3 Masonry Issues to Watch Out For – What to Know

3 Masonry Issues to Watch Out For - What to Know

One of the biggest investments you’ll ever make in your life is the purchase and upkeep of your home. Taking care of your home entails quite a number of things, like making sure the pipes are running smoothly, that your household appliances are functioning properly, and that your fixtures are all properly installed. Maintaining these can be quite stressful—especially if you forget to inspect your home for any masonry repair work!

Any cracks or issues in your walls need to be repaired as soon as possible—you wouldn’t want to wait for these to get worse, after all! The cost of repairs can blow up to really expensive levels if left to deteriorate, which is why the sooner you act, the less you’ll spend.

Here are three masonry issues you’ll need to keep an eye on:

Shelf Angle Spalling

Shelf angle spalling is one of the most common issues homeowners will run into. A shelf angle is an L-shaped piece of metal that is inserted behind a row of bricks. It helps distribute the weight of the bricks between the house and the ground.

Spalling, on the other hand, is what happens when the surface of the brick beings to chip, which tends to occur when it rubs too much against the shelf angle. Too much corrosion or damage on the shelf angle will prevent it from fully distributing the weight of the bricks, thus placing your walls at the risk of collapsing.

If your walls are old or in a deteriorated state, be sure to have it inspected. Preventive maintenance is key, after all, as this masonry repair job can be quite lengthy to work on.

Crumbling Mortar

The disintegration of mortar joints between bricks will cause them to collapse and rub against each other, which will badly affect the integrity of your walls. This constant friction will eventually cause extensive damage and changes to its shape, thus resulting in loose or misshapen bricks. In larger numbers, these can be very dangerous for your home.

It’s important to catch this in its early stages, as a mason can easily replace or strengthen the existing mortar. If it’s caught too late, you may have to reconstruct the entire wall—which greatly increases the expenses you’ll have to shelve out for.

Of course, not everyone knows how to identify crumbling mortar. If you’re not too certain, consulting a masonry repair expert is your best bet. They’ll be able to give you an overview of the status of your masonry and attend to any issues before it’s too late.

Efflorescence

This problem can be tricky—it’s unavoidable, especially if you live in an area that’s gloomy and rainy. Efflorescence happens when soluble salts in the concrete rise to the surface and take on a stain-like appearance. Cold and damp weather, or anything that causes condensation, is often the culprit of this.

If you begin to see tiny spots of efflorescence, all you need to do is to pressure wash the concrete thoroughly. While it sounds simple, it has to be done carefully and meticulously. If you leave the stains on for too long, they can’t be removed even through pressure washing, as they’ll transform into calcium carbonate. Instead, you will have to use certain chemicals like muriatic acid—which should definitely be handled by professionals!

Bottom line

Catching problems before they worsen is always a good idea, which is why it’s crucial to know the most basic problems your masonry can get affected by. Even if your walls seem to be in tip-top shape, it would be beneficial to you and your home to call masonry services to inspect them. They might be able to spot something you missed, thus saving you even more money in repairs in the long run.

Red Robin Masonry is a masonry company in Toronto, Canada. We offer restoration and masonry services to make sure your structures are sturdy and well-maintained. Have some walls that need checking? Get in touch with us, and we’ll see how we can help you!

4 Tell-Tale Signs Your Retaining Walls Need to Be Repaired

4 Tell-Tale Signs Your Retaining Walls Need to Be Repaired

Retaining walls play a crucial role in landscaping. They serve to resist the lateral pressure of soil in elevation, and they also beautify your yard. They usually come in various colours, styles, and designs meant to enhance the aesthetic and functional values of your property. However, they are also subject to wear and tear over time given that they are typically constructed outside and exposed to harsh outdoor elements.

But when can you determine that your retaining walls need to be repaired? Here are four tell-tale signs your garden’s retaining walls are in need of repair job now!

1. Crumbling

In most cases, retaining walls are made of clay, bricks, and stones, which means they can start to crumble in the long run. When crumbled, not only does it defeat its purpose of protecting the soil in elevation, but it can also become unsightly in appearance. As soon as you notice small pieces of stone around the structure, it’s best to get masonry services to restore the walls’ lost beauty and functionality.

2. Falling apart

If you see the retaining walls falling apart, it’s an obvious sign they need to be repaired. As mentioned above, these walls are made of clay, bricks, and small stones that are constructed together. Over time, they can fall down and break apart, leaving your yard in complete disarray. Before they even fall apart, contact a masonry company to fix them and make a difference in your garden or yard.

3. Worn or faded walls

Worn and faded retaining walls may not necessarily impact their overall functionality. However, they can ruin the aesthetics of your yard and property in general. Faded walls can be an eyesore in your greenery. The same is true for worn walls that can ruin the beauty of your lawn. To address these concerns, get masonry services to give your landscape a beautiful look and fresh appearance that the whole neighbourhood would love to see.

4. Natural calamities

If you live in an area that’s prone to storms and other natural disasters, then it’s a good idea to inspect your retaining walls regularly and have them fixed when necessary. For instance, you may want to examine your walls soon after a storm. Chances are, they may be worn or damaged. Check for any cracks, breaks, or damage to the wall. From there, get masonry repair work to preserve the beauty of your retaining walls and property as a whole.

Conclusion

Most homeowners use their retaining walls for landscaping in various ways. However, these structures need to be checked for damage every now and then. To know when to fix them, be wary of signs such as crumbling, falling apart, worn and faded walls, and natural calamities as outlined above.

When you notice one or some of these signs, it’s best to hire masonry services to repair your retaining walls. These professionals can make a difference in the overall beauty and functionality of your property’s retaining walls.

We’re a leading masonry company in Toronto. If you’re looking for top-notch masonry services to fix your retaining walls, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

5 Benefits of Installing Masonry in Your Home Construction

5 Benefits of Installing Masonry in Your Home Construction

Masonry is a type of stonework that involves the process of laying down bricks, stones, or concrete with mortar to create a building or structure. Throughout the years, masonry as a building system has demonstrated its quality, flexibility, durability, and classic aesthetics. That is why it is used in various construction projects specifically in building foundations, columns, walls, steps, and other similar structural components.

Even today, many houses and commercial infrastructures are built through masonry. Many designs and construction methods have been developed to enhance the quality and performance of masonry works. As it continually develops, its benefits continuously improve as well.

Here are five significant benefits of having masonry services for your home construction project:

Benefit #1: It keeps your home safe from damage

As you may know, masonry is solid and durable and can withstand almost any hard impact directed to it. Due to its proven integrity and durability, many commercial, government, industrial, and institutional buildings were built with masonry.

Some of the hard impacts or damaging elements it can withstand include:

  • Hail or heavy snow
  • Thrown pieces of stones
  • Termites and pests
  • Vehicular crashes

Benefit #2: It can limit the spread of fire in your home

Masonry in itself is fire-resistant as the material is non-combustible and highly durable. It can withstand prolonged exposure to fire better than any other construction material. If a fire happens in your home, your masonry firewalls or partitions can prevent further spreading.

Some other underlying benefits of getting masonry services for your home include:

  • It can help protect you and your family from fire and other natural and manmade disasters
  • It can help maintain and keep your valuable property away from destructive elements
  • It can lower the insurance rate of your home
  • It can save you significant costs on the damage that a fire causes to your property

Benefit #3: It keeps your home better insulated

If you want to insulate your home better, you should consider having masonry in your home as its mass helps maintain a constant temperature inside your house. As a result, you will notice that you use your heating and cooling system much less frequently, saving you significant energy costs in the long run.

According to experts, masonry provides better insulation capabilities than other construction materials.

Benefit #4: It can save you costs in the long run

Having masonry services in your home is undoubtedly cost-effective compared to other materials. It can be pricey in the beginning due to the construction materials, but you will eventually reap its benefits in terms of better durability, fewer maintenance costs, and longer lifespans.

Masonry is cost-effective in various reasons, including:

  • It is durable, meaning it would not need much repairs and replacement
  • It offers various textures and designs that you wouldn’t feel the need for additional wall coverings
  • Its design is timeless, and its colour doesn’t fade quickly, saving you costs on restyling
  • It doesn’t rust due to weather, not needing regular maintenance and repainting

Benefit #5: It increases your home resale value

Since masonry has many benefits, as mentioned above, the resale value of your home increases over time. Aside from its beauty and classic elegance, its durability is what charms the interests of home buyers.

More than the aesthetics, home buyers look into the quality, durability, and integrity of the house. They would look for a home that can last them a long time and return the value of their investment.

Conclusion

Masonry can offer many benefits to your home. It can withstand strong direct impact due to natural and manmade disasters, can keep your home better insulated, and is cost-effective and highly durable. Aside from that, it can work to your advantage if you plan to sell your house in the future because masonry can significantly increase your home’s resale value.

If you need an expert and reliable masonry company in Toronto, make sure to get in touch with us at Red Robin Masonry. We are recognized as one of the best masonry companies in the area!

3 Signs That Masonry Work Needs to Be Performed on Your Property

3 Signs That Masonry Work Needs to Be Performed on Your Property

In Canada, residential homes and commercial buildings made of brick or stone walls may be subjected to wear and tear over time. These damages may be brought upon by the walls’ exposure to harsh elements, such as water infiltration and extreme heat. Because of these, masonry problems can eventually lead to a negative impact on your home or business establishment. That is why well-inspected and well-maintained masonry is vital for the foundation and structural integrity of your home or building.

It’s best to be on the lookout for signs showing that masonry works need to be done. That said, here are three obvious signs of early damage you should be wary of. Keep reading to see if you need to hire masonry services in Toronto.

1. Bowed brick (bulging brick)

Have you seen bricks in your outer walls either jutting out or caving in around a particular area? Those are bowed bricks, which may be caused by moisture that has penetrated behind the bricks. As a result, the moisture either forces the bricks out or softens the wood behind the bricks, making them sink in.

When you see this, it should tell you that something is happening behind your walls. For this reason, the bowed bricks need to be sorted out and fixed. Masonry works need to be performed where the impacted bricks are, as the bricks need to be removed and the damage behind the walls needs to be repaired. Hiring masonry services in Toronto can make all the difference.

2. Compacted bricks

When it comes to compacted bricks, catching them on your property is easily done, as these bricks have lost their original shapes. Chances are, they appear either bowed or cracked, which is obviously out of the norm. Neglecting compacted bricks can lead to serious problems. First, they create a hole in the wall where water can get through. Second, one compacted brick will affect other bricks adjacent to it, which will eventually impact the entire wall.

As soon as you see a compacted brick, it’s best to have it replaced immediately before it can affect the rest of the bricks. Along with this masonry work, you’ll have to have your foundation underpinned by push piers. This construction process will require spikes to be connected to your foundation and drilled into the ground for additional support.

3. Vertical corner cracks

Vertical cracks may be the least troublesome; however, they should not be neglected at all. Sure, cracks in your foundation may be pretty normal as a function of natural expansion. Understand, however, that they will allow water to get in the walls during a heavy downpour of rain, and that is where the problem lies. If left neglected, they can cause bulging bricks and damage to the inner wall.

What’s good about vertical cracks is that they are a relatively easy fix for masonry work. They can easily be worked on with urethane or epoxy injection to fill the crack. All you have to do is to leave these vertical cracks to masonry experts.

Conclusion

At this point, you now know what to be on the lookout for if you have brick or stone walls. As outlined above, inspect for glaring signs of damage such as bowed bricks, compacted bricks, and vertical corner cracks. If one or several of these signs are present, the next course of action is to contact a masonry company in Toronto and let contractors work wonders on your house or building.

If you’re looking for masonry services in Toronto, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

5 Steps to Take When Looking for Masonry Contractors – Our Guide

5 Steps to Take When Looking for Masonry Contractors - Our Guide

Masonry is generally regarded as a highly durable form of construction. Whether using materials, such as bricks, stones, or concrete blocks, masonry involves building structures from individual units. If you plan to construct your house foundation, build a fireplace, or perform stonework, hiring the right masonry contractors can make a difference in the result of your construction project.

In this article, we will share with you five steps to take when you’re looking for masonry contractors:

1. Start by planning for your masonry project

Before commencing any construction project, you should always start with a robust plan. It typically entails knowing the exact construction project you want to pursue and what vision you want to bring to life. Along with this planning includes establishing the scope of your construction project, listing the materials and resources you need, and setting the timeline for your project. From there, you can then proceed to look for a masonry company in Toronto that can pull off your project efficiently and effectively.

2. Check online or get recommendations from others

When looking for masonry contractors, you would typically have two routes to take. First, you can search online to get some prospects within your locality. Second, you can get some recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues who have worked with a company in the past. From there, you can narrow down your list of prospects for your masonry construction project.

3. Check the portfolio, qualification, and certification

Now that you have a few prospects on your list, you can start getting in touch with them. While you’re at it, make sure to check their portfolios, qualifications, and certifications. When examining their portfolios, see what their areas of specialization are. As for the qualifications, gauge their knowledge, skills, experience, and level of expertise. Also, check to see whether or not they have insurance coverage so that they will be protected in case of any issues.

4. Schedule an appointment with a few prospects

After screening through your list of prospects, you should begin scheduling your appointments with them. During the interview sessions, present your masonry construction project idea and inform them what you hope to achieve. Doing this will help you learn about how they will plan to carry out your project. Get their suggestions on various aspects of the process, such as the best materials for design, laying patterns, and decorative features. Through this appointment, you will know the right fit for your construction project.

5. Ask for references and contact past clients

During the appointment, never miss out on asking for references from their past clients. After the interview, you can contact past clients to ask how their experience was with the masonry company that you’re looking to hire. Also, you can check online reviews about the services they rendered. Sum up all the information that you’ve learned about your prospects and decide on the best option for your construction project.

Conclusion

At this point, you can now make an informed decision when choosing the right contractor for your masonry project. Just make sure to follow the valuable steps outlined above, from having the right planning to researching for prospects down to evaluating for the best contractor. All these steps can make your masonry construction project a success!

We’re a leading masonry company in Toronto. If you’re looking for masonry contractors, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!