Historic Building Restoration in NJ

Why Historic Buildings Require a Specialized Contractor

Old buildings don't fail the way new ones do. They were built with materials and techniques that modern construction routinely gets wrong — soft brick, lime-based mortar, hand-carved stone, structural systems where every piece of masonry depends on every other. When repairs are made with the wrong materials, the building doesn't just look wrong. It deteriorates faster than if nothing had been done at all.

The most common mistake we're called in to undo: hard Portland-cement mortar applied to soft historic brick. Cement is harder than the brick around it, so when the wall moves, the brick spalls and cracks instead of the joint flexing. A repair done in one year creates a worse problem within five.

Additional Information

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Preservation

Rehabilitation

Maintaining and repairing existing historic materials. The least invasive approach.

Typical JKC work: mortar joint repair, stabilization of existing stone, careful cleaning, minimal intervention.

Rehabilitation

Repairing and altering a historic property for contemporary use while retaining its historic character. The most common approach — and the one eligible for federal tax credits.

Typical JKC work: facade repair, lintel replacement, code-compliant updates, brownstone restoration.

Restoration

Reconstruction

Returning a property to its appearance during a specific historic period.

Typical JKC work: stone resetting and rebuilding, replication of original details, period-accurate repair.

Reconstruction

Re-creating a non-surviving building or feature based on documentary evidence. The rarest approach.

Typical JKC work: stone carving and fabrication, replication of damaged or missing elements.

Our Historic Restoration Services

Historic Brick Repointing and Mortar Matching

Failing mortar joints are the most common condition on historic buildings. We remove

deteriorated mortar without damaging the surrounding brick, then repoint with a mortar

matched to the original in composition, color, hardness, and joint profile. For projects requiring

documentation, we can have existing mortar analyzed to confirm the specification.

Stone Resetting, Rebuilding, Carving & Replication

Stonework is often the defining feature of a historic building — and the hardest to restore

properly. Our team handles stone resetting, structural rebuilding, repair of cracked or

deteriorated stone, and replication where original elements are damaged beyond repair. We

carve and fabricate when matching original detail is required.

Terra Cotta Repair & Stabilization

Terra cotta was used heavily on early 20th-century commercial and ecclesiastical buildings

throughout New Jersey. It's beautiful and fragile. We repair damaged units, stabilize loose or

cracking elements, and replace beyond-repair pieces using preservation-focused methods that

maintain the original appearance.

Façade Stabilization & Structural Reinforcement

When historic façades begin to bow, separate, or fail, we stabilize them using anchor pinning

systems, helical ties, and lintel replacement. Our work follows engineering specifications and is

designed to address root causes — not just the visible damage.

Brownstone Restoration

Brownstone is one of New Jersey's signature historic materials, and it degrades in characteristic

ways: surface erosion, delamination, sugaring, and stone face loss. We patch, consolidate, and

selectively replace brownstone using methods compatible with the original material.

Monumental Entry Stair & Landing Rebuilding

The front entry of a historic building is the most visible — and often the most damaged —

feature. We rebuild and restore monumental stairs, landings, and decorative entry masonry while addressing the underlying settlement or movement that caused the failure.

Forensic Investigation

Some historic conditions can't be diagnosed from the outside. We perform probe work, infrared

scans for moisture and leak paths, mortar analysis, and drone documentation of tall façades,

towers, and parapets that aren't safely accessible by other means. This investigation work is

often what allows us to give an accurate scope and quote.

Stained Glass Wood Frame Restoration

For churches and historic buildings with stained glass windows, the wood frames and

surrounding masonry are often the failure point — not the glass itself. We restore and repair

wood frames in coordination with stained glass specialists.

Historic Site Bird-Proofing

Bird damage is a common and underappreciated issue on historic religious and civic buildings.

We install bird-proofing systems designed to be visually unobtrusive and reversible — consistent

with preservation principles.

Common Conditions We're Called In to Fix

We're often called when years of gradual deterioration finally becomes visible — or unsafe.

Typical conditions include:

Failing or open mortar joints across large façade sections
Cracked, spalled, or displaced brick and stone
Rusted steel lintels causing masonry movement around windows and doors
Bowing or separating façade walls
Deteriorated parapet walls and roofline masonry
Damaged or failing terra cotta elements
Surface erosion, sugaring, or face loss on brownstone
Unsafe entry stairs, landings, and monumental approaches
Water infiltration through historic façades
Past repairs done with incompatible materials (hard cement mortar on soft brick is the most common)

Left unaddressed, these conditions escalate. What was a maintenance project becomes an

emergency stabilization. We'd rather see your building before that happens.

Our Restoration Process

1. Site visit and visual assessment.

We come out, walk the building with you, and document existing conditions through photographs and notes. There's no cost for the initial visit.

2. Forensic investigation when needed.

For conditions that can't be diagnosed visually, we perform probe work, mortar analysis, infrared moisture scans, or drone documentation of inaccessible areas.

3. Treatment recommendation.

We identify which of the Secretary of the Interior's four treatments applies to your project, and we write up a clear scope of work aligned to that treatment.

4. Coordination with your team.

If you're working with an architect, structural engineer, or a local Historic Preservation Commission, we work directly with them. We're fluent in the Certificate of Appropriateness process.

5. Material sourcing and matching.

We source brick, stone, and mortar matched to the original. For mortar specifically, we mix and test samples on a discrete area of the building before the full job begins.

6. Restoration execution. Work

Work is performed by our trained crew with clear, ongoing communication about progress, schedule, and any conditions discovered along the way.

7. Documentation and handoff.

On completion, we provide photo documentation and any records needed for HPC sign-off or tax credit applications.

Working with Architects, Engineers and Historic Preservation

Most significant historic projects involve a team. We routinely work alongside:

Architectural firms specializing in historic preservation
Structural engineers
Local Historic Preservation Commissions across Northern New Jersey
Church leadership, school facilities directors, and property management teams

If your building sits within a designated historic district — such as those administered by Jersey

City, Paterson, Glen Ridge, Montclair, or any other municipal HPC — we understand the

Certificate ofAppropriateness process and structure our scope and documentation to support

approval.

For projects pursuing federal or state historic preservation tax credits, work performed under

the Rehabilitation treatment must meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. We can

perform and document work to that standard.

Why Property Owners Choose JK Contracting LLC

14+ Years of Direct Restoration Experience.

Founder Jordan Krawczyk has 14 years of hands-on restoration experience, including a Lead Foreman role at Union Stone Cleaning and

Restoration prior to founding JKC. Historic work isn't a service we expanded into — it's where we

come from.

Family-Owned, Detail-Driven.

We're not a volume contractor. We take on projects where quality matters and where craftsmanship makes the difference. Every job is treated with the same care we'd give our own buildings.

Fluent in the Professional Ecosystem.

We work directly with architects, engineers, property managers, and Historic Preservation Commissions — and we speak their language. You won't be translating for us.

Built for Longevity.

We solve problems at the root cause, not at the surface. Historic buildings deserve repairs that last decades, not years.

North Jersey Specialists.

We work across Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, and Passaic Counties — and we travel beyond that range for significant historic projects.

Frequently Asked Questions About Historic Restoration

Please reach us at jkc.certified@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What is the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties?

A federal framework that defines how historic buildings should be treated. It was codified in 1995 and is the basis for federal historic preservation tax credits, Certificate of Appropriateness approvals at the local level, and most professional historic preservation work in the United States. New Jersey adopted these standards in N.J. Admin. Code § 7:4-8.3.

Do you work to Secretary of the Interior Standards?

Yes. Our restoration work is performed and documented in accordance with these standards, which is required for tax credit eligibility and most local HPC approvals.

Can you match historic brick, stone, and mortar?

Yes. Material matching is one of the most important parts of historic restoration and one we focus on closely. For mortar specifically, we can have existing mortar analyzed to confirm the specification, then mix and test samples on the building before the full job.

What's the difference between preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration?

These are three of the four treatments defined by the Secretary of the Interior. Preservation

maintains and repairs what's there with minimal intervention. Rehabilitation adapts a building for contemporary use while keeping its historic character — this is the most common approach and the one eligible for tax credits. Restoration returns a building to its appearance during a specific historic period. The fourth treatment, reconstruction, re-creates non-surviving features and is the rarest.

Do you work with architects and engineers on historic projects?

Yes. Most significant historic projects involve a design team, and we coordinate directly with

architects and structural engineers from the planning phase through completion.

Can you help us obtain a Certificate ofAppropriateness from our local HPC?

We support the Certificate ofAppropriateness process by structuring our scope and

documentation to meet HPC requirements. The Certificate itself is issued by the local

Commission, but our work is designed to satisfy what they review.

Do you work on brownstones?

Yes. Brownstone restoration — patching, consolidation, and selective replacement — is part of our regular work in Northern NJ.

What happens if we use the wrong mortar on a historic building?

Hard mortar (typically modern Portland-cement based) on soft historic brick is the most

common error. When the wall moves, the brick spalls and cracks instead of the joint flexing. A poor repair done today often creates worse damage within a few years than the original problem would have produced.

Can our project qualify for historic preservation tax credits?

If your building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or contributes to a registered historic district, and the project meets the Rehabilitation treatment standards, it may qualify for federal historic preservation tax credits. New Jersey also has a state-level historic preservation tax credit program. We perform and document work to the standards these programs require, but the credit applications themselves are typically handled by your architect, consultant, or tax advisor.

How long does a typical historic façade restoration take?

It depends entirely on scope, building size, season, and conditions discovered during work.

Smaller repointing jobs may run 2-6 weeks; full façade restorations on larger buildings can run several months. We'll provide a realistic schedule after the site visit.

What service areas in Northern NJ do you cover for historic projects?

Our primary service area is Hudson, Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, and Passaic Counties. We travel beyond that range for significant historic projects.

Historic Building Restoration in Northern New Jersey

Why Historic Buildings Require a Specialized Contractor

Additional Information

The Four Treatments We Work To

Preservation

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation

Restoration

Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Reconstruction

Our Historic Restoration Services

Historic Brick Repointing and Mortar Matching

Stone Resetting, Rebuilding, Carving & Replication

Terra Cotta Repair & Stabilization

Façade Stabilization & Structural Reinforcement

Brownstone Restoration

Monumental Entry Stair & Landing Rebuilding

Forensic Investigation

Stained Glass Wood Frame Restoration

Historic Site Bird-Proofing

Common Conditions We're Called In to Fix

Typical conditions include:

Our Restoration Process

1. Site visit and visual assessment.

2. Forensic investigation when needed.

3. Treatment recommendation.

4. Coordination with your team.

5. Material sourcing and matching.

6. Restoration execution. Work

7. Documentation and handoff.

Working with Architects, Engineers and Historic Preservation

Featured Historic Restoration Projects

Why Property Owners Choose JK Contracting LLC

14+ Years of Direct Restoration Experience.

Family-Owned, Detail-Driven.

Fluent in the Professional Ecosystem.

Built for Longevity.

North Jersey Specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions About Historic Restoration

Service Area

JK Contracting LLC serves historic buildings throughout Northern New Jersey, including:

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