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Gilrace Masonry Boston · Since 1995
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm · BBB Accredited Business A+ · Google 5-Star Rated
Licensed · Insured · Lime Mortar Specialists · 30+ Years in Boston
Trusted by Peabody Properties · Abrams Mgmt · Dorchester Bay EDC · SCJ Properties
Historic Masonry Restoration · Boston · Since 1995
Gilrace Masonry historic brick and stone facade restoration on the Royal Worcester Apartments in Boston Boston Restoration Project
Royal Worcester Apartments 6,000 sqft historic facade restoration · Greater Boston

Historic Masonry Restoration in Boston Brownstones, landmark facades, Beacon Hill & Back Bay. Lime mortar, NPS-compliant, MHC coordination.

Boston Freeze-Thaw Destroys Bad Repointing

The wrong mortar traps moisture and cracks historic brick within a few winters. We match the original lime mix, color, and joint profile so the work lasts. Same-day callback for spalling brick, failed repointing & unsafe parapets.

30+ Years Restoring Boston Lime Mortar Specialists MHC & SHPO Coordination Portfolio & References
MA CSL #CS-091258  ·  Fully Insured  ·  COI Available on Request  ·  W-9 Ready
Speak With a Preservation Specialist (857) 855-2070
✓ Lime mortar & period materials ✓ Same-day callback ✓ No-cost site visit
Before You Call

Quick Answers

What mortar on historic brick?
Lime-based. Type O / K matched to your brick, never hard Portland.
Do you handle MHC review?
Yes. MHC, SHPO & local historic district submissions all handled.
Can you match original work?
Yes. Brick, brownstone, mortar color & joint profile all matched.
Work with architects?
Regularly. Preservation architects & envelope consultants.
Response Standards

What to Expect, and When

Same-Day Callback On spalling brick, failed repointing, and unsafe parapets.
Site Walk Within 1 Business Day A preservation lead walks the property and documents conditions.
Written Scope Within 5 Days Itemized scope, pricing, schedule, and compliance docs.
Emergency Stabilization Prioritized Falling masonry and active water intrusion jump the queue.
Why Owners Call

Common Reasons Boston Owners Call Us

Historic masonry rarely fails quietly. If your facade is shedding brick, leaking, or facing a landmark commission notice, you need a preservation contractor who picks up.

Failed Repointing From Wrong Mortar Hard Portland mortar cracking the brick it was meant to protect.
Water Intrusion Behind Facade Walls Moisture getting in through failed joints and deteriorated mortar.
Spalling Brick After Freeze-Thaw Boston winters breaking down brick faces and stone units.
Landmark Commission Violations Notices and corrections from historic district review boards.
Unsafe Parapets & Loose Masonry Leaning parapets and loose units over occupied sidewalks.
Brownstone Facade Deterioration Sugaring, delamination, and erosion on aging brownstone.
Speak With a Preservation Specialist
Why Waiting Costs More

Historic Masonry Problems Get Worse Fast in Boston Winters

Masonry damage compounds. What's a repointing job this fall becomes a structural repair after a hard winter. Here's how small problems escalate when they're left alone:

Freeze-thaw cycles accelerate brick failure as trapped water expands and contracts, breaking down faces and joints faster each winter.
Loose parapets become safety hazards, putting units over occupied sidewalks at risk and raising liability for owners and managers.
Water intrusion spreads behind facade walls, reaching interior finishes, insulation, and structure long before it shows on the surface.
Improper prior repointing traps moisture, so hard Portland mortar quietly destroys the soft historic brick it was meant to protect.
Historic commission violations delay projects, adding review cycles and corrections that push timelines out by months.
Small cracks become full facade failures, turning a targeted repair into a phased, scaffolded restoration at many times the cost.
Catch It Early — Schedule a Site Walk
Scope & Credentials

Built for Historic Work

30+
Years Restoring Boston
6,000+
SqFt Facade Restoration
Lime
Mortar Specialists
5-Yr
Warranty in Writing

From single-brownstone repointing in Beacon Hill to full-facade restoration on landmark commercial buildings. Lime mortar matching, color matching, joint profile matching, and full historical commission documentation.

Why Pick Gilrace

Why Boston Trusts Gilrace With Historic Work

Lime Mortar & Period-Correct Materials
Pre-1930s Boston brick was made with softer clay and needs soft lime-based mortar (Type O or Type K), not modern Portland. The wrong mix traps moisture and cracks the brick within a few winters. We match the original mortar's strength, color, and joint profile.
MHC, SHPO & NPS-Standard Work
Massachusetts Historical Commission coordination, Secretary of the Interior's Standards documentation, local historical district review. We prepare submissions so the approval process doesn't stall your project.
We Work Alongside Your Architects
We regularly collaborate with preservation architects, building envelope consultants, and historical consultants. We build to your specs and drawings, or recommend trusted preservation architects if you need one before starting.
Portfolio Work

Historic Restoration · Royal Worcester Apartments

Historical restoration work on Royal Worcester Apartments. 6,000 sqft of brick and stone restoration completed by Gilrace Masonry.
6,000 sqft of historical brick and stone restoration. One of many landmark, multifamily, and brownstone projects across Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the South End, and greater Boston. Clients include Peabody Properties, Abrams Management, Dorchester Bay EDC, and SCJ Properties.
How It Works

From Inquiry to Scheduled Work

1

Submit Scope

Share the property, address, and what needs restoring via the form. Or send existing specs, drawings, architect reports, or HC submissions to info@gilracemasonry.com. We respond within one business day.

2

Site Walk & Scope

A Gilrace preservation lead walks the property, documents the original mortar, brick, joint profile, and failure modes. Written scope with itemized pricing, schedule, and compliance docs (COI, W-9, MHC submission support) follows within 3-5 business days.

3

Coordinated Restoration Work

We coordinate with preservation architects, historical commissions, and your team. Phased schedules and after-hours work available for occupied buildings or active landmark sites.

Restoration Capabilities

Full-Scope Historic Restoration

Repointing & Restoration
Lime-mortar repointing & period-correct brick work
Brownstone & Stone
Brownstone patching, sourcing & color matching
Facade & Parapet
Lintels, sills, coping, spalling & structural repairs
Waterproofing
Building envelope, wall & foundation waterproofing
Emergency Stabilization
Urgent structural stabilization & shoring
Historical Compliance
MHC, SHPO & landmark district documentation
Recent Boston Work

Some of Our Recent Jobs

6000 SF of historical restoration at Royal Worcester Apartments
Royal Worcester Apartments · 6,000 SF Restoration
Historical restoration and waterproofing at the Aurora Building
Aurora Building · Historical Restoration
Restoration and waterproofing at Peabody Properties building, Braintree MA
Peabody Properties · Braintree Portfolio
Historical restoration at Lionhead Apartments, Dorchester MA
Lionhead Apartments · Dorchester
Brick re-pointing and restoration at the Marriott Custom House, Boston
Marriott Custom House · Boston
Historical restoration and waterproofing on Columbus Ave, Boston
Columbus Ave · Restoration & Waterproofing
What Boston Clients Say
30+
Years Serving Boston Portfolios
Landmark, brownstone & multifamily restoration · BBB A+ · 5.0 ★
★★★★★
"Gilrace is a real partner in our portfolio asset preservation program. Keeping our buildings watertight and standing long into the future. Great work ethic, careful around tenants, and we've trusted them with hundreds of thousands of dollars in projects."
— Scott F. Ployer, CPM®
VP Facilities & Capital Planning
Peabody Properties, Inc.Ongoing · Portfolio preservation
★★★★★
"Gilrace did significant emergency stabilization on our historic office building. Reasonable, timely, and professional through the entire process."
— John Mahony
Dorchester Bay Economic
Development CorporationEmergency stabilization · Historic
★★★★★
"I've worked with Gilrace for years on masonry, historic, and waterproofing projects. They respond quickly to emergencies, no issues with callbacks, and their pricing is competitive. I recommend them without hesitation."
— Ivana Leslie, CMM, CFM
The Abrams Management
Company, Inc.Multi-year · Repeat client
Quick Answers

Preservation & Project Questions

What kind of mortar do you use on historic brick?

For pre-1930s Boston brick, lime-based mortar (Type O or Type K, depending on brick hardness and exposure). Modern Portland mortar is harder than the brick and traps moisture, which causes spalling and irreversible damage within 3-5 winters. We test the original mortar's composition and match strength, color, sand size, and joint profile so the restoration is indistinguishable from the original work.

Do you handle MHC, SHPO, and local historical district review?

Yes. Massachusetts Historical Commission coordination, Secretary of the Interior's Standards documentation, and local historical district board submissions (Beacon Hill, Back Bay, South End, Bay Village, St. Botolph) are part of our standard scope on landmark work. We prepare the application materials, photo documentation, and material specs so review boards approve without delays.

Can you match original brick, stone, and joint profiles?

Yes. Brick matching from salvage sources, brownstone (Connecticut River Valley sandstone) sourcing and color matching, mortar color matching to weathered original, and joint profile replication (struck, weathered, beaded, raked, V-joint, concave). We document the original profile before work starts and reproduce it across the restoration.

What's your typical scope for a Beacon Hill or Back Bay brownstone?
Most brownstone projects involve some combination of facade repointing, brownstone unit replacement or patching, lintel and sill work, parapet stabilization, and stoop or step restoration. We site-walk the property, document the failure modes, and produce a written scope of work that breaks each component out as a separate line item so you can phase the work if needed.
Do you work with preservation architects and consultants?
Regularly. We coordinate with preservation architects, building envelope consultants, and historical consultants on landmark projects. We can work to your existing specs and drawings, or recommend trusted preservation architects if you need one before starting.
What insurance and references can you provide?
MA CSL #CS-091258. General liability, umbrella, workers' comp, and commercial auto coverage. COI on request with named certificate holder. References from prior brownstone and landmark clients, property management firms (Peabody Properties, Abrams Management, Dorchester Bay EDC), and preservation architects available with your bid.
How long until you can start a historic restoration project?
Site walk and written scope: 3-5 business days from initial inquiry. Project start depends on scope, historical review timeline, and our current schedule (typically 4-8 weeks for non-emergency work). Emergency stabilization on falling masonry or active water intrusion gets prioritized.

Ready to Scope Your Historic Restoration?

Submit the form above for a written response within one business day. Or call our restoration desk directly to discuss scope, historical review, and timing.

Speak With a Preservation Specialist (857) 855-2070
✓ Lime mortar & period materials ✓ MHC & historic district coordination ✓ Site visit & scope within 5 days
Service Area

Historic Restoration Across Greater Boston

Serving Boston's historic districts: Beacon Hill, Back Bay, South End, Bay Village, St. Botolph, Charlestown, and beyond, plus Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, Newton, Dorchester, and the surrounding metro. We know Boston's pre-war brick and brownstone stock, and the freeze-thaw cycles that put real stress on aging facades, parapets, and mortar joints. Brownstone, landmark, multifamily, and institutional restoration throughout the Boston DMA.

Historic Restoration · (857) 855-2070
✓ Lime Mortar Specialists ✓ MHC Coordination ✓ 30+ Years in Boston