week, I posted these pictures on Instagram of a repointing project at Saint Andrews Church in Roanoke.  Our masonry partner, Dominion Traditional, is doing the work.  The church has not been repointed in over 120 years, and the original lime based pointing is due...
Building Materials in China

Building Materials in China

 Ever since visiting Yunnan province, in China, I keep thinking about all the long lasting materials they were using.  In China, all of the buildings were built with traditional materials: stone, plaster, tile, and wood.  (The modern high rises and mediterranean style...
Why Old Houses Last Longer than New Houses

Why Old Houses Last Longer than New Houses

Have you ever wondered why it seems that old houses last as long as they do, when new houses 10 or 15 years old seem to be falling apart?  Or to think about it more specifically, why your new windows are rotting after 5 or 10 years?  Why when the wind blows do you end...