One of the most common questions I hear from homeowners is: "Should I be worried about this crack?" Sometimes the answer is yes. Most of the time, the answer is no. Brick is an incredibly strong building material. Many brick structures have survived for hundreds of years. I've worked on buildings that were standing long before any of us were born and, with proper maintenance, will likely outlive us all. So if brick is so durable, why does it crack? The answer is surprisingl

Most people don’t regret painting brick right away. That’s the problem. The damage doesn’t show up while the paint is fresh and the compliments are rolling in. It shows up years later—when paint begins to bubble, when brick faces start popping off, or when moisture appears inside a building with no obvious source. By the time it’s visible, the brick has already been compromised.

116-year-old building ready to be restored In the heart of East Texas stood a 116-year-old bank building that had seen it all, booms, busts, and even a mid-century “modernization” that nearly erased its original charm. What was once a proud piece of small-town architecture had been covered in asbestos stucco during the 1950s, a popular upgrade at the time. Beneath that façade, however, the building’s true story was waiting to be uncovered. Uncovering the Past When the stucco