Private Residence (RM)
St. Louis, MOThis historic brick residence in St. Louis is distinguished by an ornamental front parapet wall, with a center circle, curved shoulder transitions, copper coverings, Saturn-style finials and a central copper spire. Years of exposure had left the parapet masonry deteriorated and its copper coverings and the lower-roof gutter failing. When a hail storm caused extensive damage to the parapet wall the homeowner engaged Renaissance to restore the parapet and lower gutter so they matched the original design as closely as possible.
Work Included
- Rebuilding the front parapet wall using sound brick salvaged from the site, supplemented with reclaimed brick
- Reconstructing the ornamental masonry details, including the center circle and curved shoulder transitions
- Cut and point with mortar matched to the existing profile and color
- New 20 oz. copper parapet wall coverings and trim moldings, anchored with hidden copper cleats
- Custom 20 oz. copper Saturn-style finials and center spire, replicated from the originals
- New 20 oz. copper 6" K-style gutter on the lower roof, with ornamental spitter outlets matching the originals
THE CHALLENGE
Parapet walls are some of the most exposed parts of a historic building. They take on weather from both sides and from above, so failing coverings quickly lead to deteriorated brick and mortar. On this home, damaged masonry and sheet metal coverings had compromised the front parapet, and the lower-roof gutter was no longer draining the roof properly.
The parapet's ornamental features were one of a kind. The finials, spire, coverings and spitter outlets couldn't be bought off the shelf, and the curved masonry details had to be rebuilt by hand to match the original geometry.
THE RENAISSANCE SOLUTION
Renaissance carefully dismantled the damaged masonry and copper. Original components were kept as templates for duplication, and loose brick was harvested from the site so as much historic material as possible could go back into the wall. Masons rebuilt the parapet with the salvaged brick and reclaimed brick to match, recreated the center circle and curved shoulder transitions, and tuckpointed with mortar matched to the original profile and oxide color.
Our in-house copper studio fabricated new 20 oz. copper coverings, trim moldings, Saturn-style finials and a center spire to match the originals. Every piece was attached with hidden copper cleats, so no fasteners show. All seams were cleaned, fluxed, riveted and soldered. On the lower roof, a new 6" copper K-style gutter with recreated ornamental spitter outlets restored proper drainage. All finished brickwork was cleaned with environmentally safe masonry detergents.
THE RESULTS
The restored parapet again crowns the home's façade with its original ornamental character, from the rebuilt masonry details to the gleaming copper finials and spire. With sound masonry, fully soldered copper coverings and a new copper gutter system, this distinctive feature is protected for decades to come, and the work is backed by Renaissance's five-year workmanship warranty.
