Arcana Restoration Ltd.

Project Clendenan wrapped up today! - Our scope of work included: ThermaTech paint removal and carbon cleaning, brick replacement, full repoint with lime mortar tinted to match original, decorative gable carpentry restoration & paint. - Thanks everyone for the hard work in bringing this Victorian beauty back to life! - #heritagerestoration #victorianrestoration #heritagemasonry #torontomasonry #limemortar

The once crumbling stone foundation is ready for its next chapter in the sunken kitchen at @slabcreekhouse Such a pleasure to assist Sasha of @arcanarestoration

Arcana Restoration Group is hiring! We are seeking experienced heritage masons, carpenters, and foremen/supervisors to join our team for 2026. We have an exciting lineup of restoration projects over the next few months throughout the GTA, and this is a perfect opportunity to be a part of maintaining Toronto’s built history. Think you might be a good fit? Take a browse through our Instagram and website to learn more about our work, then send your CV over to [email protected]. We look forward to working with you! #torontomasons #torontomasons #heritagemasonrytoronto #heritagecarpentry #hiring #hiringcontractors

An inside look at our progress on this new build laneway house in Cabbagetown. What you’re seing here: 🧱This new structure is built from heritage-match brick to complement the rest of the major restoration and renovation work we’ve been working on for the main house – an 1883 semi-detached bay & gable Victorian. The final result will be a beautiful property with a tasteful blend of restored heritage and contemporary additions by @wpmlinc ➡️Scaffold and wrap setup by @johnsonplayfairscaffold , helping us to have safe, heated access to all our working areas to keep the build progressing through the winter. #toronto #newconstruction #newmeetsold #heritagemasonry #winter #lanewayhouse

Progress in Yorkville: This major renovation (General Contractor @greenglassvarano ) has been steadily progressing through the winter; our crew is finishing the first phase of the front facade rebuild this week. What you’re seeing here: ➡️ The entire front facade has been rebuilt with a combination of reclaimed and heritage match bricks ➡️ The arches were documented, salvaged, and have been rebuilt exactly as they were in the original 1884 facade ➡️All mortar joints are raked back in preparation for the next phase: traditional tuckpointing. Stay tuned! ➡️Scaffold and wrap setup by @johnsonplayfairscaffold , helping us to have safe access to all our working areas while enclosing the new build sections so that the mortar can cure in this winter weather. #toronto #heritagerestoration #heritagemasonry #arches

We’re excited to begin sharing some of the voices shaping this year’s Natural Building Conference. Rooted in renewal, restoration, and resilience, this year’s theme explores how natural, regenerative, and circular building practices can transform what we have into what we need — restoring heritage structures, revitalizing materials, and reconnecting us to place. From restoration and deconstruction to masonry heating, natural design, and reclaimed materials, these speakers bring deep care for craft, longevity, and the future of our built environment. More speakers and program details coming soon. April 18–19 · Camp Kawartha @ouroborosdecon @stonesthrowdesigninc @hundredyearmaterials @arcanarestoration @greeninghomes @kachelofenart

Deconstructed and re-used - brick-by-brick 🧱🏠 Instead of going to landfill, 90% of materials salvaged from the deconstruction of the home at 1113 Dundas Street West will instead have a second life in other parts of Toronto. Hear from our deconstruction project partners at @ouroborosdecon and @arcanamaterials about how they found a new home - literally! - for century-old brick! Learn more about CreateTO's future mass timber affordable housing development at Dundas and Ossington at the link in bio 🔗 #Deconstruction #Toronto #CreateTO #Renovations #Construction #Housing

Winter may be coming, but it won't slow us down! This week, we officially kicked off the new build portion of this major restoration+renovation project in Toronto's Cabbagetown. In addition to heritage restoration work on the original portions of this 1883 home, the scope includes 1100 sf of new brick in the addition, built with Ibstock heritage match brick to complement the historic Victorian red brick construction. @weareibstock What you're seeing here: 🤝@ArcanaRestoration & @JohnsonPlayfairMasonry masons are set up and several courses in on the south elevation of this build. Both companies have an extensive portfolio of both restoration and new construction projects, so we often collaborate and combine our crews based on project scope. 🧱High quality veneer wall installation: Not only is the new structure properly wrapped and sealed, our teams are installing the bricks frog-side up: this creates an extra-sturdy bond and reduces internal air gaps. ❄Excellent scaffold & wrap setup by @johnsonplayfairscaffold , helping us have safe access to all our working areas while also enclosing the new build sections so that the mortar can properly cure -- even as temperatures drop, we are able to keep our walls above 5°C. Without this setup, the mortar can freeze: leading to cracking, low strength, and poor bond. This also serves @wpmlinc ‘s tradespeople working in other areas of the home. Want to get started on your own masonry restoration or addition? Contact us - we're booking now for 2026! #heritagemasonry #toronto #winterwork #ontario #masonry #ibstock

Victorian Façade in Little Portugal (Part 2 of 2): Behind-the Scenes of our Victorian façade build from Spring 2025 Arcana Restoration was hired to restore this 1890s home, including demolition of 1980s (non-original) brick veneer, installing a new moisture barrier, design & rebuild of the Victorian-style brick facade, and gable carpentry restoration & paint. Because this was a full rebuild of the facade, we had the opportunity to work with the homeowners to enhance the brick design, using neighbourhood homes of the same era as inspiration. We provided sketches and detailed schematics of the arch design options, including the incorporation of buff bricks to highlight the geometry. Once the design was finalized and new moisture barrier installed, our masons expertly reconstructed the facade from the foundation up, using a combination of reclaimed Victorian era brick (@arcanamaterials ) and new heritage match brick. Finished with revitalized carpentry with stunning green paint, and roofing and aluminum improvements, this transformation is a great example of using traditional techniques and designs to revitalize Toronto’s vibrant heritage neighbourhoods, built to last for decades to come. TEAM: • Heritage Masonry: Arcana Restoration Group & @arcanamaterials • Aluminum: Fidus Projects • Scaffolding: Johnson Playfair Scaffold @johnsonplayfairscaffold

Victorian Façade in Little Portugal (Part 1 of 2): In spring 2025, our team had the privilege of restoring the front facade of this beautiful 1890s Toronto home. After years of hiding behind an uninspired 1980s veneer, the house was ready for revitalization and a return to its rightful Victorian-era glory. OUR SCOPE: Demolition of (non-original) brick veneer, installation of new moisture barrier, design & rebuild of Victorian-style brick facade, gable carpentry restoration & paint. HISTORY: This home was built around 1890, and first owned in 1892 by Lewis Wickett, a drover by occupation, with a rented room to a City Hall license inspector. At this time, this neighbourhood (also known as Beaconsfield Village) was within the city limits but still relatively far from the built density of downtown; however, it had the advantage of easy transport from the nearby train station at Queen Street & Gladstone Avenue. The neighbourhood has undergone drastic changes over the past 135 years but there are still quite a few Victorian ‘Bay & Gable’ row houses like this one that were built in the 1880s and 1890s. We are proud to be able to bring the original character back to this façade, adding value to the property and appeal to the neighbourhood. Curious about our process? Follow us to see behind-the-scenes of this and other heritage restoration projects. Stay tuned! TEAM: • Heritage Masonry: Arcana Restoration Group/Arcana Materials Co. @arcanamaterials • Aluminum: Fidus Projects • Scaffolding: Johnson Playfair @johnsonplayfairscaffold

Good morning, Halifax! If you’re attending the National Trust ‘Heritage Now!’ Conference, come visit @arcanamaterials and @arcanarestoration in the Exhibitor Hall! Daniel & Diana are showcasing some of our reclaimed materials and discussing our heritage masonry restoration work, and are eager to meet other heritage professionals! Come say hi! 👋 @nationaltrustca #canadaheritage #history #reclaimedmaterials #historicbrick

We’re thrilled to share the transformation of this Victorian-style bay and gable home built in 1908 and first occupied in 1909. Its first residents were the families of railway workers and WWI soldiers, this home being one of the first on its street in the growing Danforth Village neighbourhood. Years later, the original brick facade was covered with then-trendy angelstone for several decades, until our crews uncovered the historic original design. Arcana Restoration masons carefully removed the old cladding, evaluated and documented the brick design underneath, and brick by brick removed the deteriorated façade to install new waterproofing and rebuild to its former glory. We used a mix of reclaimed brick from the original wall combined with heritage matching brick. We’ll post more about the process soon, this build had lots of fascinating behind-the-scenes discoveries and processes! #heritagepreservation #torontoheritage #masonry #victorianbrick #heritagerestoration #torontobrick #victorianrestoration