RTM Masonry

Victoria's Trusted Masons

Heritage Restoration in the oldest Chinatown in Canada

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We are proudly undertaking yet another restoration in a heritage building located in a historic area of Victoria. This time is a marvellous 1903 jewel is Chinatown, situated right next to the Chinese Public School (also on the Heritage registry, and a building that has been entrusted to our skilled crew as well.)

Chinatown Image

The Gee Tuck Tong Benevolent Association Building is a fundamental part of the group of early buildings that define the historic character of the Chinatown in Victoria, one of the few in North America to retain significant clusters of valuable heritage and historical buildings. Victoria’s is Chinatown also notable as the oldest Chinatown in Canada and only second in North America to San Francisco’s.

Scaffolding Chinatown

In 1995 the entire district was designated a National Historic Site of Canada, but the heritage character and importance of this particular property had been formally recognized by the Canadian Register of Historic Places in early 1992.

The building was built in 1903, design for retail stores at street level and the association rooms above with a narrow passage to a tenement at the back. (The photography on the left shows the Scaffolding setup against the wall of the tenement area). The entire structure of the building speaks of an era where the area’s budding population was struggling to retain its roots and identity, while incorporating themselves to the nascent western Canadian way of life.

Once again, we found ourselves immersed in a project that brings us to the very roots of what means, in historical terms to be a Victorian. A project that really challenges our pride in our craftsmanship and our skills to perform to do sensitive masonry repairs on historical buildings. How can we not love this job?

The Importance of Being Earnest (About Having that Chimney Rebuilt or Re-Pointed)

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A home is not quite so much a home without that fire crackling in your chimney on a winter evening, while the wind blows and the cold air fogs up the windows – or it’s rainy, or snowing… just dream up your own nasty winter weather; because the uglier outside the nicer it feels indoor, thanks to the primeval glow of that fireplace…

But to be able to enjoy that magical moment thoroughly, you need to trust your home is safe and sound; in particular, the parts of it that will take hold of those flames and channel the smoke safely up into the heavens – so let’s talk a bit about the importance of having your chimney rebuilt or re-pointed.

Chimney Rebuilt

Chimney Rebuilt

Chimney re-pointing, or rebuilding, is roughly speaking the process of removing the old mortar and replacing it with new one. Along the way we might also replace broken parts or those deteriorated beyond all possible restoration.

The process calls for an specialist that can read the condition of mortar and brickwork and understands the process thoroughly. The removal of the old mortar requires extreme care to avoid damaging the masonry, while at the same time ensuring the joint is left clean and in proper shape and depth for best mortar re-pointing.

The cosmetic side of this job, the immediate uplift it gives to your home in terms of looks and value, is obvious and needs no explanation – just take a look at these before/after pictures:

Chimney Before
Chimney After

But there is more than just cosmetics at play here – re-pointing is a necessary part of maintenance that shouldn’t be overlooked at risk of incurring bigger problems and expenses further down the road.

Over time, weather and normal decay and deterioration may cause the masonry joints to vacate in places, allowing for water to enter and smoke to leak out. If left unattended it can even undermine the structural integrity of the chimney itself.

At RTM Masonry we understand the intricacies of this job and we can help you determine if your chimney needs re-pointing at this time. We can get you right back into your winter dream – so call us before winter arrives!

Bricklayers in Pink

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Anti BullyingOur workers and their families, wearing pink T-shirts that announced to the world: “We’re bricklayers … not bullies” posed for a picture at the Empress Hotel (where we have been working on a full masonry restoration of the original phase of the hotel for the last several months) and were joined by our Premier, Christy Clark.

Similar efforts were widespread throughout the province. We are so proud of playing a part, however small, to raise awareness on this relevant and pressing issue!

Copper ImageWe even made the news! You can see us and read about this event in CheckTV and the Times Colonist

Of course, in the meantime work carries on as usual. We have completed the brick at Hudson Walk and we are looking forward to working on the next tower of this multi-phase venture, while at the Fairmont Empress site, the work on the north chimney continued and we got to do some very interesting work on copper roofing installation – you can see some video of it on our Facebook page.

Safety First! We are COR Certified by WorkSafe BC

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As you probably know, if you’ve ever dealt with us, we constantly strive to go well above and beyond the minimum requirements for health and safety. As a matter of fact, Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. is the only masonry company on Vancouver Island with a Certified Quantity Surveyor on staff, and also the only masonry company on Vancouver Island that has a Certified Safety Officer and is COR Certified by WorkSafe BC.

But what does this mean, really? 

COR Certified

Well, the Certificate of Recognition (COR) is given to employers who participate in “WorkSafeBC’s voluntary Partners in Injury and Disability Prevention Program“,  a program for employers who create and adhere to health and safety management systems, with views to  improve workplace safety and help injured workers return to work in a safe and timely way. Throughout the program, the employers work with a Certifying Partner to meet the program’s very high standards. In order to actually get the Certificate of Recognition the employer then has to pass a thorough audit.

It means we always think in terms of “Safety First“: our employees are safety conscious, our managers strict and vigilant in all safety related issues, and our equipment always adequate to the task at hand, well kept and inspected according to manufacturer’s specifications and always of the foremost standards in terms of quality. At its most fundamental level, it means our company itself is geared to work in this fashion. At Rob Tournour Masonry Ltd. Safety First is not just the Best Practice, but the Only Practice.

Because of our safety conscious approach, we have less man-hours and work-hours loss, and much less of a whole host of other expensive costs associated with unsafe practices. Therefore we can pass the savings to you – both in terms of time and money – and we can deliver our work in schedule. Always.