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

Small Town Buildings As I travel across Texas evaluating and consulting on historic buildings, I see the same thing over and over: many towns have a self-esteem problem. Not on a personal level, but as a town. How a community sees itself can make or break its economic development—and in some cases, its ability to survive. Telling business owners to fill vacant buildings or creating yet another “development plan” doesn’t do much more than telling someone with low self-esteem t

Let’s start with a confession. Most of us treat our hard hats like trusty old trucks. If it still starts, we keep driving it. If it still fits, we keep wearing it. And if it’s covered in stickers from jobs we’re proud of? Even better. But here’s the thing nobody tells you early enough in the trades: Hard hats expire. And no, that’s not a suggestion.