Everything You Need to Know about Masonry

Masonry is a timeless construction method that’s been used all over the world. Masonry is defined by the materials used to build a structure—usually bricks, stones, or concrete blocks connected by a cement paste called mortar.

If you look at some of the oldest structures in your area, you will be able to find centuries-old structures built through masonry. When constructed correctly, reinforced masonry can withstand extreme weather conditions and even earthquakes.

 

Two Main Types of Masonry

 

There are two major types of masonry that you should familiarize yourself with if you’re looking to have some work done on your home. Here is a brief breakdown of each one:

 

  1. Veneer Masonry

 

This is the most common type of masonry used today. It’s a cost-effective method that provides good insulation for a new home or even a remodel. Classic wood frames are built to make up the walls. They are then covered with sheathing and insulated before the brick is installed.

Metal ties are nailed into the wood frame’s studs, bent, and then embedded into the mortar as the bricks are laid down. To provide insulation for the structure, one inch of space is left between the brick veneer and the external sheathing.

 

  1. Solid Brick Masonry

 

This type of masonry was much more common 50 years ago, but it fell off once regulations required insulation to be built into house structures. A solid masonry wall consists of two brick-moulded layers, making them the most long-lasting and durable type of masonry structure found today.

As the brick walls are built, there is a greater risk of separation between the two layers of bricks. Header bricks are installed every six rows to act as a bridge and hold the layers together as the structure gets higher and higher.

 

Materials Used in Masonry

 

By definition, masonry structures are made from brick, stone, and concrete blocks that are held together by mortar. Common masonry materials include: 

Brick – This is the most popular choice for masonry because of the aesthetic appeal of its unique maroon shade. Brick is made out of clay, sand, water, and lime that gets baked and shaped. Brick structures last for hundreds of years, remaining stylish over several generations. They can hold up very well in just about any climate.

Concrete – Concrete blocks are much larger than bricks, so laying them down takes much less time and manpower, making them more affordable. Concrete is also more fire-resistant than brick. Concrete blocks are formed in various shapes and sizes, so there is a greater versatility if you choose this option. 

Stone – Stone structures are known to last over 1,000 years. Stone does not dent, warp, or splinter in the face of hail, sleet, snow, and rain. In stone masonry, you can choose between dressed or undressed stone. Dressed stone can be shaped in any pattern or size that you want. Undressed or rough stone provides a natural aesthetic when laid.

 

Conclusion

 

Masonry structures stand the test of time. Whether you’re using masonry for your foundation, walls, chimneys, inside or outside of your home, you need a highly experienced, trusted masonry company to plan, build, restore, or repair these structures for you. They will have the valuable advice you need when it comes to choosing between masonry methods and materials.

Are you looking for masonry services in Toronto? Red Robin Masonry has been serving the area for over 30 years. Our masons are knowledgeable, experienced, and properly trained in providing clients with exceptional quality of service and product. Request a quote from us today!

 

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Why Brick Materials Are Still Best for Construction

Bricks have long been used as construction materials since ancient times, and they even date back to 7000 BC, making them one of the oldest construction materials. This is why you can still see ruins made out of bricks from the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and other civilizations erected up until now. Today, these materials are still widely used to build residential homes, commercial buildings, walkways and driveways, retaining walls, and so much more.

 

If you’re wondering why the bricks remain to be one of the best construction materials, here’s what you ought to know:

 

  1. Aesthetic appeal

 

There’s no denying that bricks exude a timeless appeal and classic beauty. Whether you plan to use these materials for an indoor or outdoor construction, they can surely kick your property up a notch. The good news is that they even come in various natural colours, patterns, and styles, so you can choose something that will work well for your residential property!

 

  1. Strength and durability

 

The brick materials are known for their strength and durability, which means that they can withstand the harsh outdoor elements and stand the test of time. In fact, they are strong, resistant to harsh elements, and long-lasting. As mentioned above, some of the world’s oldest buildings that remain standing up to this day were made with the materials in question. As such, if you want your construction to last for as long as possible, bricks can be your best bet!

 

  1. Energy efficiency feature

 

Another remarkable feature of bricks is that they are actually energy-efficient because they can insulate your house from extreme weather conditions. For instance, your walls won’t allow the sun’s heat or the cold air to easily and quickly penetrate your home. With their energy efficiency feature, you can expect your cooling and heating systems to work less, and you can effectively reduce your energy consumption. In the end, you’ll be surprised at how brick materials will help you save up on your utility bills in the long run!

 

  1. Environmental protection and sustainability

 

What’s great about the brick materials is that they are sustainable in the long run, which is why they last longer than other materials. On top of that, they do not harm the environment that much as they are deemed “efficient” and “green.” So, if you want to help save the planet, be sure to opt for bricks instead for your construction project!

 

  1. Other valuable benefits

 

Did you know that there’s more to bricks than what you might expect? Apart from those mentioned above, you can still take advantage of their heat resistance, effective noise reduction, and less maintenance, among many others. This is why many property owners consider using bricks as materials for their construction projects, whether for retaining walls, walkways, or even buildings.

At Red Robin Masonry, our masonry services guarantee quality with a full warranty carried out by our experts. Our brickwork includes brick restoration and new construction, such as brick replacement, door and window re-sizing, pillar rebuilds, re-facing exterior walls and many more. If you need brick repair in Mississauga, we’ve got you covered!

 

Conclusion

At this point, you now know that various perks come with using brick materials for your construction. These include aesthetic appeal, strength and durability, energy efficiency, and sustainability, among others. With all these practical benefits, you have all the good reasons to go for brickwork for your construction project!

We’re a leading masonry company in Toronto with a wide range of masonry services. Whether it’s tuckpointing, parging, brick repair, chimney and fireplace installation, stonework, or concrete construction, call us today to request a quote!

Highlighting Your Home’s Foundations: Brickwork Repointing

Brickwork is a unique aesthetic addition to your home, making it a fan favourite for homeowners with rustic styles. The columns and rows of brick upon brick create an organized, yet unique formation that highlights your home’s aesthetics. However, its visual appeal isn’t free from sustaining damage over time. Sometimes, small cracks and stains can be a symptom of a greater issue requiring immediate attention and repairs.

 

Assessing your brickwork for signs of damage

Remember that your brickwork’s signs of damage can lead to aesthetic and functional damage to your home. White deposits—known as efflorescence—can appear on your bricks to signify a build-up of water and salts coming to the surface. Although it generally doesn’t damage your brick’s foundations, it can still lead to an unsightly look that demands replacement. Remember to use light cleaning agents that won’t damage your bricks. Some chemical cleaners can also lead to stains or spread efflorescence if you don’t test it out properly.

Besides this surface-level deterioration, you should also be mindful of cracks on your brickwork’s joints and grout. Since they’re less noticeable than white stains, they’re harder to detect but are more deadly than you might think. Their presence can allow moisture penetration that can compromise the structural integrity of your walls and pillars. This can lead to damaged bricks needing repairs or replacements before affecting your entire wall or column.

 

Repairing your brickwork through repointing

Repointing is a repair treatment that specifically remedies crumbling and cracked grout in your brickwork. It’s a form of routine maintenance that homeowners need to perform regularly to maintain their brickwork’s look. Repointing removes any old mortar and replaces it with a new batch to preserve your brick structures from damage.

Like patching paintwork on walls, it’s important to match the existing mortar colour with the appropriate shade during restoration. Otherwise, your brickwork’s repairs will stand out in contrast to its other parts. No ordinary building contractor can handle the job’s delicacy and precision; it requires a trained masonry professional to avoid any misplacement or misalignment issues. This is because the improper application of repointing can lead to more significant issues beyond simple visual problems.

 

 Confirming your need for repointing

It’s important to properly assess your brickwork’s damage before you settle on the appropriate response. Sometimes, repointing isn’t the best solution to your problem, especially if you have an issue with its foundation. For example, cracks running up the wall often indicate an issue that goes beyond general wear and tear. Simply repairing it through repointing the joints is not always the long-term solution you need. 

Another potential major issue is water exposure. If your brickwork’s cracks allow water to seep into it, you must first remedy the water damage before sealing it from the outside. Doing so will prevent your brickwork from deteriorating internally even if it appears fixed on the surface. It’s best to consult with a masonry expert if repointing is the optimal solution.

 

Conclusion

Every construction material in your home needs to undergo particular care and maintenance to ensure that they’re in good condition. For example, wood structures need to get a replacement sealant treatment to prevent wood rot and deterioration from water seepage. Another potential issue is maintaining metal structures from oxidation and rust, especially if they’re outdoors. It’s your task as a homeowner to understand your home’s needs, depending on the material they’re made of.

At Red Robin Masonry we understand the complex needs of your brickwork’s maintenance. It’s our goal to give our clients the appropriate solutions with our experience and expertise in the trade. If you need brick repair services in Ontario, contact us today at 416-206-8859!

All About Retaining Walls for Your Home’s Structural Integrity

Structural integrity is essential for any home because any issues regarding the strength of walls that keep everything in one piece can be detrimental to your safety. A house’s walls are crucial parts of the whole picture because they protect you from the elements and support the roof above your head. However, some older homes might not have been built with long-term strength in mind, which is a problem that originates from the soil underneath the property. 

Canada’s homes are typically designed with plenty of different materials with varying insulation properties. Whether your home is built from bricks, cement, wood, or plaster products, these can all be affected by changing weather conditions and soil erosion caused by time and water retention. While not all cases will require your home to be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up, you can invest in retaining your walls for maximum protection and safety. Here’s what you need to know about retaining walls for improved structural stability:

 

Retaining Walls on a Property

If you’re planning to retain your walls, you have to understand the basics of the whole process. Basically, a retaining wall is a support structure that is created and filled into your existing home’s walls to ensure that the soil underneath won’t shift the wall if it starts to erode. Since Canada’s climate can be quite extreme, the soil’s properties can change each season and start to soften, which can lead to collapsed walls. 

Toronto masonry services are typically ready to waterproof your home and even improve the structural integrity using bricklaying and other restoration services. Bricks and reinforced concrete are the most popular materials used for retaining walls, but they can also be made out of cheaper products like logs and other stones. In general, they have to be strong enough to maintain the structure behind them, and these are typically like a cast that strengthens the interior surfaces from shifting.

 

How Will You Know If You Need Retaining Walls?

If you see your walls developing cracks and some areas of your home sinking, it’s probably a good idea to have excavation done to check the status of your surrounding land. It’s good to consult with a masonry company in Toronto to see if your walls need maintenance or retaining surfaces to ensure safety. These companies will have the tools and expertise needed to protect your home from dangerous structural integrity weaknesses. As soon as you walk around your property and see changes in the visuals of some surfaces like distortions or large cracks, it’s time to invest in repair services. 

 

Using the Right Materials

Having brick or cement retaining walls might cost more because of the process of installation and the material price, while wooden frames might be cheaper because of wood’s accessibility. However, always consider the pros and cons of each. While you might spend more on cement or bricklaying from Toronto masonry services, you’ll need to have them inspected fewer times annually. Wood frames might require bi or tri-annual inspections to check for termites, wood rot, or other damages because of the natural properties of the material. Weighing your options is important, and various materials exist with your local companies, so research and look around. 

 

Conclusion

A wall that is structurally weak and requires replacing is a health and safety risk, as these surfaces are meant to protect you and your family from the outside world. If they collapse, they can cause severe injuries and even hundreds of thousands in repair costs. Catch the problem before it becomes serious by having a masonry professional check the status of your walls to ensure that you’re safe from harm and future challenges. 

Red Robin Masonry is a premium masonry company in Toronto that is a master in its class. Sporting the complete set of tools and equipment infrastructure, the quality you get out of a masonry company like us is top-tier. Contact us to know more about how we can help you prepare for the changing of seasons. 

 

Tuckpointing for Brick Structures: What You Need to Know

Did you know that there are many perks and benefits that come with installing outdoor brick walls and structures? They essentially enhance the aesthetic beauty and increase the value of your property, and they are also durable, easy to maintain, and long-lasting. However, they need to be properly taken care of, as they can be subject to wear and tear over time. One way to take care of your brick construction is through tuckpointing.

In this article, we will share what you need to know about tuckpointing and see how this service will benefit your brick structure.

 

What is tuckpointing?

For the uninitiated, tuckpointing involves fixing the damaged mortar joints between bricks. The process typically involves removing the failing mortar and replacing it with a new, strong mortar to reinforce the deteriorated joints. In some cases, the tuckpointing process includes doing the complete wall, spot repairs, or step cracks. Ultimately, it must be carried out by a professional masonry contractor, such as those from Red Robin Masonry!

 

Why is tuckpointing important?

If you’re wondering why tuckpointing is important, here are four main reasons for it:

 

  • Weather protection: One of the primary reasons you need to get tuckpointing is to protect your brick structures from the changing weather conditions and the harsh outdoor elements. Once your walls are cracked, crumbled, or damaged, it’s easy for your bricks to get even worse over time.

 

  • Aesthetic maintenance: If you want your brick walls or structures to maintain their good looks, tuckpointing will do that for you. The last thing you’ll want to have is a brick construction that’s unsightly due to deterioration.

 

  • Functional purpose: If you want to ensure your brick structures’ structural integrity, tuckpointing will work wonders on them. By doing so, you can expect your bricks to become more stable than ever.

 

  • Longer lifespan: If you want your brick structure to last longer than usual, you will need to get a tuckpointing service to ensure its stability and structural integrity amid constant exposure to harsh outdoor elements.

 

When will your brick require tuckpointing?

You may be asking yourself when you must consider tuckpointing for your brick structure. Fret not, as this is straightforward and relatively easy to find out. All it takes is to look at your mortar around the different parts of your brick structure!

If you notice some cracks, crumbles, or holes, you will need to get a tuckpointing service. Keep in mind that holes, cracking, and crumbling are all an indication of long-term decay. Not only are they distracting to look at, but they can also compromise the structural integrity of your property. For this reason, calling masonry professionals becomes imperative.

Here at Red Robin Masonry, our masonry services have guaranteed quality with a full warranty carried out by our expert professionals. When it comes to tuckpointing, we have extensive knowledge to know the best type of mortar to use in every situation!

 

Conclusion

At this point, you now know what tuckpointing is and why it’s important for your brick structures. As such, be sure to check your brick structures regularly and see if you need this service. Most importantly, it’s best to work with a highly reliable masonry contractor to address the mortar issues and keep your brick construction in top shape and condition!

Are you looking for reliable tuckpointing experts for your brick construction? We’ve got you covered! As a leading masonry company in Toronto, we specialize in masonry services, such as tuckpointing, parging, brick repair, chimney and fireplace installation, stonework, and concrete and foundation construction. If you’re looking for masonry contractors, get in touch with us today or request a quote now!