Preservation Workshop: Brick Repointing

Hillsborough, NC
Saturday October 8
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Preservation Workshop: Brick Repointing

Saturday, October 8, 2022

The Burwell School Historic Site
319 N. Churton St. Hillsborough, NC

10:00 am to 4:00 pm
(please arrive by 9:30 for registration)

Join The Burwell School Historic Site and Wayne Thompson of Heritage Restoration to learn all about preserving and restoring historic brickwork in a day-long, hands-on workshop led by masonry restoration expert Wayne Thompson of Hillsborough. Participants will receive detailed instruction and be able to perform actual work using historically correct lime-putty mortar. The workshop will be held on the grounds of the Burwell School Historic Site.

The workshop will cover these topics and more:

  • Overview of historic lime-putty mortars and their properties and composition, and how these replicate traditional lime and sand mortars used in 18th and 19th centuries
  • Inspecting and evaluating old brickwork and mortar joints
  • Techniques for removing old mortar using appropriate tools, without damaging bricks
  • Cleaning historic brickwork
  • Preparation of brickwork for repointing
  • Mortar analysis and matching for hardness and color
  • How to install new mortar when repointing
  • Joint finishing and tooling
  • Final cleaning after repointing
  • Lime washes: their properties and application
  • Curing methods and precautions to prevent new mortar from drying too quickly

About the instructor:

Wayne Thompson, owner of Heritage Restoration in Hillsborough, is widely regarded as the leading expert in historic brickwork restoration in the state. He has specialized in historic brickwork restoration using traditional lime putty mortars for over 20 years. Among his recent brickwork restoration projects are: the Bellamy Mansion Slave Quarters in Wilmington; Hill Hall at UNC Chapel Hill; St. Phillips Church at Brunswick Town State Historic Site; the Craven County Courthouse in New Bern; the Lieutenant Governor’s House in Raleigh; and St. Mary’s Chapel near Hillsborough.

$25 per person includes lunch

REGISTER HERE!