Connecticut & New England
Restoration Cleaning & Finishes
Professional masonry cleaning, vapor-permeable waterproofing, and traditional finishes: lime wash, German smear, and whitewash. The right finishing touches to protect and beautify historic chimneys, foundations, walls, and facades.
Beyond structural restoration, the right cleaning and finishing protects and beautifies historic masonry. We provide professional masonry cleaning and vapor-permeable waterproofing (the kind that keeps water out while still letting the wall breathe) for chimneys, foundations, walls, and facades.
We also apply traditional lime-based finishes: lime wash, German smear, and whitewash. They're all part of the same family with slightly different elements and looks, from a soft mottled coat to a heavier mortar-smeared finish, and they're a beautiful, breathable way to unify and preserve historic brick and stone.
- ✓Professional masonry cleaning
- ✓Vapor-permeable waterproofing
- ✓Lime wash
- ✓German smear
- ✓Whitewash
- ✓Chimneys, foundations, walls, and facades
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Restoration Cleaning & Finishes FAQs
What's the difference between lime wash, German smear, and whitewash?
They're all traditional lime-based finishes in the same family, with slightly different elements and looks. Lime wash is a thin, breathable coat that softens the color; German smear is a heavier mortar-smeared finish that partially covers the brick; whitewash sits between them. We'll help you choose the look that suits the building.
Is your waterproofing safe for historic masonry?
Yes. We use vapor-permeable waterproofing that keeps water out while letting the wall dry. Standard sealers trap moisture and make damage worse, so they have no place on a historic envelope.
Will a lime finish damage my brick?
No, lime finishes are breathable and compatible with historic masonry, which is exactly why they've been used for centuries. They protect and unify the surface without sealing in moisture.