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Vermont Farmhouse Project

Restoration and Preservation of an Old Brick Home Video

Bob visits the Sumner Mansion with UVM professor Tom Visser to learn more about the proper restoration and preservation procedures for an antique brick home. The original early 1800s brick has been sandblasted - removing the outside fire skin of the brick to reveal the soft inner core - leaving the brick permanently damaged. The only option now it to re-point it up and re-paint it. Care should be taken with masonry sealers as they can often trap moisture in the wall and lead to accelerate spalling of the bricks. If you have paint on old brick walls, your best option is to use a commercial paint remover such as a caustic soda, a Peel-Away type product, or even a solvent-based stripper. As for repairing the mortar, very often people patch and re-point using a Portland Cement mortar. This is not a good choice as it stands out like a sore thumb and is too hard for the bricks - putting stress on them and causing them to fail. To select the right mortar to use, loosen a sampling of the original mortar with a mason's chisel, crush it with a geologist's mortar and pestle, and then dissolve the lime binder with household distilled white vinegar. What will settle in the bottom of your jar is the sand from which the mortar was originally made. You can then take the sand to a mason and match its color and texture and make up new lime and sand mortar to match the original.

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	Other Video Clips from this Episode

	Convection Oven Installation Bob joins electrician Larry Dana in the kitchen of the Quechee farmhouse as he installs the Kenmore Elite 30" self-cleaning convection oven. The oven requires 220 high-voltage current as it ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing the Dishwasher and Garbage Disposal Plumbing and heating contractor Doug Buchanan is ready to install the Kenmore Elite dishwasher. The dishwasher has a very clean design with the electronics panel on the top of the ... Watch video and view full description
	Installing the Farm Sink in the Kitchen The Kohler "Dickinson" sink in the Quechee home's kitchen has the look and feel of an old-fashioned farm sink. It's enameled cast iron and it seems to sit lower and ... Watch video and view full description
	Refrigerator Features Review Before leaving the kitchen, Bob takes a peek inside the Kenmore Elite side-by-side refrigerator. It features a wide open plan with everything visible. It has clean lines and easy to ... Watch video and view full description
	Discussing Antique Brick Work at the Burtch-Udall House Bob meets up with Professor Tom Visser from the University of Vermont to learn more about the antique year old brick used in the Burtch-Udall house in Quechee. The wall ... Watch video and view full description
	NOW PLAYING Restoration and Preservation of an Old Brick Home Bob visits the Sumner Mansion with UVM professor Tom Visser to learn more about the proper restoration and preservation procedures for an antique brick home. The original early 1800s brick ...
	Review of the Bathroom Tiling and Fixtures Bob looks at the finished wall tile from Shaw in the second floor bathroom off the hall. The bathroom is cleverly designed with the tub and toilet in an alcove ... Watch video and view full description