... simple grace and dignity imparted with a master's skill to rotten, old, soft red brick made from the batture mud of the Mississippi, covered for the most part with stucco of lime obtained from the burning of oyster shells ...

Allison Owen, AIA, 1913

Masonry Guidelines

All masonry work including brickwork, stucco and stone should be executed under optimum weather conditions to ensure the success of the repairs. No work should be executed or cured during weather below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. To prevent too rapid drying in temperatures over 85 degrees Fahrenheit, masonry work may require repeated misting and protection from the sun with damp burlap, canvas or plastic sheeting and canopies.

Brickwork repairs account for the majority of the work required at most tombs. All brick joints should be inspected for missing and deteriorated mortar, and loose bricks should be removed and cleaned for resetting. Defective joints should be raked by hand to 1" in depth or down to sound mortar. All dirt and loose debris should be removed before repointing or resetting. Masonry should be well dampened then bricks set and joints repointed with a compatible mortar mix that matches the original mortar or its properties.

A suitable mortar mix should employ a lime putty or hydraulic lime. A lime and Portland cement blend can be used for roofs where harsh conditions prevail. Two such recommended mixes which have been used with good results in Lafayette 1 and St. Louis Cemeteries No. 1 and 2 are as follows: 1 part white Portland cement to 2 parts lime putty (slaked for a minimum of 3 months) or hydrated masons lime (Type S) to 9 parts clean masons sand. Where available, a hydraulic lime mortar is preferable; made from 1 part Riverton HHL (hydrated hydraulic lime) to 3 parts masons sand (all parts by volume).

Masonry cracks in the stucco and brickwork often occur at the roof, corners, and occasionally in the walls, if uneven settlement has occurred. Superficial cracks can be mortar repaired; however large or deep structural cracks will need to be grouted or stitched using specialized materials and techniques by a qualified professional.

Missing and broken bricks should be replaced with those of similar size and water absorption properties to ensure compatibility. Recycled bricks are available from local suppliers. Wherever possible, original construction methods should be duplicated, such as bonding and coursing patterns, unless these have failed due to inadequate support or subsequent modifications to the tomb. Any changes to construction details should be carefully considered before execution, as these can cause serious future problems. Before relaying, all bricks should be thoroughly soaked in water for several hours to reduce suction. Finally, joints should be raked back to provide a mechanical key for new stucco.

All stucco should be gently sounded with an acrylic mallet to determine where it is detached. When tapped with the mallet, detached stucco produces a characteristic hollow sound. Remove non-ornamented detached stucco by hand with a hammer and masonry chisel. Cut the edge of sound stucco at an inward angle to provide a dovetail key for new stucco. Remove all loose dirt and debris from the masonry substrate with soft bristle brushes and dampen well all surrounding stucco and masonry brickwork prior to and after the application of new stucco.

Always apply stucco repair patches to the level of the existing stucco. Do not feather edges of new stucco repairs over adjacent existing stucco. Match existing texture using the appropriate wood or rubber float. If stucco was scored to replicate ashlar block, allow stucco to set until thumbprint hard and strike a shallow joint line in the same dimension and manner as the original. Flush fill all surface cracks and holes in order to provide a water tight skin. Finally, make sure all horizontal surfaces allow for proper water disposal.

A highly durable and compatible mix for new stucco and stucco repairs is 1 part Riverton hydrated hydraulic lime (HHL) to 2 parts fine masons sand (by volume). A blend of 1 part white Portland cement to 2 parts lime putty to 6 parts fine masons' sand may be used if the hydraulic lime is not locally available. Sound ornamental stucco, such as cornice moldings and pilasters, should always be preserved. However, missing areas requiring replacement can be duplicated carefully by recording the profile with a molding gauge and cutting a matching sheet metal template, which can then be used by a skilled mason to re-create the molded work in place. Hand rebuilding of moulded work should be avoided.

Opening quote: Allison Owen, "The Architectural Charm of Old New Orleans." Journal of the American Institute of Architects. vol. 1, (1913): 426.

Text adapted from St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Guidelines for Preservation and Restoration. The full document of guidelines can be downloaded as a pdf file. Go There.