Category Archives: Restoration

UPDATE: Tuckpointing Map

Just updated my google map. its not 100% compleate but with over 35 examples in the Ithaca, NY area and few outside it’s not so bad. What has been excluded is the many examples found under porches and paint in Ithaca, NY. Those examples really stain the eye. The map also does not include places where evidence is not aparent but architecturally would make sense to have tuckpointing. This is based on the facade and time of construction. There are other building in Ithaca, NY that more than likely had Tuckpointing (Bordman House) but were only repointed last century.

Tuckpointing Examples and where to find them

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zshPC73Sj61Q.k2dT9CgHFWmg&usp=sharing

Tuckpointing: Women’s interfaith institute

While on a small trip to Women’s Rights National Historic Park, I couldn’t help myself and had to take a closer look at the church next door, located at 140 fall street, Seneca falls, NY.

While poking around I was approached by a woman working in the flower beds, who introduced herself as Allison Stokes, Founding Director of the Institute. She explained that the church caught on fire a number of years ago and suffered less from fire damage and more water damage from firefighters dousing the flames via a hole in the new roof.

The church itself was built in 1871 and has all the hallmarks of traditional Tuckpointing. The ribbons are almost all gone except in sheltered areas but interestingly on the façade a distinct cleaner area can be seen. This cleaner area follows a near plumb line on the face of some brick, indicating that the head joints or perp ribbons were laid directly on the face of the brick. Another interesting feature is that a few parts of the stopping mortar are vivid. However, this is only in isolated areas. Further investigation would be needed to determine the exact tuckpointing methods employed here.  Never the less it would look excellent restored to its former glory.

Tuckpointing: A Church in Fayette, NY 13065

 

After seeing some other Tuckpointing in Seneca Falls, NY, I was driving past this interesting church and decided to poke around. The small placard says that the stone tower was added in 1882 but I am not sure if all the stone and brick were added then or not. Either way its safe to say that the Tuckpointing is at least this from 1882. This pictures show the masonry elements that reflect similar architecture with tuckpointing in the area, and would fall in line with tuckpointing on churches in the region. The evidence on this façade is slim. However, it is faintly noticed as a bed joint under some of the corbelled brickwork and only a few inches remain around the doorway.

The address for this structure is 4350 Ovid street (NY-414) Fayette, NY 13065

Tuckpointing: Brick chimney at 409 E. Buffalo

Even when masonry is not the focus of buildings architecture, the necessity of a chimney provides an opportunity for high quality details to be carried out. In this case Tuckpointing was well executed on the brick chimney. While this expression of the masonry craft is a little tarnished, details are still well preserved on under the eaves, where protection from the elements is greatest. Take note that on the face of the chimney with the greatest exposures; the tuckpointing is nearly completely gone, leaving behind only the unifying red colorwash. This gives a muted appearance and an undoubtable suggestion that perhaps the best approach to “fixing” this artwork is to simply paint it red, as was once done in the past to the section above the roof line. Such practices can accelerate decay by causing excess moisture to be trapped in the masonry units (i.e. Brick) and lead to spalling and of course peeling paint.

Also not if you zoom in closely, there a small amount of tuckpointing on the stone Foundation

Cemetery Preservation

Last summer in 2015 Randy Ruth worked with Historic Ithaca to through its Work Preserve program, and collaborated with Friends of Ithaca Cemetery to bring two pairs of youth volunteers to help repair nearly 40 various monuments. Ithaca Journal ran an article about the restoration campaign.

You can read about it here…

http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2015/08/11/ithaca-city-cemetery-preservation/31480119/

You can see a list of all the documented repairs with before and after photos here…

http://www.historicithaca.org/work-preserve-summer-2015-cemetery-project/