CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN MASONRY

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN MASONRY

BY MELISSA WYATT, MARKETING CONSULTANT | ARMOR MASONRY RESTORATION, INC

Armor Masonry Restoration has reached its 10-year milestone in the construction industry as an expert masonry restoration shop. The company was formed with one goal in mind: restore and preserve the architectural integrity of the fine buildings in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas. Over the past decade, this team of individuals has had the privilege to work on unique and historic buildings in the area that exhibit a rich history steeped in architectural styles of a bygone era.

The seasoned craftsmen at Armor Masonry Restoration have a vast amount of completed projects in their portfolios, working with some of the finest building owners, property managers, architects and engineers in the tristate area. This highly experienced team provides quality craftsmanship in every aspect of masonry restoration and preservation, including, but not limited to, brick and stone pointing, historic restoration and preservation, the installation of sealants in newly constructed and existing high-rise buildings. In addition, they are experts at navigating construction in occupied spaces with a stellar safety record.

The team has completed a vast array of projects large and small, spanning from exterior reconstruction of a hundred year old wall at Naval Square, to exterior sandblasting and sill rebuilds at The Daniel Building in Old City, to ground up construction at the Harrison House in North Philly.

Armor’s work has been recognized for its exceptional service and attention to detail, particularly on this year’s winner for Best Masonry Project: Washington Crossing Park.

Washington Crossing Historic Park offers more than 500 acres of American history, natural beauty, and family fun. The park preserves the site where George Washington crossed the Delaware River and turned the tide of the Revolutionary War.

Each year the park sees a vast range of visitors, from local schoolchildren to visitors from around the world, who come to see the point from which a battered and dispirited American army launched a counterattack that reversed its long losing streak, preserving its will to fight and maintaining the revolutionary spirit that would lead to independence for the United States.

Colonial buildings in the park, such as the Thompson-Neely House and McConkey Ferry Inn, give many clues about living conditions during the Revolutionary era. Additional homes and shops reveal how 19th-century rural Pennsylvanians lived and worked. Among them are the home of a prosperous merchant, a village general store, and homes for skilled artisans. The park also contains Bowman’s Hill Tower, Revolutionary War soldiers’ graves, stone memorials, picnic pavilions and historic collections.

In celebration of the upcoming 250th Anniversary of Washington's Crossing scheduled for 2026, an $8.7 million rehabilitation of the park and its historic buildings was kicked off in May 2021.

Armor Masonry was brought onto the project to address the extreme deterioration of multiple historic buildings, stone gates and a pavilion. The project required extensive attention to detail with the buildings being hundreds of years old.

Prior to starting repairs on each historic building, the existing plaster and/or mortar was tested by a specialist to read the consistency of materials to be matched by Armor Masonry as repairs were done. A conservation specialist was retained to analyze plaster and mortar samples removed from each of the historic structures in the park. Each sample was carefully removed by Armor’s team of masons. The analysis, which conformed to standard wet-chemical techniques, was requested to provide the primary characteristics of the existing mortar plaster present within the structure so the materials could be matched during the repairs.

The team was tasked with finding materials that would keep within the historic preservation guidelines, match the existing structures, and meet today's codes. Upon completion, the specialist suggested a mix and the Contractor proceeded with sourcing and creating the exact mix as specified for each of the 20 locations. All work on the buildings was done using historic preservation methods with vigorous testing of the mortar mix as the project progressed from one location to the next.

Numerous techniques were involved in the repair of each of the 20 buildings, including historic exterior plaster replacement, dismantling and rebuilding stone staircases and their foundations, below-grade stone repointing and waterproofing installation, the salvaging, removal and installation of new pavers over a concrete apron, and lowpressure grout injections through wall cavities.

Armor Masonry worked their way through the lower and upper parks in small sections. Because the park remained open to visitors throughout construction, safety was a major priority. Extensive fencing was installed and removed as each building underwent renovation in order to keep walkways clear for visitors and the open areas accessible. Coordination with other trades was vital in keeping the project on time.

The project was completed in December 2022 and all locations are now reopened for visitors to enjoy.