A Cleveland.com “House of the Week” feature is putting a spotlight on a 1932 brick home near Lake Erie, listed at $1.59 million. While the story is aimed at homebuyers, it also lands on a point mason contractors see every day: brick is not just a look, it is an asset that can hold value for decades when it is maintained correctly.
Older brick homes are often judged quickly from the curb. Straight, uniform mortar joints, clean brick faces, and crisp details around windows and doors can signal a building that has been cared for. On the flip side, stained masonry, cracked joints, and patchwork repairs can raise red flags for buyers, inspectors, and lenders, even when the rest of the property is in great shape.
For contractors evaluating any prewar brick home, especially near a lake, the conversation usually comes back to fundamentals. Are mortar joints tight, or is repointing needed. Is there spalling brick where moisture has cycled through the wall. Do chimneys, parapets, and sills show signs of water entry. Are steel lintels over openings protected, or is rust jacking pushing brick out of plane. Those are practical, visible issues that can drive scope, schedule, and budget on restoration work.
High-end listings like this also highlight why “quick fixes” can backfire. Brick cleaning, tuckpointing, and flashing repairs are specialized work, and material choices matter. Matching mortar, controlling water, and respecting the original brick are key to repairs that last, and that protect the home’s appearance in the process.
Read the original article at Cleveland.com