A former 20th century automotive repair and storage building on the Episcopal High School Campus, which was renovated in 2014 to serve as faculty housing, featured a 100-foot tall historic Alphons Custodis smokestack built from wedge-shaped radial bricks. Deterioration of the cap parging enabled water to erode the mortar joints over the years and caused the structure to become unstable and develop a lean.

In the summer of 2021, Worcester Eisenbrandt Inc. was contracted to stabilize and restore the smokestack. Work began by erected a scaffold tower to fully encompass the smokestack. The leaning portion of the smokestack (approximately 20 feet in height) and heavy cast iron strapping were dismantled down to stable masonry and the corbeled top section was rebuilt using the salvaged brick. Then the remaining 2,250 square feet of masonry was cleaned and 100% of the mortar joints were cut out and repointed.

 In order the prevent future water damage, a new concrete cap ring was formed and cast in place on top of the smokestack with a positive slope to shed water away from the opening. The lightning rods and cables were replaced bringing the system up to modern codes and standards before finally dismantling the access scaffold. The project was completed in six weeks to the client’s satisfaction.