Architectural Terra Cotta In-Situ Repairs

Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 12-1 p.m. Eastern Time
1 LU/HSW

Architectural terra cotta has evolved from its historical use as a feature within masonry facade assemblies to its present use as a full building cladding system. Get an overview of terra cotta facade construction and learn how the wall system functions. We’ll discuss both material characteristics and pathological tendencies . The material properties and construction of terra cotta that make it so beautiful and beloved can also make it vulnerable to damage. Understanding these factors is essential to developing appropriate repair and restoration solutions. Join us for a deep dive on appropriate system solutions and in-situ repairs, including improved water management strategies, treatment of corroded steel units, composite patching, glaze replication, cleaning, supplemental anchorage, and options for replacement. Trained craftworkers with expertise in terra cotta restoration play a significant role in the success of historic terra cotta masonry projects.

 Learning Objectives:

  • Describe historic terra cotta masonry construction and how it evolved over time.
  • Understand how manufacturing and material properties directly impact performance and deterioration of historic terra cotta materials.
  • Identify conditions and source of deterioration.
  • Summarize appropriate in-situ system and unit repair methods, replacement materials, and strategies for optimizing water infiltration prevention.

About the Speaker

Casey Weisdock
Director of Industry Development and Technical Services, IMI

Casey Weisdock 2

Casey is an architectural conservator whose professional experience spans preservation design, project management, and contracting/implementation. She is a graduate of Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Previously, Casey served as an architectural conservator and site manager, focused primarily on the preservation of historic structures through research of traditional materials, and implementation of traditional repair methods and contemporary restoration techniques.

Today, Casey supports the masonry restoration industry internationally, and is also a regional director, providing support for all masonry projects, new and existing, at the local level. She's a developer and instructor of the Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate (HMPC) training offered through the International Masonry Training and Education Foundation (IMTEF). Casey is also the Board Chair Emeritus of the Association for Preservation Technology– Delaware Valley Chapter (APT-DVC). 

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