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M&H masonry contractors, experts in masonry building & restoration for your most valued investment.

  A Brief History Of Seattle's Brickwork

Sometimes, major catastrophes can prompt sweeping - and very positive changes. Such was the case with the Seattle's Great Fire of 1889, during which approximately 29 square blocks of the city were burned to the ground. The positive thing that came out of that disaster? The city council voted unanimously to rebuild using strictly brickwork and stone buildings, which would be far more fireproof than the wooden buildings that had fallen to the flames. Brick masonry became the method of choice for new buildings in the fledgling city, whose population jumped from 25,000 people before the fire to 43,000 people within a year after the fire.

  
Brickwork in Seattle: An Important Part of the Cityscape

Today, visitors and residents of Seattle alike can quickly see the evidence of the Great Fire of 1889 by checking out all of the beautiful brick buildings that stand today. Brickwork has been immensely important to the city of Seattle ever since that fateful day, and there's no doubt that bricklayers in Seattle have never been wanting for work. The tradition of brickwork has continued on all the way up to today, and some of the most impressive buildings in Seattle involve brick masonry.

  Who Started The Great Fire?

The Great Fire of 1889 started in the basement of a building in downtown Seattle. John E. Back was working at the Clairmont and Company cabinet shop when a glue pot that he was tending to burst into flames. The Swedish immigrant unwisely decided to toss a pail of water onto the flaming pot, which fanned the flames and made the problem exponentially worse. Little did he know that his poorly thought out actions started a chain reaction that would result in the prominence of brick masonry in the city of Seattle - or that his name would go down in infamy.

The abundance of brickwork that can be found all over Seattle, then, is largely due to a single man's rash decision. Although brick masonry probably would have become the standard either way, the Great Fire prompted the renaissance in brickwork that made it so easy for virtually any brick layer to find employment in the city from 1889 onward. Had the fire not occurred, brick masonry still would have sprang into being - but the huge surge in the city's population, for instance, might have been delayed for some time.

  The Benefits Of Brickwork

The city council and other prominent people in the city of Seattle, traumatize by the Great Fire, knew that to rebuild wooden buildings would be a foolhardy thing to do. Right from the start, they knew that brick masonry was the only way to go. Along with bricks, they decreed that stones would also be used to rebuild the city - especially it's ultra-important downtown business district, which was ravished in the fire. Brickwork is much more resistant to flames than wood is, and Seattle's rebirth came in an eruption of brick masonry buildings. Some of the most talented brick layers in the region came in to help.

The fact that the actions of one man could prompt such a major catastrophe is proof positive of the extreme flammability of old, dry wood. In 1889, most of the buildings in Seattle were made out of wood, and John E. Back's clumsy actions were all that it took to bring the city to its knees. The brickwork that replaced those wooden buildings helped give the city a modern, cosmopolitan feel - and undoubtedly helped improve its popularity as well. Since then, brick masonry has been a critical part of the skyline of Seattle.

Brick Masonry and Seattle: A Winning Combination

A proud tradition of brick masonry was born on the night that John E. Back inadvertently started Seattle's Great Fire. If you were lucky enough to be a brick layer living in the city at the time, you wouldn't have to worry about finding work for many, many years. All the way through to today, brick masonry is used throughout the city. Private homes within the city limits and out into the suburbs also boast a lot of brickwork, and people are always in need of a decent brick layer.

  Seattle Brick Masonry Services Are Easy To Find

If you live in the Seattle area and are in need of an experienced brick layer or brickwork professional, you shouldn't have a very hard time finding one. Ever since the aftermath of the Great Fire more than 100 years ago, brick masonry and Seattle have truly gone hand in hand. A quick online search reveals that there are plenty of brick layers to choose from, but it should be noted that finding one that is reputable and qualified is essential. Still, having topnotch brick masonry work done in Seattle is never difficult.

Ask just about any brick layer in Seattle, and he's bound to give you an earful about the Great Fire of 1889. The vast majority of those who presently work in the brick masonry industry are well versed about the famous catastrophe, and most of them know that had it not happened, they may not have had as much success as a brick layer. The roots of brickwork in Seattle definitely find their origins in the rebuilding of the city so many years ago, and many a brick layer probably indirectly credits John E. Back for making that happen.

Tour The City To Take In Its Brickwork

Even if you've lived in Seattle for many years, there's a chance that you've never really looked at the city in terms of its brick masonry. Now that you know a little bit about the Great Fire of 1889, make it a point to wander around the city looking for examples of brickwork. You'll find that there are numerous examples of brick layers' handiwork throughout Seattle, and that brick masonry is ubiquitous in the city. Finally, don't forget that finding a qualified brick layer in Seattle is never an issue - you just need to take your time and select a great one.

Brick Restoration

As brick is exposed to the elements like rain, it wears out. This is because brick is simply a type of concrete, often made from mud and straw. These mud bricks are baked in the sun until strong. Many brick restoration companies use your existing masonry restoration services to cover the same work. By taking care of brick and masonry at the same time, the customer can save a lot of money. The Mad  in Seattle are an excellent choice for anyone who lives in the Puget Sound region.