Navigating Jericho’s Historic Preservation Guidelines: Your Essential Guide to Approved Masonry Materials

When working on properties within Jericho’s designated historic areas, understanding and complying with preservation guidelines for masonry materials isn’t just recommended—it’s mandatory. These regulations ensure that renovations and repairs maintain the authentic character that makes these neighborhoods historically significant while meeting modern safety standards.

Understanding Historic Preservation Requirements

Historic preservation in designated areas follows strict guidelines that begin with recommendations to identify the form and detailing of those architectural materials and features that are important in defining the building’s historic character and which must be retained in order to preserve that character. Therefore, guidance on identifying, retaining, and preserving character-defining features is always given first.

The historic building’s appearance may be defined by the form and detailing of its exterior materials, such as masonry, wood, and metal; exterior features, such as roofs, porches, and windows; interior materials, such as plaster and paint; and interior features, such as moldings and stairways, room configuration and spatial relationships, as well as structural and mechanical systems; and the building’s site and setting.

Approved Masonry Materials and Standards

When selecting masonry materials for historic properties in Jericho, several key principles must guide your choices. Where possible, restorers use traditional materials and methods to repair historic masonry. For example, lime-based mortar, which was commonly used in historic buildings, is preferred over modern cement-based mortar.

The selection process requires careful consideration of material compatibility. Modern Portland cement mortar may appear cost-effective, but it’s significantly harder than historic brick and prevents natural moisture movement. This incompatibility can cause brick faces to spall off during freeze-thaw cycles, turning a seemingly economical choice into expensive brick replacement work.

Key Material Requirements

• Mortar Specifications: Historic masonry buildings require appropriate materials and methods for repointing. The guidance should serve as a guide to prepare specifications for repointing historic masonry buildings.
• Brick and Stone: One of the biggest challenges is sourcing materials that match the original masonry. Historic buildings often feature bricks, stones, or mortars that are no longer produced or are difficult to replicate. Using materials that closely resemble the original is essential to maintaining the building’s historical accuracy and aesthetic.
• Breathability: Historic masonry systems were designed to allow moisture to move through the wall assembly and evaporate naturally. Any restoration work must preserve this breathability to prevent moisture entrapment and freeze-thaw damage.

Professional Expertise Requirements

All work described herein, and related work must have the approval of a Cultural Resources Manager, Conservator, Historic Architect, or other professional who meets the standards outlined in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards – Professional Qualifications Standards pursuant to 36 CFR. This ensures that renovation work meets both historical accuracy and structural integrity requirements.

The Contractor performing the work described in this Section shall have a minimum of five (5) years experience in masonry cleaning and restoration and shall have successfully completed at least three (3) projects of similar scope.

Valley Supply: Your Trusted Partner for Historic Masonry Projects

Located in Elmont, New York, Valley Supply is an extensive home-based masonry supplies company with an online presence. They are located in Westport, Connecticut. However, their primary operations center around their Long Island facility, where they’ve been providing the Nassau County community with the largest selection of masonry tools and supplies for more than 60 years. Cambridge Pavers, Watsontown Brick, Belden Brick, Eldorado Stone, and Duty Quality Stone are just some of the high-end products that they carry.

For property owners in Jericho seeking compliant materials for historic preservation projects, working with a knowledgeable masonry supply jericho provider like Valley Supply ensures access to appropriate materials that meet preservation standards.

The Three-Principle Approach to Historic Masonry

Historic masonry restoration follows a specific philosophy—repair rather than replace, use like-for-like materials that match original properties, and maintain the wall system’s natural breathability. These principles work as an integrated system to protect your investment and honor your building’s architectural heritage.

Principle 1: Repair Rather Than Replace

Rehabilitation guidance for the repair of historic materials such as masonry, wood, and architectural metals again begins with the least degree of intervention possible such as patching, piecing-in, splicing, consolidating, or otherwise reinforcing or upgrading them according to recognized preservation methods.

Principle 2: Material Compatibility

This means using lime-based mortars with historic brick, not modern cement-based products. The new materials should be softer and more porous than the masonry units themselves.

Principle 3: Maintain System Integrity

Preservation efforts often include applying protective coatings or water repellents to prevent future damage. These treatments are carefully selected to ensure they do not interfere with the masonry’s natural ability to “breathe” and release moisture.

Quality Assurance and Customer Service

Valley Supply’s commitment to excellence is evident in their customer feedback. One customer noted: “I am a first time home owner who walked into Valley Masonry Supply with a lot of questions about repairing a crumbling brick wall and repointing a flagstone walkway. The staff were very helpful and answered all my questions, sold me only what I needed, and helped to keep the job simple. Even the warehouse staff members who pulled my order were prompt and polite.”

At Masonry Supply we believe building homes should be an affordable, stress-free experience. This philosophy extends to historic preservation projects, where getting the right materials and expert guidance can make the difference between a successful restoration and costly mistakes.

Planning Your Historic Masonry Project

Before beginning any work on historic properties in Jericho, remember that all specifications require project-specific editing and professional judgement regarding the applicability of a procedure to a particular building, project or location. References to products and suppliers are to serve as a general guideline and do not constitute a federal endorsement or determination that a product or method is the best or most current alternative, remains available, or is compliant with current environmental regulations and safety standards. The library of procedures is intended to serve as a resource, not a substitute, for specification development by a qualified preservation professional.

Working with experienced suppliers who understand historic preservation requirements ensures your project meets both regulatory compliance and preservation standards. To learn more about the products that we offer and how we can assist you with your needs, call 516-825-0093, visit us at https://www.valleysupply.biz, or stop by our conveniently located Elmont facility.

Whether you’re a homeowner planning a restoration project or a contractor working on historic properties, understanding Jericho’s preservation guidelines and partnering with knowledgeable suppliers ensures your masonry work honors the past while building for the future.