HISTORICAL
BUILDING
RESTORATION.
North Texas and Southern Oklahoma are home to some of the most architecturally significant commercial buildings in the South — courthouses, downtown storefronts, railroad-era hotels, and civic institutions constructed between the 1880s and 1940s. Griffin Restoration has spent 26+ years developing the material knowledge and field technique that heritage restoration demands. We preserve what makes these buildings worth keeping.
What Historical Building Restoration Includes
Heritage-sensitive exterior restoration using period-appropriate materials and preservation-compliant techniques that protect architectural character.
Period-Appropriate Materials
Restoring a historic building with incompatible modern materials is one of the most common and most damaging mistakes in the industry. Portland cement mortars applied to pre-1920s soft brick cause structural fracturing because the modern mortar is harder than the masonry units — moisture migrates through the brick face rather than the joint, spalling the face off. Historic restoration requires matched mortar formulations — lime-based, natural cement, or low-Portland blends — with compressive strengths at or below the original masonry unit's psi rating.
Griffin Restoration sources period-appropriate materials through suppliers that stock natural hydraulic lime, pre-blended historic mortar formulations, and reclaimed or period-replica brick for patch work. For Texas and Oklahoma buildings constructed between 1880 and 1950 — the core of the historic commercial building stock in cities like Denison, Sherman, Gainesville, and Ardmore — we assess the original mortar through physical sampling before specifying any replacement material. Getting materials right is the foundation of a restoration that lasts without damaging what it's meant to protect.
Heritage Masonry Repair
Heritage masonry repair encompasses tuckpointing with lime-based mortars, selective brick replacement, crack repair using compatible patching compounds, and stabilization of bulging or bowed wall sections. The technical challenge in historic masonry is that every building has a unique mortar composition, brick type, and joint profile — there is no universal specification. Pointing that matches the original joint width, tool profile, and mortar color is as important as matching the strength characteristics, because visual incongruity undermines the character that preservation is intended to protect.
In North Texas and Southern Oklahoma, we frequently work on commercial buildings constructed from local bricks fired in period kilns — these bricks are softer and more absorptive than modern units, requiring careful repointing technique to avoid over-cleaning, over-wetting, or tool damage. We use low-pressure washing rather than high-pressure blasting, and we never apply chemical cleaners to untested historic masonry without sample testing on an inconspicuous area first. Our crews are trained specifically in historic masonry techniques, not adapted from modern commercial tuckpointing practice.
Ornamental Detail Restoration
Cornices, belt courses, decorative terra cotta, cast stone details, pressed metal facades, and carved stone ornament define the character of historic commercial buildings — and they are among the most structurally vulnerable elements. Water infiltrating behind a cornice or into a cracked terra cotta panel creates freeze-thaw spalling cycles that accelerate deterioration year over year. Proper ornamental restoration requires matching the original detail geometry, surface texture, and color — either through custom-cast replacements or compatible repair mortars shaped to profile.
For terra cotta — common on North Texas commercial buildings constructed between 1900 and 1940 — we use hydraulic lime putty mortars for joint repair and point-matched epoxy or cementitious compounds for surface spall repair. Where original units are irreparably damaged, we coordinate with specialty suppliers to source salvaged period units or commission cast replacements. Pressed metal cornices require different intervention — corrosion treatment, anchor repair, and sealant programs at panel joints that account for the differential movement between metal and masonry substrates.
Preservation-Compliant Waterproofing
Historic buildings present a fundamental waterproofing challenge: the materials and methods that protect modern construction can destroy historic masonry. Elastomeric coatings that trap moisture in a vapor-impermeable film cause catastrophic spalling on pre-1950s brick. Film-forming sealers applied to soft limestone or sandstone lock in moisture that then cycles through freeze-thaw and pressurizes the stone face. Preservation-compliant waterproofing uses breathable, penetrating silane or siloxane-based treatments that repel liquid water while allowing vapor transmission.
We evaluate each historic building individually — testing substrate porosity, identifying previous treatments that may interfere with new applications, and assessing whether the primary water entry is through the masonry face, mortar joints, flashing failures, or fenestration perimeters. For buildings listed on local, state, or national historic registers, we work within the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, ensuring that treatments are reversible and do not alter the building's historic character. Across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma, we have 26+ years of experience navigating these requirements without sacrificing building performance.
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.
Preserve Your Historic Building's Future
Historic buildings deserve contractors who understand them. Griffin Restoration brings 26+ years of material knowledge and hands-on field experience to every heritage project. Contact us for a no-obligation site assessment and preservation evaluation.