by Braun Intertec | September 16, 2025

Every historic structure tells a story; not just through its design, but through the materials that have stood the test of time. Whether it’s the aged brick of a century-old university building or the ornate terra cotta of a treasured landmark, the historic materials that make up a structure are the foundation of its story. 

At Braun Intertec, we help preserve those stories by providing specialized consulting and testing services for historic materials. We bring the science you build on to help project teams understand and select compatible and appropriate repair or replacement materials to protect the original materials that give historic structures their unique character. 

Historic Materials we Work With

We evaluate a wide range of materials commonly found in historic structures, including mortar, stucco, brick, stone, concrete, terra cotta, terrazzo, and cast stone. Our specialists bring the knowledge, experience, and advanced tools needed to thoroughly assess each materials’ properties and conditions.

Materials Consulting Services 

Historic material preservation requires more than just testing and lab results; it demands insight and expertise. We provide the following consulting services to help guide the repair, restoration, and ongoing care of historic structures: 

• Compatible mortar selection so replacement mortar performs properly within the masonry system
• Repair and replacement material development to replicate historic materials where needed
• Specification and drawing reviews so restoration details meet both performance and preservation goals
• Material failure diagnostics to identify the root cause of failure and to prevent future premature deterioration
• Material support for project teams with technical data and recommendations
• Non-destructive evaluation to gather critical data without damaging the structure

Materials Testing Capabilities 

Our in-house laboratories provide comprehensive testing to assess material properties, components, and characteristics with specialized analyses tailored to preservation needs. Some of our physical property testing includes compression strength, flexural strength, water absorption, and density. Petrographic analysis is used to understand up-close the material composition and minerology. 

By combining in-depth testing with specialized consulting, we help project teams make informed, data-driven decisions that preserve both the structural integrity and historic character of buildings for generations to come. 

Contact our team today to discuss your project needs: Contact | Braun Intertec