Are you a conscientious contractor or building owner passionate about restoring historic brick, stone, or concrete structures?

At ProMason Supply, we understand the challenges you face in finding high-quality, readily available materials that adhere to best practices and ensure lasting beauty. That's why we offer a curated selection of American-made, premium lime-based mortars, plasters, and more – all meticulously formulated to deliver exceptional performance and breathability for your restoration projects.

Why Choose ProMason Supply?

• Unwavering Quality: Our products are crafted with traditional ingredients and time-tested formulas, ensuring compatibility with historic structures and outstanding results.
• Expert Guidance: Backed by the hands-on experience of our sister company, Alliance Masonry Restoration, we offer unparalleled expertise to guide your project to success.
• Convenient Solutions: We provide easy access to the specialized materials you need, with daily shipments from our centrally located, Kansas City fulfillment center.
• Preservation Passion: We share your commitment to preserving America's architectural heritage, and our products empower you to achieve that goal.

ProMason Supply is more than just a supplier – we're your partner in preserving history, one project at a time. Experience the satisfaction of a job well done with our premium materials and expert support.

 

More Than Mortar: The ProMason Supply Story

Across the country, historic buildings stand as witnesses to our nation's history, from brick townhouses in the east to stone commercial blocks in the Midwest. These aren't just buildings; they represent our architectural heritage and community identity, like the 1938 Kansas City Police Headquarters or the 1920 Kansas City Club. However, many of these structures face a hidden risk. Well-intentioned repairs can sometimes cause significant harm. This happens when modern, incompatible materials are used on historic masonry, a problem that can lead to irreversible damage.

The issue comes down to a basic conflict in materials. For centuries, buildings were built with lime-based mortars. This wasn't just a simple adhesive; it was a key part of the building's design. Historic structures were meant to be flexible, settling and breathing with the seasons. When modern Portland cement mortars became common, they were great for new construction due to their strength and fast setting time. But for historic buildings, these same qualities can cause serious problems.

The key difference is "breathability," or vapor permeability. Older, solid-walled buildings handle moisture by letting it pass through the porous lime mortar and evaporate, which is crucial for their survival. Modern Portland cement mortar is dense and much less permeable. When used on an old wall, it traps moisture inside the softer, historic brick and stone. This trapped moisture leads to issues like efflorescence (white, powdery salt on the surface), sub-florescence (salt buildup beneath the surface), and damage from freeze-thaw cycles, where trapped water freezes and expands, causing the brick or stone to flake and crumble.

Historic buildings also move slightly, expanding and contracting with changes in temperature and humidity. Lime mortar is flexible and can accommodate this movement because of its low modulus of elasticity. It's meant to be the "sacrificial" part of the wall. If there's stress, the softer lime mortar will crack slightly—and can often self-heal—instead of transferring the pressure to the bricks or stones. Hard Portland cement mortar is different. Since it's stronger than the historic masonry, it doesn't give way. Instead, it puts stress on the bricks and stones, causing them to crack and spall. Using a standard modern mortar on an older building isn't just a visual mismatch; it's a structural error that can cause lasting damage.

This knowledge is central to modern preservation work. Organizations like the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior have clear standards that call for using appropriate, compatible repair materials. For example, NPS Preservation Brief #2 on repointing states that new mortar should be softer than the masonry units and have similar properties to the original mortar. Following this guidance is key for anyone caring for a historic property. The right mortar choice can mean the difference between long-term preservation and ongoing damage.

Table 1: The Mortar Comparison: Why Historic Buildings Need to Breathe

A Craftsman's Approach, Born in Kansas City

Solving these masonry problems requires more than just the right product; it requires expertise. It starts with craftspeople who can identify the issue and apply the correct solution. In Kansas City, this is where Alliance Restoration, LLC comes in. Founded by Joshua Dunn in 2011, Alliance Restoration was established as a specialized contractor focused on proper masonry preservation.

The company calls itself a "boutique contractor," a choice that emphasizes client relationships and "attention to material identification and details". This approach aligns with preservation standards, as the company's stated mission is to restore historic buildings according to guidelines from the Department of the Interior and State Historic Preservation Offices.

This expertise was developed through hands-on work across Kansas City's diverse architectural landscape. The company's projects range from historic homes and stone basements in neighborhoods like Brookside and Waldo to newer construction in Johnson County. Kansas City has a strong preservation community, with groups like the Historic Preservation Commission working to protect local landmarks. Alliance Restoration is part of this culture, helping maintain a region with significant landmarks, from the John Wornall House to the Livestock Exchange Building. Through projects involving monument restoration and tuckpointing with historic lime mortar, the company has gained a practical understanding of the material needs of these structures. Their expertise comes directly from working on the historic buildings of Kansas City.

From the Field to the Formula – The Start of ProMason Supply

Even the most skilled craftsman depends on the quality of their materials. For Joshua Dunn and the team at Alliance Restoration, getting the right materials became a regular problem. As they took on more projects requiring historically accurate work, they grew frustrated with the difficulty of finding authentic, correctly formulated masonry supplies that were also readily available.

This is a common challenge for restoration specialists. It's one thing to know the right type of lime mortar for a 1910 brick building, but it's another to find a supplier who can provide it consistently, without any Portland cement mixed in. The Alliance Restoration website notes this industry-wide issue: "One of the greatest challenges in brick and stone repair is finding matching materials," which "requires a contractor with a good depth of knowledge regarding both period and modern masonry materials". This wasn't just a minor issue; it was a constant barrier to meeting their own quality standards. The supply market was focused on new construction, leaving preservation contractors with limited and unreliable options.

ProMason Supply was created out of this practical need. It wasn't just a new business idea; it was a direct response to the experiences of Alliance Restoration. ProMason Supply was started to solve the problems its sister company faced on job sites every day. The brand grew from the experience of a craftsman who went from buying preservation materials to making them, because the market wasn't offering the consistent quality required.

This relationship is a key feature of the ProMason brand and helps ensure quality. Alliance Restoration acts as a real-world testing ground for ProMason products. Before a mortar or plaster is sold, it has already been used on an actual restoration project. If a formula doesn't work as needed on the job—if it's difficult to apply, doesn't cure correctly, or doesn't look right—it gets adjusted. This practical feedback loop means ProMason's products are developed based on real-world use, not just theory. ProMason Supply was created to solve a supply problem, turning a point of frustration into a source of reliable materials.

A Practical Toolkit for the Preservationist

ProMason Supply's approach is about more than just making materials; it's about offering a focused set of solutions for preservation work. Instead of a huge catalog, it's a curated selection of products, each chosen to solve a specific problem in historic restoration. The goal is to provide contractors and building owners with the right materials and tools for a durable and historically appropriate repair.

Core Materials for Authentic Repairs

The core of the ProMason product line is a range of materials designed for historic structures. A key feature of their traditional lime-based products is that they are formulated without any Portland cement, which is critical for older buildings.

• Authentic Lime Mortars: ProMason offers a range of Hydraulic Lime (PHL) mortars, recognizing that different buildings require different solutions. This shows an understanding of how material needs vary. Their offerings include:

• PHL 2.0: A low-strength mortar for delicate applications, such as repointing very soft historic brick or for interior plastering where maximum breathability is needed.

• PHL 3.5: A versatile, moderately hydraulic lime mortar that provides a good balance of strength and breathability. It is a common choice for general repointing projects on brick and stone.

• PHL 5.0: A high-strength hydraulic mortar for more demanding applications like structural repairs, foundations, and exterior walls in harsh weather.

• Blended Mortars for Later Eras: For buildings from periods when construction practices were changing, ProMason provides mortars that are appropriate for those specific structures. This includes:

• Type O Mortar: A low-strength, transitional mortar suitable for buildings from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

• Type N Mortar: A general-purpose mortar compatible with most modern masonry, appropriate for buildings constructed after the 1950s.

This range of products, organized on their site by building age, demonstrates a practical understanding of architectural history and material science.

• Breathable Lime Plasters & Coatings: Lime-Pro is a specialized, breathable preservation plaster. It can be used as a traditional lime plaster, a lime-stucco finish, or a protective parging coat over old masonry. Unlike modern coatings that can trap moisture, Lime-Pro allows the wall to breathe, which helps prevent delamination and protects the underlying masonry.

Equipping the Contractor – The Complete System

A successful restoration requires more than just the right mortar. It requires a complete system of compatible products and the proper tools.

• Specialized Repair Solutions: The product line includes various patching mortars for repairing spalled masonry, as well as fine lime grouts for crack injection, providing a range of options for masonry repair.

• Aesthetic and Protective Finishes: ProMason offers water-based Masonry Stains that penetrate the surface to adjust color while allowing the wall to remain fully breathable. This allows for blending new repairs with existing work. This is complemented by a range of sealers and water repellents that provide protection without trapping vapor.

• The Right Tools for the Job: ProMason also offers a "Core Tools Collection" that includes items needed for quality repointing and plastering, from various trowels and jointers to hawks and brushes. By sourcing these tools from US manufacturers, ProMason helps ensure every step of the process can be done with quality tools.

Local Roots, National Reach – The Operational Approach

The brand's philosophy is also reflected in its operations, which are designed to be reliable and responsive.

• A Commitment to Domestic Quality: The "Made in the USA" promise for their core mortars and plasters is a key part of the brand's identity, reflecting a commitment to domestic manufacturing and quality control.

• Central Location: ProMason's Kansas City fulfillment center is a key asset. It serves as the logistical heart of the operation, enabling "daily shipments" and providing "easy access" to specialized materials for projects across the country. This ensures contractors nationwide can get the right materials without long delays.

• A Focus on Customer Partnership: The business is structured to be a partner to its customers. Offering small quantities for color matching shows an understanding of restoration work. At the same time, volume discounts and pallet-sized quantities show they can support professional contractors on large projects. This flexibility solidifies the brand's role as a customer-focused resource in the preservation community.

 

Partners in Preservation – A Shared Commitment

The ProMason Supply story is about more than just materials and logistics; it's about a shared goal. The company sees itself as a partner in preservation. This idea guides their business.

The brand speaks directly to the "conscientious contractor or building owner passionate about restoring historic brick, stone, or concrete structures". ProMason Supply is for customers who view their work as a craft that requires responsibility. The customer is the one doing the hands-on work of removing old mortar, matching colors, and tooling new joints. ProMason's role is to provide the reliable, appropriate tools and materials needed to do that job well.

This partnership connects individual projects to the broader goal of preservation. By providing materials that meet professional standards, like those in the National Park Service's Preservation Briefs, ProMason helps its customers contribute to the protection of historic buildings. Each project, whether in Kansas City or elsewhere, helps ensure these structures survive for others to appreciate in the future.

The goal is to encourage a repair philosophy that is patient, informed, and respectful of the past, moving beyond the quick fix of incompatible modern materials. It's about the "satisfaction of a job well done," knowing the work is structurally sound and historically appropriate. By choosing ProMason Supply, a contractor or building owner is working with a community of craftsmen and experts focused on preserving historic buildings, one project at a time.