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Rooftop with exposed wooden deck, partially covered with gray membrane. Skylight and buildings in background.
December 29, 2025
Choosing the right roof for your home or business is more than just a matter of aesthetics—it is a crucial decision that significantly impacts your property’s protection, energy efficiency, and long-term financial value.
Brownstone cutaway showing water entry from gutters, flashing leaks, cracked mortar, and spalling.
By City Suburb Insights Team December 22, 2025
Choose patching when damage affects under 30% of the surface and surrounding stone is stable, while resurfacing handles widespread failure—both require fixing water pathways first.
Brownstone cross-section showing water flow from clogged gutter to spalling areas; meter reads high.
By City Suburb Insights Team December 15, 2025
Brownstone spalling happens when trapped moisture freezes and expands by 9%, pushing the stone face off. Fix it by addressing roof drainage before patching.
Inspector photographing recessed mortar joint with deep gaps, efflorescence, and water intrusion.
By City Suburb Insights Team December 8, 2025
Mortar recessed deeper than 1/4 inch signals urgent risk—look for white efflorescence, stair-step cracks, spalling brick, and interior moisture before freeze-thaw damage spreads.
Worker repairing brick joints inside a heated, shrink-wrapped enclosure.
By City Suburb Insights Team November 15, 2025
Yes—brick pointing works in winter if walls stay above 40°F for 48-72 hours. Below that, cement hydration stops and joints fail by spring.
Hands holding a mortar test panel for color and texture matching during brick repointing.
By City Suburb Insights Team November 6, 2025
Lime mortar lasts 30-50 years on historic brick vs. 10-15 for cement. Lime breathes and flexes; cement traps moisture causing spalling.
By City Suburb Insights Team October 29, 2025
Paint over failing joints traps moisture and accelerates brick damage. The safe sequence: diagnose moisture, repoint with compatible mortar, cure, then coat.
By City Suburb Insights Team October 25, 2025
Perfect mortar match proven on the wall, not paper. Use neighborhood cues—brick firing, patina, joint profile—and approve daylight test panels first.
By City Suburb Insights Team October 21, 2025
Review mortar test panels at 3 distances and 3 times of day—joint profile and sand texture shift color as much as pigment does.
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