The red brick front of the downtown Michigan building in 2020, one range of brick running between blue framed windows and a downspout
Case File 338

Blending a Mess of Colors on a Michigan Restoration

This downtown Michigan building was mid-restoration when its brick was blended: old units, replacement units and patched openings in a mess of colors across the wall. Only certain bricks were stained, to pull the range together. It was photographed again nine years later and certified then.

Case No. 338
Structure Downtown bank building
Location Michigan
Stained July 2011
Re-photographed 2020
Elapsed 9 years, Silver level

2011

  1. A brick pier and window reveal under scaffold in 2011, old red and purple brick beside a patch of new orange units and mismatched replacements at the corner Before, 2011 View this photo larger
  2. An applicator in a Masonry Cosmetics shirt working stain into a wall of mixed tan and red brick under a timber lintel in July 2011, a darker red wall beside it During, 2011 View this photo larger

What was wrong

The file calls this a true restoration project and the wall a mess of colors. The 2011 frames show why: old brick, replacement units and patched openings in several ranges at once, still under scaffold. The reason recorded is a color change; who hired it is listed only as other.

What was done

A better blend was wanted, not a uniform wall. Only certain bricks were stained, and the file is explicit that not all of them were. The frame from July 2011 shows the blend going in by hand, unit by unit, under a timber lintel.

2020, nine years on

  1. The front of the building in 2020, one range of red brick around segmental arched windows with blue frames, a downspout, iron balconies above and the certification stamp in the corner After, 2020 View this photo larger

What nine years prove

One range of red brick across the elevation in 2020, arches, sills and downspout run reading as one wall. On the certification scale that is Silver. The file is candid: the job was not warrantied, because the brick had been damaged and at one point coated over, which can leave a residue that interferes with absorption. The results of staining are only as good as the brick they go on, and this one is being kept track of for years to come.

The signed file

Every certified job gets the same form, signed on the day someone goes back to the building. This is the one for case 338, transcribed beside the scan so it can be read on a phone and by a search engine.

Scan of the case study form for case 338, filled in and signed View the signed form full size
Project name
Restoration Project in MI (2011)
Level
Silver. The scale runs Bronze at seven to nine years, Silver at ten and over, Gold at fifteen and over, Platinum at twenty and over.
Hired by
Other
Reason for project
Color change
Issue
"This building was a mess of colors: it was a true restoration project!"
What was corrected
"A better blend of the brick was wanted. We stained only certain bricks to achieve a better look: we did not stain all the bricks."
Storyline
"This job is one that we'll be keeping track of for years to come. This is one job we didn't warranty, as the brick were damaged and at one point had been painted, which can leave residue that interferes with the absorption of brick. While we have the best process for brick, the results of staining are only as good as the brick it's applied to."
Authorized
Donald A. Foster, signed, dated 2020
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