BROWNSTONE RESTORATION

Start your project by arming yourself with the right information upfront. Call CMB Jersey City Stucco & EIFS for your Brownstone Restoration project.

Brownstone Restoration In Jersey City

Much has been written and said about the renovation of traditional houses and how they were constructed. One topic however that hasn’t been brought to the limelight is the scope of brownstone restoration in Jersey City.

The term brownstone is used to refer to a townhouse covered in any typical house. The design usually gives two means of egress from the house. The door which is at the top of the stairs gives access to the parlor level which acts as the home’s entrance. There’s also a stoop’s landing door which gives access onto the backyard, and it’s the entrance to the home’s egress.

History of Brownstone

Entry stoops were mainly made from brownstone. The structure was used for stringer stairs which was made up of a mix of brick and brownstone – (Brownstone is an affordable type of sandstone which was used in place of limestone and marble).

That time modern middle-class people could afford a more architecturally designed rather than the brick facade and natural limestone. Brownstone gave a more reasonable look, and the upgrade was chosen by many because it was smooth to cut, mine, carve, shape and transport to the required location.

Brownstone grew in popularity for its ease of cutting, shaping, transporting and carving but its physical structure made it more vulnerable to the harsh weather conditions. This led to the deteriorating popularity and use of these materials.

Opting for brownstone restoration in Jersey City, NJ is quite a good idea. With many people spending their earnings on bills and their cost of living, people rarely have the desire and budget of renovating brownstone or replacing the facades with a more stable building product.

A brownstone restoration helps in hardening the wearing surface and makes it more durable when resurfacing the material of the scoop.

The restoration process is detailed, but can be broken down into 3 main steps:

Step 1: Remove Damaged Surfaces

Because brownstone is formed from compressed sand, it’s extremely penetrable and easily takes in water which freezes during the winter time and thaws again in the spring. This perpetual cycle necessarily causes decay, which needs to be chipped or sanded down until the undamaged surface is left exposed.

Step 2: Reinforce With Cement

Strengthening the brownstone requires multiple layers of concrete.

A mixed thinner slurry coat is applied first to penetrate deep into the pores
A scratch coat is applied and grooved to establish a bond for the top layer
A scratch layer is applied allowing for the recreation of historical details

The resulting stucco-concrete mix is molded into the brownstone’s original shape and left to cure for at least 4-6 weeks to ensure minimum permeability and maximum strength before applying the final brownstone coat.

Step 3: Apply Brownstone Coating

The last step in the brownstone restoration process is to apply the brownstone coat. At this stage, it’s important to ensure the completed texture and color match that of the original stone. Once applied, professional masons apply all the ornamental details and embellishments by hand, using levels, sponges and trowels.

The end result of this detailed and delicate process is a brownstone you’ll love!

operating since 1985

CMB JERSEY CITY STUCCO & EIFS

Whatever your construction needs, CMB Jersey City Stucco & EIFS has you covered. Give us a call at (551) 244-6650

We are a team of professionals with 35 years of stucco & EIFS experience. Our employees are well-versed in stucco techniques, styles, and colors.

BROWNSTONE RESTORATION