How We Plan Masonry Work Around Tenants

When it comes to masonry work on occupied buildings: the contractor you choose can determine whether this project stays off your radar or becomes a daily crisis.

The right team plans around tenants, communicates clearly, and respects that people actually live in your building. Hire the wrong team and you'll be fielding angry calls by 7am because there's a brick saw running outside someone's bedroom window.

TL;DR: Planning masonry work in occupied buildings comes down to communication, phasing, and respecting that people actually live there. At JMS Masonry, we’ve been doing this in Boston's historic neighborhoods long enough to know the difference between contractors who get it and contractors who create headaches.

Why Tenant-Occupied Buildings Deserve Special Attention

An empty building is easy because you can make all the noise you want, leave equipment wherever, work weekends. But the second people are living there, everything changes.

We've repointed plenty of apartment complexes and condo buildings in the Greater Boston area, and we’ve seen it all before. We’re always willing to be as accommodating as possible. We can’t work in silence, but we want to work with you to determine the best course of action for your property.

The logistics get complicated fast, but that's exactly why planning matters.

How We Reduce Complications With Tenants

Phasing Work Makes Everyone's Life Easier

We don't show up and try to do everything at once. Especially with apartment repair in Boston, where buildings are older and projects can stretch on, we break the work into manageable phases.

Maybe we handle the south-facing wall first (the one that gets the worst weather), then move to the less urgent sections later. Or we tackle the upper floors before the ground level so dust and debris aren't raining down on everyone walking by.

What About Noise and Dust?

Obviously masonry work isn't silent. Grinders, saws, chipping hammers… it's loud. In terms of how loud it is, there’s generally not a lot we can do to control it.

If there’s heavy demo and cutting, we can work with you and see if we can save that for mid-morning to early afternoon. Just tell us what you need! 

In terms of dust, the really dusty work gets contained as much as possible, and we clean up daily because nobody wants mortar dust coating their car in the parking lot.

Communication Is Half the Job

Tenants Need to Know What's Happening

We recommend that property managers send out notices before we start, just to give tenants a heads up and let them know what’s happening and how long it’ll likely take.

We all know that tenants' minds will go to the worst places. If they see that we’re a brick restoration company, they may think the building is collapsing or something. A quick "We’ll have JMS Masonry here fixing the mortar joints… the building will look great when we're done… they’ll stay out of your way as much as possible" makes a huge difference.

Scheduling Around Boston Weather

New England weather throws curveballs. You can't repoint brick when it's 28 degrees, and you definitely can't do it when 20+ inches of snow is coming down.

So we build flexibility into the schedule. If we've got a two-week window and the forecast turns ugly, we adjust. That's why we stay in close contact with property managers throughout the project and you're not left guessing when we'll be back.

Emergency Repairs Are a Whole Different Animal

Sometimes you don't get to plan. A brick falls off the facade, mortar's crumbling, something's dangerous, and you need it fixed now.

Even then, we communicate with you so you can pass along the message to tenants. We explain why we're there, what we're doing, how long it'll take. Because we specialize in apartment repair in Boston and historic buildings, we move fast when we need to.

Why Historic Buildings Need Even More Care

Boston's full of 100+ year-old brick buildings, and they're beautiful, but they're also temperamental. The masonry techniques from the 1800s aren't the same as modern construction, and the materials need to match.

When we're working on a historic property in Back Bay or Beacon Hill (or anywhere, really), we're not just slapping new mortar in and calling it done. We're matching the original lime-based mortar, preserving the brick, and maintaining the character of the building. That takes time and skill.

Tenants might not notice the difference, but the building sure does. And so do landmark commissions if you're in a historic district.

About JMS Masonry | Historic Masonry in Boston

We've been doing masonry work in the greater Boston area for over a decade: tuckpointing, brick repair, facade restoration, chimney work, you name it. Our specialty? Historic buildings that need careful, skilled hands and contractors who actually understand how these old structures work.

JMS Masonry works with property managers and building owners who want the job done right, without turning their tenants' lives upside down. We know Boston's neighborhoods, we know the building stock, and we know how to plan masonry projects so everyone stays happy.

Ready to talk about your building? Contact JMS Masonry today for a free estimate. We'll walk the property, talk through the work, and put together a plan that actually works for occupied buildings. Because that's what we do.