A great way to increase the value of your property and make your home more functional and stylish, masonry home improvements such as stone patios, walkways, veneer facades and outdoor fireplaces, can be extremely effective when the work is carried out by a skilled professional, such as a masonry contractor.
There are certain projects around the home that benefit from the skills of a masonry contractor, and in many cases, their work can embellish a home and make it unique.
Qualified masons are trained to work with a variety of different materials, and some of these include clay and concrete brick, natural rock, terracotta and ceramic or stone. However, it’s important to note that not all masons have the same level of experience and skill, and if you’re looking for a qualified masonry contractor to carry out work for you, you’ll need to ask them a few questions first:
Even if your budget is limited, saving money by hiring an amateur masonry contractor is never a smart choice, as aside from ending up with stone work that you’re less than happy with, it could cost you a lot more to correct the problems when your budget permits.
Brick Made during a process in which clay is fired in a kiln, brick is durable and fire-resistant. Available in a wide variety of both colors and sizes, bricks can be laid to create numerous different patterns, and with its low maintenance and longevity, it remains a popular material in the construction industry.
Masonry structures are typically extremely durable, hardwearing and long lasting, but as with most construction materials, time and general wear and tear can cause them to become damaged. In fact, there are a number of different factors that can contribute to masonry damage, either directly or indirectly:
Used in all manner of construction projects throughout the world, whether for residential, commercial or industrial purposes, masonry structures are typically sturdy, durable, energy efficient, resistant to fire and even sound-proof. That said, while nothing beats masonry in terms of longevity in the construction world, it can still be prone to damage that if left unrepaired or unrestored, can pose a serious threat to the very integrity of a building or other such structure.
If left untreated, cracks and holes in masonry can affect the overall appearance of your home, and perhaps more importantly, worsen and cause further damage over time. With pests able to enter freely, along with water and drafts, holes and cracks in your home or business should be addressed immediately, and by contacting your local masonry contractor, they can help determine whether the stone, concrete, or brickwork needs to be repaired or replaced.
With any type of project involving a construction or renovation process, cost will likely be a key factor in determining whether you can go ahead with the project or not, or to what extent you can add on to, or renovate your home. However, while many homeowners are deterred by the seemingly high price of professional masonry services, it’s important to understand why their work is priced the way it is, and what factors can impact their final estimate.
Most homes require some sort of repairs to their masonry over their lifespan, but while it can be tempting to tackle them yourself to save some money, should you make one or more of the mistakes listed below, it could end up costing your dearly,
With the very name itself open to ambiguity, it can be difficult to know exactly what a general contractor is responsible for, and when they might be required during a construction project.
To ensure the structural integrity and longevity of your home, it’s important not to neglect its foundation. A home with a foundation that has become weakened over time, or is damaged in some way, will inevitably lead to your entire home beginning to tilt at an angle if not repaired professionally and in a timely manner. A whole range of other issues can also occur as a result of foundation damage or weakness.
Whether you’re trying to sell the home that you’re currently living in, are planning to sell it in the future, or are having a home built with the idea of selling it, there are many things you can do to help increase a property’s value.
When it comes to masonry, there are plenty of amazing facts about this sturdy, long-lasting material, and plenty of fiction, too! To separate the myths from what’s actually true about masonry, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best truths and lies:
When thinking about building a new home, or any kind of structure, you’ll likely be choosing between brick or stone masonry, but how do you decide between the two?
Brick masonry construction can be extremely effective, durable and attractive when used in a construction project, and pointing in brick masonry can be used to accentuate the craftmanship and improve its overall appearance.
Making your home stand out from the Jones’s is easy with the addition of some expert masonry construction, and by adding some durable and aesthetically pleasing stone elements to the exterior of your home – like a patio or outdoor fireplace – you can do more than make your home look better than your neighbors, you can make it look the best in the entire neighborhood!
While you can spend as much or as little as you want on a masonry fireplace for your outdoor space, however much you spend, there can be no doubt that it will be a great addition to your yard and will be appreciated by all the family. That said, the more you invest in a masonry fireplace and the better quality it is, the more chance it has of helping you increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it.
If you’re planning on having your new home professionally constructed, you’ll need to think carefully about what you want it to be made from. Masonry construction is a popular choice for many homeowners, and can not only make your home look great from the outside, but can make your home structurally stronger. Among the most common types of materials used for masonry construction are brick, stone and concrete, and below we look at their advantages in more detail:
Outdoor kitchens are hugely popular nowadays, and with the pandemic having forced many millions of Americans to stay at home for weeks on end, more and more homeowners began to appreciate the value of having not just outdoor space, but something outside with which to cook food and gather around when times were tough.
With so many of us spending more time at home than ever before over the past couple of years, having a space that can truly meet all of our needs has become more important than anything else. Outdoor spaces have become particularly popular, and many homeowners have been trying to accentuate them by adding features such as decks and patios.
Structures that are built using masonry techniques are made from single units laid and bound together with mortar, and brick, stone and concrete blocks are the most commonly used materials in masonry construction.
As one of the oldest methods of construction known to man, masonry has been used to build many important, unique and historic structures the world over, and thanks to its durability and strength, many of them are still standing today.
Providing one of the best returns on a construction investment in the architectural industry, masonry construction has many advantages; below are just 9 of them:
Finding the ideal home can be hard, and sometimes, what’s on the market just doesn’t meet enough of your criteria. When this is the case, you might think that your only option is to keep looking (for goodness knows how long), or to settle for second best. However, building your own home, designed to meet your every need, desire and whim, is absolutely possible, and while it’s true that it takes a little more planning and patience, the end result (provided you work with a reputable architect and construction company) will be more than worth it.
Buildings constructed professionally and from high quality materials such as bricks and mortar, should have a relatively long lifespan before any repairs may need to be made. But, it’s important to remember that environmental factors may play a part in determining how long brickwork lasts, and at what stage it needs to be assessed and repaired by a skilled masonry contractor.
Patios are a fun and practical addition to any home, and there are many reasons for having one installed by a masonry contractor. That said, it isn’t always easy to know whether a brick or concrete patio is best, and there are arguments in favor of both.
When mortar joints found between masonry materials such as brick and stone are finished, this is known as ‘pointing,.’ While masonry materials are typically long lasting and strong when used in construction, the mortar, however, isn’t quite as indestructible and needs periodic maintenance to ensure and maintain structural integrity.
Achieving an energy-efficient home that saves you money on your utility bills as well as reducing your carbon footprint, is the dream for most people, but did you know that by maintaining your brickwork, you can make that dream a reality? Brickwork is typically overlooked when homeowners consider energy efficiency, but when masonry is kept in good condition with no cracks or gaps, it can significantly improve a property’s insulation values.
Any structure with lintels professionally installed is likely to last a lot longer than one without them installed, and they can help buildings of all shapes and sizes maintain their structural integrity for many years. If you’re having a home or commercial property built for you, your construction contractor will likely be planning to insert lintels throughout. And while plenty of structures don’t have lintels installed, those that are big or which have foundations designed to support a significant weight, would almost certainly benefit from their installation at the point of construction.
If you’re having your home built by a professional construction company or general contractor, you’ll need to sit down together and have a conversation about what your home will be built from, and how it will be constructed.
A common masonry issue, bulging bricks are caused when water seeps through the mortar joints of a wall made from brick or stone, and as the water swells, it puts pressure on the wall. A wall with rusty anchors may also cause the bricks to bulge, as can cracks. Over time, the entire wall will loosen and eventually collapse if bulging bricks aren’t repaired swiftly.
Adding dormer windows to your home could help bring in natural light to upper floor rooms, attics and lofts, or indeed, any room with a vaulted ceiling, and is a remodeling project that more and more Americans are choosing to undertake. That said, they of course don’t undertake it as a DIY project, instead enlisting the help of a local general contractor.
Whatever type of construction project you’re undertaking, the company that you choose to carry out the work can be the difference between a successful project, and one that is an expensive failure. Below are some of the most important things to look out for when hiring a general contractor, and what you should expect from a reputable, professional one:
When laid and maintained professionally, bricks and mortar can remain standing for many, many years – centuries in fact! However, despite their extreme durability, it’s not unusual for bricks to become dulled over time, and lose their original color that made them so visually appealing.
When laid and maintained professionally, bricks and mortar can remain standing for many, many years – centuries in fact! However, despite their extreme durability, it’s not unusual for bricks to become dulled over time, and lose their original color that made them so visually appealing.
Tripping up over cracks in your own driveway or your walkway, is no laughing matter, and when someone else trips over on them, it could have serious repercussions for you. But while it isn’t uncommon for the concrete outside a property to shift over time and eventually crack, it can also crack inside your home and cause problems for the foundation, particularly if your home has been built on top of a concrete slab.
As time passes and your home is exposed to more and more different weather conditions, it’s inevitable that some wear and tear will start to show in the brickwork. Over the years, the bricks may appear faded, some crumbling might be visible, or the mortar may have begun to look weathered and is missing in places.
Patios are a great addition to any home, and having some outdoor space to enjoy and upon which to entertain friends and family, is something most homes would benefit from.
If you’re waiting for warmer weather before tackling your concrete repair work, it might be worth checking with a local construction company as to whether that’s a sensible idea or not. While you might automatically think that a sultry summer’s day would be ideal for repairing concrete that’s showing signs of wear, humid and hot weather conditions can actually stop the concrete from setting properly, while colder temperatures can easily cause the formation of cracks.
Signs of cracks appearing in any concrete structure can be alarming, but while they should never be ignored, some are inevitable and require less attention than others.
A stunning addition to any home when installed professionally, concrete walkways, driveways and patios can also increase a homes’ functionality from an external perspective, and make getting to and around the property, a lot safer and comfortable.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Like everything else, the structure of your brick walls eventually deteriorates. The brick mortar between the mortar joints eventually tends to wither away, and atmospheric agents play a major role in this. It’s even possible to find some bricks breaking off when water seeps into the joints. For this reason, you will need to use brick pointing to revitalize the structure of your bricks. This involves using cement mortar or lime mortar to repair or finish the brick mortar joints.
Keeping your brick home looking neat, tidy and visually appealing, can be challenging, particularly if you live in an area of the country that frequently experiences extreme weather conditions.
A parapet wall is a structure that assists in safeguarding the perimeter of a roof or balcony. They are frequently found in the field of civil engineering, and a plethora of diverse variations can be employed based on the undertaking. Within this blog, we shall deliberate upon the various applications in the realm of building and civil engineering.
Many homeowners choose to have their driveways constructed using paving stones, and it’s easy to see why. With their clean lines, soft colors, and durability, not to mention the fact that they’re almost entirely free of any technical defects (unlike concrete or asphalt, for example), pavers make an excellent choice for driveways of all shapes and sizes.
A parapet wall is a structure that assists in safeguarding the perimeter of a roof or balcony. They are frequently found in the field of civil engineering, and a plethora of diverse variations can be employed based on the undertaking. Within this blog, we shall deliberate upon the various applications in the realm of building and civil engineering.