Masonry Contractors in Cherokee Triangle, KY

The Cherokee Triangle began in 1870, when Henning and Speed laid out the Highland Addition with 150 lots averaging 60 by 180 feet. Most building came in the 1880s, and after Olmsted's 409-acre Cherokee Park opened in 1891, the neighborhood quickly became a place for affluent families to build. Masonry contractors in Cherokee Triangle work on that legacy: large brick houses in an eclectic mix of styles, deep front yards with stone walls and steps and chimneys that have stood for well over a century. About 4,290 people lived here in 2000.

A preservation district since 1975

The Cherokee Triangle was designated a local preservation district in 1975. Louisville Metro's Office of Planning says exterior alterations and projects there generally need a Certificate of Appropriateness depending on scope, approved by staff or the Cherokee Triangle Architectural Review Committee under the approved design guidelines. The Urban Design Team manages the process. For masonry, that means the materials and methods matter as much as the result. We give you a written scope that names the mortar, any replacement brick or stone and how the work will be done.

What old Triangle masonry needs

Brick from the 1880s is softer than modern brick, and it was laid in lime mortar. On these houses we:

• Repoint selectively, only where joints are unsound, as Metro guideline M8 recommends
• Use hand tools narrower than the joint where possible, per M9
• Mix soft mortar, high in lime and low in portland cement, per M13
• Match brick in bond pattern, coursing, color, size and strength, per M5
• Avoid stronger brick that would outlast and damage the old, per M7

The goal is a repair you cannot pick out from the sidewalk.

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Chimneys, porches and steps

Tall brick chimneys on Triangle houses take a beating from weather and old trees. Eroded tops, cracked crowns and leaning stacks are common. We rebuild from sound brick, set a proper crown and match the corbeling and details of the original. Front porches and steps, often stone or brick on brick piers, settle and loosen over time. We reset or rebuild them on a solid base and match the original materials.

Next to the park

The neighborhood runs along Bardstown Road on its southwest side and up to Cherokee Park. Large trees, sloped lots and deep yards mean lots of garden walls and stone steps, and roots and frost loosen them. We rebuild loose sections with matched stone and leave room for drainage so the wall can shed water.

Limestone and sandstone details

Many Triangle houses use limestone or sandstone for sills, lintels, steps and foundation caps. Natural stone weathers differently from brick, and cement patches on it usually fail. We remove failed patches, repair with compatible materials or piece in new stone, and repoint the joints with soft mortar so the stone can breathe. Where a step or sill has cracked through, we can replace it with matching stone.

What we do in Cherokee Triangle

• Historic repointing with compatible mortar
• Chimney repair and rebuilding
• Stone steps, walls and porches
• Brick repair and replacement with matched brick
• Limestone and sandstone repair
• Garden and retaining walls

Call (502) 443-8557 to set up a visit in the Cherokee Triangle.