Assessment of Historic Structures for code compliance, renovation, remediation, or additions

CMS has amassed much significant experience in the assessment, rehabilitation and retrofit of historic buildings, especially those characteristic to timber and masonry structures built in the late 1800’s, early 1900’s throughout the south. When renovating or restoring these old buildings often renovation work falls under the authority of the relevant Department of Archives and History. Most of the existing historic buildings have exterior masonry walls. When assessing walls that are 100 years old or older there usually a high probability that some type of deterioration will be discovered. Deterioration in masonry can be a result of several factors including; poor original design or design materials, corrosion and incompatibility of secondary materials, movement of settlement of the supporting foundation, and moisture infiltration. Moisture damage can facilitate chemical breakdown of the masonry and/or facilitate freeze/thaw fractures. Generally the wood in these older buildings was harvested from virgin pine timber native to these south eastern United States. This timber is noted for its substantial strength, much higher than that of lumber harvested from our current fast growth timber. Although this virgin pine lumber is stronger it remains susceptible to moisture, which produces rotting and deterioration, and long term creep deflection can produce undesirable service conditions.