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40-591: Cornelius Low Jr. (c. 1700–1777) was the third of fifteen children. His grandfather, Peter Cornellessen Low, left Holland for the American colonies in 1659 and settled near Kingston, New York . Peter's eldest son, Cornelius Low, moved to New York and established himself as a merchant. He married Margareta Van Borsum in 1695. During the 1720s, Cornelius Low, Jr. became a successful merchant in Newark, New Jersey . In 1729, he married Johanna Gouveneur, and they made plans to move to

80-417: A dilute acid. The mortar will be broken down, and the type of mortar and sand used will be determined by color and texture. Another form of "wet chemical" analysis is the same process but the carbon dioxide gas that is given off by the digestion will be collected and the type of mortar will be determined by its volume. The amounts of each component will also be determined. The second method to analyzing mortar

120-448: A ledge, or sill course, sits approximately three feet up from the ground and encircles the house. This sill makes the house appear to be sitting on a pedestal. Low purchased large, rectangular blocks of high quality stone for the front facade (facing the river and the community of Raritan Landing), most likely quarried in the Newark area. Low was a frugal man and the only finely dressed stone

160-444: Is "instrumental." There are several different forms of "instrumental" analysis; however, the most commonly used is thin section microscopy in which thin slices of mortar are examined by a transmitted light microscope. This process can provide more information than "wet-chemical" examination. Other examples of instrumental analysis are scanning electron microscopy , X-ray diffraction , and atomic absorption spectroscopy . Analysis

200-412: Is added. The process is continued until the mortar is flush with the masonry. High-lime mortar dries rapidly, so after it reaches a particular strength it needs to be sprayed with water to avoid chalking, poor adhesion, or poor durability. The structure is misted every two hours for two days, then every four hours for two days. It is important that the mortar stays wet for at least a couple of days while it

240-447: Is also called pointing , or pointing up , although these terms more properly refer to the finishing step in new construction. Tuckpointing is also commonly used as a synonym , though its formal definition is technically different. Traditionally, mortar was made with lime and sand, producing lime putty. In the early 20th century, masons began using Portland cement , a strong, fast drying cement. Masonry cement made its appearance in

280-399: Is an area on the structure out of plain sight where the owner or conservator can test the repointing methods they will use, the color of the mortar, and the skills of the mason. This will also be good to determine the types of tools that should be used, which will be discussed in the next paragraph. For a brick structure, the panel should not be any bigger than 3' x 3'. For other masonry units,

320-399: Is common to see cracking along old repairs because of the shrinkage of hard mortar and the seasonal flexing along the joint. Examining the structure before working will also help establish the strength and permeability of the original mortar in order to match the new. It helps to establish what the original components of the old mortar are in order to find the best match. It is essential that

360-412: Is not solely based on lab work, however. There are important performances of mortar that can not be determined in a lab: original water content, rate of curing, weather conditions during original construction, method of mixing and placing the mortar, and cleanliness of sand. It is important to also match the color of the mortar. However, in the past lime mortar tended to be mixed on site with whatever sand

400-464: Is on the side of the house facing Raritan Landing. The other three sides were built of less expensive rubble stone , or irregular pieces that required minimal dressing. It is believed the Metlar family removed the kitchen wing around 1870.. A shadow, or kitchen "ghost," of the removed structure is visible on the exterior due to the different colored mortar between the stones. Within the shadow, an outline of

440-426: Is setting. The local conditions will control how long the structure should be kept wet, however. Burlap or plastic is placed over the repointed wall or structure. This keeps the building damp and eliminates direct sunlight. The burlap and the plastic are not resting against the structure, however. The burlap or plastic are anchored to the ground to avoid this. There are different ways to lay the mortar joint close to

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480-406: Is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints , in masonry construction. Over time, weathering and decay cause voids in the joints between masonry units, usually in bricks , allowing the undesirable entrance of water. Water entering through these voids can cause significant damage through frost weathering and from salt dissolution and deposition . Repointing

520-446: The 1930s, which is a combination of Portland cement and ground limestone . ‹The template How-to is being considered for merging .›   Before starting any actual work, building owners examine the masonry units, mortar, and the techniques used in the original construction. They try to identify the true problem they are facing and find out what were the causes of the deterioration or cracks. If there are cracks or problems in

560-742: The 1990s, a massive restoration was initiated to address major issues plaguing the Low House. In 1995, the Cultural and Heritage Commission and the Board of Chosen Freeholders accepted a grant from the New Jersey State Historic Trust for the restoration of the Low House. Under the guidance of Ford Farwell Mills and Gatch architects of Princeton, the restoration took place between 1995 and 1996. The Commission also installed new landscaping and built an "interpretive path," which included installations that tell

600-467: The Middlesex County Cultural and Heritage Commission. The County acquired the Low House to use as a local heritage museum for discussing the history of New Jersey and its context within that of national events. While the house was in fair condition when obtained by the county, some changes were made. A garage and pool were removed from the back yard, and a new parking area was created next to

640-426: The actual bricks or stone masonry there could be a larger problem that also needs to be addressed. If there is a larger issue, repointing may cause further damage. If a historic structure needs repointing, building owners usually hire an architectural historian or conservator to help pinpoint the issues. If the crack is smaller than 2mm and not causing any major defects, then it is better to leave it and not repoint. It

680-430: The bottom brick and recesses back as it goes up towards the upper brick. The third, recessed, is when the mortar sits back from the face of the brick. There is also tuckpointing , where a mortar of a contrasting colour is 'tucked' into the masonry joint. If the color of the new mortar is still not similar to the old mortar after repointing and setting, the non-repointed areas of the structure can be cleaned. This may bring

720-400: The building. The ivy, which caused people to refer to the house as “Ivy Hall,” was removed. The entire roof, including the badly deteriorated support structure, was replaced in 1982–1983. Cedar shingles replaced the slate tiles that had been put on decades earlier. In 1987–1988, restoration replicas were installed to replace badly worn windows on the side of the house facing the water. During

760-430: The colors closer together. To do this, a low pressure water jet is used to clean the old pointing. A high powered water jet is not to be used because this could damage the masonry and mortar. Chemicals are also not used with the water because this could be harmful to the masonry or mortar. However, if chemicals are used, the structure is rinsed afterwards with fresh water and natural or nylon brushes. Another method to match

800-468: The community of Raritan Landing is all but forgotten. The remains of the once-thriving village lie beneath portions of Johnson Park and River Road. The Low House is one of two remaining structures from the Landing and is a vital link to Piscataway and Middlesex County history. Low wished the front of his home to reflect his stature as one of the most influential and prosperous men of the community. To that end,

840-554: The doorway outlines are still visible in the basement. Sometime after Low's death, these doorways were altered and turned into windows. Subsequently, the house settled and these windows are no longer square. In the mid-1980s, the front windows, having been severely exposed to the elements, were replaced. Rather than square up the window openings, the restoration firm installed fully functional, though crooked, windows in their place. From 1995 through most of 1996, Arvid Myhre Building Construction Company of Frenchtown, New Jersey completed

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880-485: The doorway that led into this room is visible. Due to its proximity to the kitchen, this room was most likely used primarily for dining or entertaining. The fireplaces in the Low House contain original 18th century Delft tiles . Delft tiles take their name from the city Delft , in Holland, where the tiles were first created in the 16th century. Until that time, tiles had been used as flooring and were made from red clay. By

920-411: The edge of the brick. Some contractors bring the mortar to the very edge, flush with the face of the brick. Others leave it recessed back to allow water to shed off the building. There are three types of recessed mortar: bucket handle, weatherstruck, and simply recessed. The bucket handle is when the mortar is in a curve shape away from the face of the brick. Weatherstruck is when the mortar starts close to

960-506: The emerging port community of Raritan Landing, near New Brunswick. Having shipping capabilities, Low became one of the community's most prosperous businessmen. During a great flood in 1738, Low lost his first home, located along the wharf near Landing Lane, in Raritan. Low obtained property for a new house on the bluff, opposite the Great Road (River Road) and overlooking the Landing. Low called

1000-519: The end of the 16th century the tiles were used as wall tiles in many homes. Dutch houses were built near the water and, given the climate, tiles were ideal for keeping out the dampness and were used on the joining of walls and floors and for walls behind fireplaces.. The five families that have owned the property—the Lows, Pools, Metlars, Voorhees and the Strongs—took their charge very seriously. They were, for

1040-464: The history of the house. The front facade was also repointed . The first and second floor windows are approximately three inches off square and appear crooked. Originally, the two basement windows closest to the front entrance were doorways. These allowed access to the basement for Low's servants and workers so that certain goods could be stored there rather than in the warehouse along the Great Road. The front yard has since been substantially filled but

1080-399: The home measures forty feet by thirty feet and originally included a 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 -story kitchen wing. When it was built, it was one of the largest and most expensive in the province of East Jersey . It was built with more than 350 tons of sandstone. While most of the homes at Raritan Landing had stone foundations, this was the only house to have been built entirely out of stone. Today,

1120-425: The joint, or to the point where sound mortar is reached. Removal of old mortar between joints is done carefully to avoid damage to masonry units. On buildings with soft materials, such as under-fired brick, lime mortar , or terra cotta, removal by hand is often the most effective to avoid damage. Hard Portland cement mortar is usually removed with a grinder or power circular masonry blade, taking care not to damage

1160-400: The masonry units because it will not have give. Rather than the mortar relieving the stress, the masonry units will, thus suffering further damage such as cracking or spalling. In spallation , the face or outer section of a masonry unit breaks away from the rest of the unit. This will require expensive and laborious repairs. So for example, if a soft lime -based mortar was originally used,

1200-419: The masonry units. After the mortar has been cut out, the joints are vacuumed or brushed clean. After vacuuming, the remaining debris is removed with a water jet from the top of the masonry area down. The areas with the deepest recession of mortar are filled first. The mortar is placed in several layers, starting with the first layer of 1/4 inch. It is hardened to a desired strength then another 1/4 inch layer

1240-505: The masonry units. Vertical joints or thin joints are done by hand or with small power chisels." If a power saw needs to be used, it's only used on wide and uniform horizontal joints and in the middle of the joint. A hammer and chisel are then used for the rest of the mortar, closer to the masonry units. Caulking cutters with diamond blades are an acceptable power tool to remove mortar in wide horizontal joints. They are slow, have no rotation, and vibrate so they are likely to cause less damage to

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1280-411: The mortar used for repointing have similar performance characteristics to the original mortar used in a building. Such performance characteristics include permeability, compressive strength , and coefficient of thermal expansion . The mortar must have greater vapor permeability and softer compressive strength than the original mortar. The mortar should also not be stronger (in compressive strength) than

1320-421: The most appropriate repointing mortar is likely to also contain a large amount of lime. An architectural conservator can perform a mortar analysis in order to make recommendations for replacement mortar that is both physically and aesthetically compatible with the building. There are two common methods of analyzing mortar. The first is called "wet chemical" in which a sample of mortar is crushed and mixed with

1360-452: The most part, wealthier families who could economically afford the maintenance necessary with a property such as this. The Low House today is one of only two remaining structures from Raritan Landing, and is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-style architecture in America. In 1979, Middlesex County, New Jersey bought the house and grounds. Under the guidance and administration of

1400-520: The new home the “new house on the mountain,” referring to an entry in his family Bible. The new location allowed Low to keep a watchful eye on the activities at the wharves, and especially at his warehouse located between the river and the Great Road. Cornelius Low died in early 1777, but the British spared his house because his loyalty to the King of England remained steadfast until his death. The main portion of

1440-410: The physical rehabilitation of the house. 26 layers of paint were stripped from the woodwork which was then repainted in historically accurate colors. Behind-the-scenes work included complete upgrades of heating and cooling systems, new electrical wiring encased in metal conduit, a state-of-the-art dry-feed fire suppression system , and new plumbing and water supply systems. Additionally, an exhibit system

1480-401: The test panel can be a little larger. It is also important to pick the right season to do the repointing. Extremely high or low temperatures can cause rapid drying which can have negative effects on the mortar, masonry units, and the structure itself. After examination, the next step is cutting away the old mortar. The old mortar is removed to a depth equal to or slightly more than the width of

1520-415: Was fabricated to protect the original plaster walls, while still allowing the museum to install changing exhibitions. Prior to restoration, an archaeological study of the grounds was undertaken, led by Hunter Research of Trenton. These digs yielded a wide variety of objects including clay pipe fragments, Delft tiles, glass pieces, and a British military button. The artifacts would help give more clues to what

1560-555: Was going on in and around this house over the years, and would also confirm previous theories and thoughts regarding its history. Cornelius Low Jr. Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 762732282 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:41:46 GMT Repointing Repointing

1600-414: Was locally available. Since the sand influences the color of the lime mortar, colors of pointing mortar can vary dramatically from district to district. Weathering of the new mortar will also match it to the old mortar. The tooling should also match the tooling of the historic mortar. Again, before starting any work, the methods and materials for the repointing will be applied in a test panel. A test panel

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