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IN THE NEWS:
QUIKRETE® SUPPORTS RESTORATION OF HISTORIC MARTIN HOUSE BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT |
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The QUIKRETE® Companies
supplied specially formulated mortar to aid in the $23 million restoration of the Darwin D. Martin House
complex, designed and built by world-renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. Determined to remain faithful
to Wright's original design and materials, The QUIKRETE® Companies expertly matched the new mortar
with historic mortar applied more than 100 years ago.
 The project, the third in the four-stage restoration/rehabilitation plan, focused on rebuilding
masonry walls, restoring face brick and matching mortar for the interior "backup" brick on the
10,000-square-foot main house, Martin House, and a 100-foot-long covered walkway (pergola) connecting the
Martin House to an interior garden in the complex's glass-roofed conservatory.
Amidst high expectations, the project required an extraordinary effort to uncover the mortar formula
that exactly matched the historic mortar in texture, grit and color gradation, as well as preserved the
home's historical accuracy and aesthetic beauty.
Under the direction of King Brothers Masonry Contractors Inc., The QUIKRETE® Companies supplied
different types of sand from gravel pits throughout the northeast to match the color and texture of the
historic mortar. Matching was made particularly difficult as there were no historical records kept on the
original masonry-formulations used in the construction.
"There were many issues faced in matching the mortar and the face brick. The home was originally
constructed between 1903 and 1905, so time, age, weather and the inconsistency of old material had
certainly taken its toll on the landmark," said Gregg Schiltz, project foreman for King Brothers Masonry.
 To further facilitate the matching effort, QUIKRETE® representatives were asked to mix the
aggregate by hand for exactly five minutes, using a stop watch, to ensure uniformity was reached in the
absorption rate within each batch. More than 60 different test panels were required throughout this
evaluation process.
"The overall goal was to recreate the original materials used in the project not only in size
and color but also in aesthetics and practice," stated Dennis Winchester, QUIKRETE® executive vice
president. "Our expertise allowed us to respond to these job parameters with effective selection,
delivery and consistency solutions. We were privileged to aid in the rebirth of this significant part
of architectural and American history; embodied in the Martin House complex."
 The QUIKRETE® Companies were also responsible for matching mortar used to install interior
brick, which was lighter and required the use of white sand. Using an older striking method, masons
cut off the mortar flush with the face of the brick and cleaned the masonry unit with a rag at the
end of each day. As a result, this combination of materials and technique provided excellent contrast
to the exposed interior walls.
All told, King Brothers Masonry used 130 3,000-pound "super sacks" of QUIKRETE® Type N Mortar,
formulated with white cement, Type S hydrated lime and aggregate from Frey Sand & Gravel, in addition
to 120 "super sacks" of QUIKRETE® Type N Mortar, formulated with white cement, Type S hydrated
lime and buff-colored masonry sand.
"Success was achieved due in a large part to the effort, choices and expertise put forth by The
QUIKRETE® Companies," said Schiltz, "Their outstanding quality and service is unmatched, and these
factors made our job a lot easier both in the office and out in the field."
Currently in its final phase, the Martin House complex restoration is scheduled for completion
in late 2007. |
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