COMMERCIAL
MASONRY
RESTORATION.
Masonry is the most durable commercial cladding system available — but only when the mortar joints, brick units, and structural components are maintained properly. Griffin Restoration has spent 26+ years restoring commercial masonry across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma, from tuckpointing aging downtown commercial buildings to structural rehabilitation of campus and civic facilities with failing shelf angles and corroded lintels.
What Commercial Masonry Restoration Includes
From routine tuckpointing programs to structural masonry rehabilitation and heritage-sensitive historic preservation.
Tuckpointing & Mortar Repair
Mortar joints are the designed wear component of a masonry wall — softer than the brick or stone units they bind, they absorb movement and moisture cycling that would otherwise crack the units themselves. But when mortar erodes past the point of weather resistance, water enters the wall at every joint, saturating insulation, corroding ties and lintels, and creating freeze-thaw damage that accelerates exponentially. Mortar joint repointing — properly called tuckpointing — is the most critical routine maintenance a masonry building owner can perform.
Effective tuckpointing requires removing deteriorated mortar to a minimum depth of 3/4 inch using mechanical equipment, not hand tools, to achieve a clean mechanical key for the new mortar. Mortar selection is equally critical: using modern Type S or Type N portland cement mortars on soft historic brick causes the brick faces to spall because the mortar is harder than the units it's supposed to protect. We specify mortar mixes that are compatible with the existing masonry in both strength and porosity, preventing the repair from causing more damage than the original deterioration.
Brick Replacement
Individual brick units fail through a predictable set of mechanisms — face-shell spalling from freeze-thaw cycles in saturated brick, soft unit degradation in historically underfired brick, and physical damage from impact or construction activity. When brick units are compromised, selective replacement is more cost-effective than wholesale cladding replacement and preserves the original masonry character of the building. The challenge is matching replacement units to existing brick in size, color, texture, and absorption characteristics.
We source replacement brick through specialty suppliers and salvage sources to achieve acceptable matches in occupied commercial buildings where appearance matters. Where an exact match is not achievable — common in historic buildings using brick that is no longer manufactured — we work with building owners to develop a repair strategy that minimizes visual contrast through mortar color calibration and unit placement patterns. All brick replacement work includes examination and repair of the lintel, shelf angle, or structural support above the repair zone to address underlying causes of unit failure.
Structural Masonry Rehabilitation
Structural masonry deterioration — shelf angle corrosion, lintel failure, cavity tie loss, and cracked piers or pilasters — requires engineering-level assessment and repair methods that restore load path continuity. These failures are often obscured by interior finishes or exterior cladding until they reach an advanced stage, and deferred repair significantly increases both cost and risk. Commercial buildings in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma that were constructed before modern inspection and maintenance standards are particularly susceptible.
Our structural masonry rehabilitation work includes shelf angle replacement and helical restraint strap installation, lintel replacement using properly sized steel or precast concrete sections, crack stitching using stainless helical bar systems that restore tensile capacity without requiring full reconstruction, and post-installed wall tie programs for cavity walls where original ties have corroded. We coordinate with structural engineers on engineered repair programs for complex conditions and provide as-built documentation suitable for building records and future facility management reference.
Historic Masonry Preservation
Historic commercial masonry presents a distinct set of technical challenges. Pre-1950 brick in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma was typically soft-fired with high absorption rates, irregular dimensions, and lime-based mortars that allowed the wall assembly to flex and breathe in ways that modern masonry systems do not. Applying modern repair standards — portland cement mortars, silicone sealants, and elastomeric coatings — to historic masonry causes accelerated deterioration by trapping moisture and imposing differential movement stresses on fragile units.
Preservation-appropriate masonry repair uses natural hydraulic lime mortars or carefully formulated low-portland blends, matched to the original mortar's composition through lab analysis when project budgets allow. Cleaning methods are specified based on substrate sensitivity — avoiding pressure washing and strong acids on soft historic brick in favor of low-pressure washing, natural cleaners, and careful chemical selection that removes soiling without etching or saturating the masonry. Our crews have experience working in historic districts and with State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) review processes for tax credit projects.
Industries We Serve
Why Choose Griffin Restoration
Commercial exterior restoration since 2000
Licensed in TX, OK, AR, and LA
56' and 72' — self-performing capability
Full coverage for commercial projects
Service Areas
We serve commercial properties across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. Select your city for local service details.
+ 15 more cities
Based in Whitesboro, TX — we serve all of North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. View all service areas or contact us if you don't see your area.
Protect Your Masonry Investment
Masonry buildings are among the most durable commercial structures ever built — but only with proper maintenance. Whether your building needs routine tuckpointing, selective brick replacement, or structural rehabilitation, Griffin Restoration will assess the condition and scope the work accurately.