Spencer R. Higgins, Architect Incorporated

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arconTEST

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Canada Lindseed Oil Mills Building (Wabash Community Centre)

Brick and Mortar Testing

This Material Verification Project (2022) was awarded to ArconTEST Incorporated to provide mechanical property assessment for the historic brick and mortar of the Canada Linseed Oil Mills Building at 40 Wabash Avenue, Toronto. The testing was commissioned by Stevens Burgess Architects Ltd.

A detailed report on the compressive strength of both the brick units and the associated mortar was compiled.

The objective was to determine the physical properties of the existing brick and mortar on-site to assist the client in defining an appropriate restoration treatment.

Test procedures were carried out in the ArconTEST in-house architectural conservation laboratory on each type of sample including:

• Compressive Strength on Mortar (ASTM C-170)

• Mohs Hardness for Mortar

• Compressive Strength on Brick (ASTM C-67)

Specimens Collection
(ATI 2022)

Mortar Specimens after Testing
(ATI 2022)

Brick Specimens after Testing
(ATI 2022)