10/07/2026
Bringing 180+ Years of History Back to Life
We were originally contacted by our wonderful client when the 1970s stamped parge overlay on their circa 1840 property had begun deteriorating and falling apart, along with a number of other structural and water-intrusion concerns throughout the property.
The question was simple:
Could we bring the original stone façade back to life?
We brought in our trusted heritage structural engineers, G. Douglas Vallee Limited, to assess the property and help guide us in the right direction. Once their heritage assessment and recommendations were completed, we got straight to work—starting with the front façade.
When the old parging was carefully removed, the answer became clear.
The original stone was not only still there—it had been remarkably well preserved underneath.
What had been hidden for decades was a beautiful historic stone façade. Our focus shifted to carefully restoring what was there, preserving as much of the original material and character as possible, rather than simply covering it up again.
So far, we’ve:
▪️ Removed the deteriorating 1970s stamped parge to expose the original stone
▪️ Carefully sandblasted the exposed stone to remove stubborn, stuck-on material and tooling marks, revealing the natural character and texture of the original masonry
▪️ Replaced the deteriorated wooden window sills with new stone sills
▪️ Replaced spalled brick and completed selective repointing at the chimney
▪️ Removed poor later block repairs where original doorways had once been, rebuilding those areas using reclaimed original stone recovered right here on site
▪️ Completed selective masonry repairs and repointing while preserving the existing stone wherever possible
There’s something pretty special about uncovering craftsmanship that has been hidden for generations and getting the opportunity to give it a second life.
The stone restoration is coming together, but we’re not finished yet.
This restoration has been a collaborative effort, with specialized masonry work carried out by our masonry trade partners. We appreciate the skill and craftsmanship involved in carefully restoring this historic stonework while preserving as much of the property's original character as possible.
One of the next steps will be aging the new sills and replacement stone so they better complement the existing historic masonry.
Then we move on to the next phase:
Cladding repairs and replacements, including enlarged 6" eavestroughs and downspouts designed to handle the steep roof, new fascia, soffit and frieze board, along with an integrated gutter and splash-guard system to help keep the water where it belongs.
And, of course, the replacement of the two aging upper level side decks.
Swipe through for the transformation—from demolition and discovery to restoration and final installation.
At J AND M CONSTRUCTION, we’re always here to help find solutions to challenging properties.
If you own a heritage property that needs restoration or repair and you're not sure where to start, give us a call. We can help assess the situation, bring in the right professionals when required, and help guide the project from the initial investigation through to completion.
Our goal is simple: get you on the right track—and keep you there—for a smooth, well-coordinated and stress-free experience.
Serving Dundas, Hamilton, Ancaster, Burlington & surrounding areas.
SIMPLE. QUALITY. CRAFTSMANSHIP.
Check us out @ www.jandmconstruction.ca
Get in touch today:
[email protected]
(905) 407 - 0267
