Hewitt Masonry LLC, Frenchtown, NJ (2026)

10/06/2026

⚒️ Localized Foundation Repairs

Beautiful fall weather for some exterior foundation work today.

These repeat clients had several areas of deteriorated parging and material loss concentrated along the lower portion of their foundation. I started by excavating below grade where necessary and removing loose and deteriorated material back to a sound substrate. Each repair area was then thoroughly wire brushed, cleaned and pre-dampened before new material was installed.

I completed the repairs using Type S mortar with an acrylic bonding and fortifying agent. Some of the deeper areas required multiple applications to rebuild the original profile properly. I finished and blended the repairs into the surrounding masonry using a combination of sponge and brush techniques based on access and the existing texture.

This was a localized repair rather than a complete foundation resurfacing, so the goal was to restore the deteriorated areas while transitioning the new work naturally into the existing finish.

It was also nice catching up with repeat clients while we were all outside taking advantage of the weather. They worked on staining their deck while I made my way around the foundation, and everything came together smoothly.

A productive day and a satisfying repair from start to finish. 🌟

10/02/2026

⚒️ Three More Bays, a Joint & a Reset

Back at it this morning to wrap up a few additional items.

Three difficult to access masonry bays were packed heavily with Type S mortar, working around existing plumbing, electrical and framing to thoroughly fill the open areas. I also addressed the remaining exposed areas along the top of the foundation wall, filling and closing those sections where access allowed.

From there, I repointed a deteriorated joint along the rear door threshold, then moved outside to reset and repoint a loose bluestone discovered on the patio.

Everything was finished off with a thorough cleanup of the basement and the path through the house.

Grateful for the opportunity to continue caring for my client’s home. 🏠

10/01/2026

⚒️ Spreading Mud

Today was all about coating the interior of this old stone foundation with lime mortar.

Yesterday’s preparation left plenty of exposed stone, deep joints and irregular pockets to address. After a final cleaning and vacuuming, I started by packing the deeper areas and working mortar directly into the exposed masonry before gradually building out the surrounding surfaces.

Working around an oil tank, furnace, plumbing, electrical and other utilities made for some tight quarters, especially with the low overhead. Much of the application had to be worked carefully by hand and with a margin trowel, following the natural contours of the stone and reaching into the irregular areas as access allowed.

As the work progressed, I carried the lime mortar across the exposed wall surfaces rather than leaving behind a collection of isolated patches. Bare stone was covered, deeper areas were built out where needed, and the individual repairs were tied together into a consistent lime mortar finish.

With an old rubble stone foundation like this, perfectly flat isn’t the objective. The variations in the stone are part of the wall, so the mortar was packed and hard tooled to follow that existing character while providing solid coverage throughout the areas being addressed.

A lot of material moved through some very tight working conditions today, but the result was worth the effort. Both the client and I are very pleased with how the lime work came together. 💫

09/30/2026

⚒️ Historic Stone Foundation Repair

Always grateful to hear from a returning client. I worked at this property last year, and this time around the focus shifted primarily to the basement and some additional masonry repairs around the exterior.

I started outside with a little unfinished business from my previous visit: a loose bluestone tread we had wanted to reset last winter, but couldn’t get out of the patio because it was frozen solid at the time. Today it finally came up, the bed was prepared, and the stone was reset properly. From there, I addressed several localized mortar joints and masonry repairs around the exterior before moving inside.

Inside, much of the attention went to the upper portion of the foundation where the stone masonry meets the timber framing. Existing insulation and loose material were removed where accessible, followed by a careful pass around the perimeter addressing open joints and voids beneath the timbers, around sill areas and alongside existing utilities.

With plumbing, electrical, ductwork, framing and mechanical equipment throughout the space, access was tight in several areas and everything had to be approached carefully. The goal was to reach and properly address as much of the accessible masonry as possible without unnecessarily disturbing the surrounding systems.

From there, I moved on to preparing the main stone wall for a new lime mortar finish. The surface was worked primarily by hand with scrapers, a masonry hammer and wire brushes, removing loose, flaky and poorly bonded material while leaving sound existing material in place.

Given the age of the structure, the utilities throughout the work area and the floorboards directly overhead, controlled hand preparation made considerably more sense than unnecessarily generating dust with aggressive power tools. Once the preparation was complete, the basement was thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned.

The wall is now ready to move into the lime mortar work. Remaining open joints, deeper pockets and irregular areas will be addressed as needed while the new material is built out gradually and worked with the natural character of the existing stonework.

Older rubble stone foundations are rarely uniform, and that’s part of working with them. Remove what has failed, preserve what remains sound, address what is accessible and give the new work a properly prepared surface to bond to.

A very solid day.

09/23/2026

⚒️ Custom Restoration Mix

Currently working on a few test tiles to develop a custom restoration mix for an upcoming historic masonry repair.

I’m testing river sand as an aggregate addition and experimenting with gradation, texture, and finishing technique. The finer material is giving me the natural variation I’m looking for, but the next step is introducing a larger aggregate fraction to bring more of the original character into the finish.

Once the aggregate and texture are dialed in, the final step will be adjusting the color to complement the existing masonry.

Sometimes matching old masonry means making the material before you can make the repair.

09/07/2026

⚒️ Labor Day Spray

Back to a familiar project this Labor Day morning to take advantage of a good weather window and apply a penetrating water repellent to this previously restored bluestone patio.

The patio was cleared and blown clean before receiving a thorough inspection. I was very pleased to find the restored cheek walls and pointing holding up beautifully, with no cracking observed anywhere.

The entire patio was then thoroughly treated with PROSOCO Siloxane PD. The treatment penetrates the masonry to reduce water absorption while allowing it to remain breathable, helping protect against water-related cracking, spalling and staining. This added protection is especially worthwhile given the age and existing weathering of some of the original bluestone.

Always satisfying to return to a project, see the restoration performing well, and add another measure of protection heading into the fall and winter seasons.

Most of all, I’m extremely grateful to my clients for their continued trust, support and repeat business. Being invited back to care for a property I’ve previously worked on means a great deal to me. ✨

08/31/2026

⚒️ A Wall for the Weekend

Wrapped up this dry stack natural fieldstone garden wall today, just in time for a wedding being held here this weekend.

The goal was to create a natural border that complemented the existing garden, with the greatest mass concentrated through the center to follow the shape and elevation of the planting bed.

I started by excavating down to solid virgin clay and thoroughly compacting the subgrade twice. I followed with a compacted aggregate base, also thoroughly packed twice, before beginning the stonework.

From there, every piece of fieldstone was individually selected, fitted, and stacked by hand. With natural stone, the material ultimately dictates the finished composition. Every piece is different, and the challenge is finding where each one belongs while maintaining solid bearing, overlapping joints, and a cohesive finished profile.

The result is a simple, rustic wall that feels right at home in the landscape. A wedding ceremony will take place just beyond the garden this weekend, putting the new stonework right alongside the setting where the couple will tie the knot.

Pretty damn cool knowing something I built today will become a small part of the backdrop to somebody else’s very big day.

Grateful for the opportunity and the trust. 🎊

08/26/2026

⚒️ Connection Complete

What began as an open concrete transition on a slight slope between two established outdoor spaces has now become a fully integrated custom bluestone connector.

The layout began with a cross-section reference taken from the back patio, providing a basis for stone selection, joint proportions, and the overall pattern. From that starting point, the field was developed cleanly from end to end, with the layout carried in a manner complementary to the X and Y axes of the house and the surrounding stonework.

Within that framework, geometry became the defining feature of the connector. Squares and rectangles provide structure through the field, while triangles, tapered pieces, long points, and custom cuts negotiate the changing angles along the perimeter. Sweeping arcs carry the surrounding masonry lines through the installation, allowing dozens of individually shaped stones to resolve into one cohesive composition.

Each transition required careful control of fit, elevation, and joint placement while accounting for the natural variation inherent in dimensional bluestone. Final adjustments refined the joint lines without sacrificing the proportions, points, and curves established during fabrication and setting.

Today, the entire connector was pointed in one continuous operation. The finished joints define the pattern, reinforce the geometry, and visually unite the individual pieces while preserving the natural character of the stone.

The result is a purpose-built connection shaped around the architecture, existing masonry, and landscape, allowing the new work to feel like a natural extension of the property.

Tomorrow I’ll return for a final cleanup and inspection of the completed area.

My sincere thanks to my clients for their continued trust and for the opportunity to continue building upon the work we’ve completed together. 💫

08/25/2026

⚒️ Dialing It In

Today brought the bluestone connector through its final stages of fitting and setting.

The remaining pieces were set, completing the field and closing the transitions around the curved garden wall and existing patio. From there, I worked systematically through the new installation, refining joint widths, correcting tight intersections, and making the final adjustments necessary for proper pointing.

Particular attention went into the curved perimeter, where small corrections were made to maintain clean, consistent spacing along the arcs without compromising the carefully fitted stonework. Several field joints received similar attention where needed.

With the fitting, setting, and joint preparation complete, the entire connector is ready for pointing tomorrow, when the joints will bring it all together. ⚙️💎🎯

08/24/2026

⚒️ Custom Bluestone Terrace Connection | Setting the Transitions

A really productive day on the bluestone connector.

Twenty individually fitted pieces were set today, working through the transitions one stone at a time and bringing the entire layout together.

With so many custom shapes meeting existing stonework, curved borders, steps, and the garden wall, every piece has its own personality. Some required substantial mortar beds, others needed very little, and each one had to be carefully adjusted to keep the finished surface flowing naturally throughout.

By the end of the day, the transformation was pretty dramatic. The field is established, the curves are reading beautifully, and only six pieces remain to be set.

A handful of the tighter joints will get some final attention before repointing begins, but the stonework itself came together exceptionally well.

The client happened to catch today’s progress toward the end of the day and is very pleased with how everything is taking shape. 🧩📐🎯

Hewitt Masonry LLC

10/06/2026

10/02/2026

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

09/23/2026

09/07/2026

08/31/2026

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08/25/2026

08/24/2026

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