Signs That Your Bricks Need Replacement

Bricks have always been a popular material that is used in homes and commercial buildings. They look amazing, and they’re pretty sturdy, too. But like everything else, they could still require some touch-ups now and then, and if the bricks are beyond repair, then a replacement may be a good idea.

Minor damages like cracks and chips can be addressed by getting expert brick repair services in Toronto from a trusted masonry company like Red Robin Masonry. As a homeowner, it is also your responsibility to recognize the signs that your bricks need to be replaced. Here are some of those signs you need to look out for:

Damaged Bricks

Bricks can withstand harsh weather, but they can still get worn out and damaged. If you notice that some of your bricks are already crumbling, it’s an indication that a replacement will be needed soon. When multiple bricks are already damaged, it can affect the structural integrity of your home. Not only that – it could be dangerous for your family or other people who are walking nearby if a brick wall collapses.

Moving Bricks 

Older brick structures that are heavily worn out can start moving. If you can move the bricks around, that’s a clear sign that it needs to be checked by a seasoned mason. Don’t take this issue lightly. Immediate action will help you preserve the structure, especially if your property is a historic building with a very interesting story to tell.

Leaning or Unstable Structure

Do you notice the structure slightly leaning? That could mean that the building is unstable and that there’s a risk of it collapsing. It would be best to get this addressed at once because otherwise, the building could collapse, and someone can get hurt. Also, the more you wait, the bigger the repair cost will be.

How Long Do Bricks Last?

Bricks can last for more than a hundred years. Most historic buildings found in Toronto are aged, but with repair work and proper maintenance, they could stand for a hundred more years! Mortar joints need to be checked, though, as they need attending every 20 to 30 years. If you know your historic building is over a hundred years old, you should definitely call experts to check its stability whether or not you see signs of deterioration.

 The Importance of Paying Attention and Knowing Early Signs of Damage

Repairing a brick structure can be very expensive if you let the problem go on for years without taking action. When it comes to bricks, early detection of the problem is crucial as it could mean you could still save the structure. Never let cracked mortar, water damage, or uneven flooring get neglected, as these are telltale signs that there could be more extensive damage to come.

Conclusion

Brick is an extremely sturdy material that could last for hundreds of years. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need attention and proper care. While they’re low-maintenance, they need to be repaired as soon as you notice signs of damage. This is the best way to extend the life of your bricks. One of the best ways to make sure that your bricks are in the best shape is by contacting a reliable masonry company in Toronto that can perform inspection, repair, or, if necessary, replacement.

Red Robin Masonry offers expert masonry services in Toronto. Whether you need repair or replacement, our team of professionals can handle it for you. Contact us today to know what we can do for you!

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Tuckpointing 101: Everything You Need To Know About It

When it comes to changing the aesthetics of your home, the different procedures can be pretty overwhelming, especially when you have to deal with a brick structure. 

Bricks are effective construction materials that provide cladding, allowing your property to have proper insulation and weather-resistant features, all while improving your home’s aesthetics. However, over time, the mortar used to fill joints may deteriorate — this is where tuckpointing comes into the picture. 

Tuckpointing is a great technique that enhances the appearance of masonry. This procedure removes portions of deteriorating mortar and fills it with new mortar that closely matches the colour of the bricks. By doing this, you create an illusion of a well-maintained brick structure. 

Seeing that tuckpointing is a tedious process that requires technique and specific materials, it’s best to get credible brick repair services to ensure your property goes back to its original state and enhances its general aesthetics.

If you’re keen on protecting your bricks from total mortar deterioration, read on. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about tuckpointing — from tips to the actual process. Let’s get to it!

 

The Basics of Tuckpointing

When you’re considering some tuckpointing work done, it helps to understand the different terms of masonry. 

  • Pointing: This is the process of filling mortar joints during construction. It also refers to the actual mortar joints and the spaces between each brick in a completed wall. 
  • Repointing: This involves removing old mortar from the joints and replacing it with new, fresh mortar.
  • Tuckpointing: Similar to repointing, the main difference is that you’re using mortar that closely resembles the colour of your bricks. After which, you embed narrow lines of putty in contrasting colours through the center of new mortar joints. 

Many homeowners go for tuckpointing instead of repointing because it creates an appealing and convincing visual illusion, making your wall look like it was constructed with new masonry. 

 

Why Do Mortar Joint Deteriorate?

Before going through tuckpointing and other reconstruction procedures, it pays to know what goes on when mortars begin to fail. 

Deterioration can happen due to a bunch of reasons, such as faulty workmanship, environmental erosion due to extreme temperature and moisture, or the pressure of overhead bricks. Although bricks can last for centuries, you should know that mortars can last for only 25 to 30 years, which means you’ll need to replace them at some point in your property’s lifetime. 

 

Why Should I Let Professionals Handle This?

While many homeowners love do-it-yourself projects, it’s best to leave it to the professionals when it comes to tuckpointing. 

Tuckpointing is a labour-intensive method that requires a lot of skill and extreme precision to successfully create an illusion of level mortar joints. Seeing that it’s an incredibly meticulous project, seeing a slight off-kilter portion can make the whole project look sloppy and unfinished. 

With that being said, it’s best to get reputable brick repair services from trusted companies to ensure proper installation and resetting, resulting in a fantastic-looking new wall or chimney. 

 

The Bottom Line: Give Your Bricks that Overdue Love and Care It Deserves

Tuckpointing is a fantastic way to breathe in new life to your brick structure. Whether you’re dealing with bricks in the exterior of the interior of your home, you want to ensure that it gets proper upkeep and looks good as news, especially when exposed to various triggers. 

Thankfully, Red Robin Masonry provides exceptional brick repair services. This way, you can give your brick structure that much-needed upgrade and give it the love and care it deserves.

 

Why Work with Red Robin Masonry?

 

Your home is undeniably one of your biggest investments. So when it comes to maintenance and repairs, it’s best to work with the right contractors to ensure that all your home projects are done with excellent technique and service. 

Red Robin Masonry is the most respected and trusted masonry company in Ontario. Our services include chimney and fireplace services, tuckpointing, parging, brickwork, stonework, and concrete and foundation services.

If you’re looking for brick repair services in Scarborough, give us a call at 416-206-8859 and ask for a quote today!

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Brick by Brick: Which Is Better Between Concrete & Clay?

Easily described as one of the most prominent construction methods the world has ever seen, masonry is undoubtedly associated with unhampered durability and resistance. 

While contemporary methods are more commonly used than ever, the fact is that the approach in question strikes a chord with homeowners and builders looking to prioritize quality above all else. Considering that masonry systems themselves have stood the test of time against anything they go against or have struggled with, you’re most likely thinking about using them to put your next project together. 

Suppose you’re at a point where you’re looking into the possibility of banking on the benefits of using masonry construction methods for your next project. In that case, there’s no doubt that the method is a worthy consideration. Once you dabble into the whole string of tasks and choices that you’ll need to handle for your construction project, you’ll end up needing to choose between using two types of bricks: concrete and clay.

 

Breaking down the importance of these materials

When you hear about masonry structures, the first thing that comes to mind is that they still consistently outperform all other construction methods. However, it’s important to know that the kind of durability these types of projects are best known for won’t be made possible without the kinds of bricks needed for such an effect. This is where concrete and clay bricks come into the picture.

Over the years, these bricks have become a topic of discussion among builders and future homeowners alike because they’re responsible for any masonry structure’s environmental and mechanical resistance. Yet, always remember that the success of your project all boils down to choosing the right type of brick, meaning that they’re far from being interchangeable (as most people expect them to be). 

 

A tale of two bricks

Now that you’re about to start building your home or project with masonry principles, it’s important to know the difference between concrete and clay bricks because of how each choice offers a unique experience. To help you end up with a type of choice that best suits your needs and preferences once you enlist the help of Red Robinson Masonry to build your structure, let’s first go over both brick options in greater detail: 

 

Concrete

Seeing its beginning as a building material in the mid-19th century, the humble concrete block has undoubtedly become an iconic staple in the strongest and longest-standing projects worldwide.

Today, these blocks have become a must-consider for those looking to build a home with masonry principles because of the immense benefits they provide anywhere they’re put. Here are some of the most essential benefits that make concrete blocks an essential option worth considering, thanks to their precise unit measurements and modular characteristics: 

  • Sound structural resistance
  • Thermal and acoustic insulation
  • Fast and easy installations 

 

Clay bricks

If a project built with masonry principles doesn’t use concrete bricks, then it’s probably using clay bricks. 

Regarded as one of the most fundamental and durable building materials ever invented, these materials have been used in construction for thousands of years because they use naturally occurring materials. Through the use of a complex mixture of minerals (typically in varying proportions) that is later on mixed, moulded, dried, and fired, these bricks yield valuable benefits, such as:

 

  • Increased durability
  • Aesthetic appeal
  • Fire resistance
  • Structural strength
  • Energy efficiency 

 

Conclusion

While there are many different factors that go into establishing the durability and dependability of a project made with a masonry-based approach, the bricks that are used make a significantly larger difference. By taking this guide into consideration, you’ll be able to ensure that you choose the right option for your project that best suits your needs and preferences! 

Are you looking for brick repair services in Toronto? Get in touch with our leaders in masonry services to see how we can help!

3 Main Reasons Why Resorting to Parging Often Fails

Parging is a tried-and-true masonry technique used to conceal visible parts of your building’s foundation, mostly seen among residential properties. While you may think that it is essentially foolproof—especially since it should last for up to 30 to 50 years—most completed projects often don’t last as long, leading to major repairs. Fortunately for you, there have been identifiable mistakes that most amateur contractors make. 

 

  • Low-quality mix

As customary for many masonry applications, you need to have a high-quality mix to allow your bricks and other components to adhere effectively. Unfortunately, you may add too much water, which is often one of the most common causes of issues. It leads to low strengthening qualities, making the structure more susceptible to weathering. Aside from this, you may put in too much sand, which often yields the same results. 

Besides water and sand amounts, a lack of chemical additives to ensure easier mixing can lead to a poorly made mixture. Thus, you should always measure your ratios for mixing and add more to balance out the yield. 

Also, you have to be mindful of your mixing and air entrainment to keep the consistency favourable and ready for use. Due to all these factors, only experienced masonry tradespeople should make the mix to ensure proper yield without wasting resources. 

 

  • Parging material used is too old 

 

Throughout the masonry process, you may be using old parging materials. In other words, you may have tampered with them too much instead of giving them ample time to work, which is 30 minutes to an hour. This timeframe is important because you need to let it set before working on the structure again. Otherwise, it can lead to a premature parging job, affecting the overall quality. 

As such, it is recommended that the persons in charge of parging should be time-oriented to avoid overmixing. The tools used must also be quality-checked and given the seal of approval from an experienced masonry professional. Most importantly, you should be assured of a warranty or policy for repairs when something goes wrong. 

 

  • Temperature issues 

 

As you may already know, most masonry contractors only perform major projects during fairly warm temperatures. It ensures that the structure cures in time. Thus, if you get into a situation wherein someone is willing to do parging during the winter, be skeptical about it because it is highly likely that it is a scam. A dramatic drop in temperature lets water seep into the parging material, which will freeze over then expand. As a result, you end up with cracked parging. 

Another temperature issue you have to watch out for is during the summer months. It is because most mixes have chemical additives that react negatively with parging. In the end, you will have to call for a replacement coating by the end of the year as the heat prevents proper cement bonding. Thus, always plan a date ahead of time and coordinate with your masonry contractor to guarantee a successful parging. 

 

Conclusion 

As you can see, there are plenty of ways that parging can go wrong. Because of this, it would be best to prepare for this huge undertaking in advance and follow the appropriate procedures as carefully as possible. Meanwhile, if you know you don’t have the masonry skills, resources, and expertise to pull this off, simply contact our professionals to ensure you avoid all the formerly mentioned problems and other related issues. 

Red Robin Masonry can provide you with the best parging services Toronto has to offer. We are your dedicated team of masonry professionals, allowing you to do major repairs and new construction projects for your needs and preferences. Request a quote today to have a better idea of our cost-effective solutions. 

Why Parging Is a Must for Your House

parging services in toronto

Why Parging Is a Must for Your House

New homeowners might be perplexed as to why a fresh concrete foundation would need even more masonry. It seems like a waste of money to do the same job twice, but parging does have its benefits for any home restoration projects you have planned. If your home is situated in areas with harsh climates, there are several reasons why you may want to consider parging services for your home. 

 

All About Parging

Parging is a process where a thin coat of cement or mortar is applied over concrete or masonry to further refine the surface. It acts as a way to fill the imperfections of a concrete base that has been laid down to serve as the foundation of a building. Parge coats are applied to fill the pits, holes, and seams in the concrete foundation for a nicer finish.

 

Benefits of Parging 

There are several other benefits of parging, aside from giving the concrete a smoother surface. Here are some of the advantages that come with choosing to apply a parge coat to your foundation.

 

Insulation

Canada undoubtedly has one of the coldest winters across the globe. Parging can help your home by providing an additional layer of protection for your foundation against the elements. It will also keep your home warm as an insulating layer. A parge coat will also keep your foundation’s structural integrity strong since it prevents water from freezing in the cracks and holes, which causes damage.

 

Increases Curb Appeal

When looking at a house, people won’t initially care about how good the insulation is or how strong the foundation will be. People will pass by and remark on how beautiful it looks. Houses that look good are achieved by proper construction, maintenance, and care. 

Prioritizing your home’s overall appearance and maintenance will make it more valuable in the following years should you decide to sell it. By enlisting in the right home restoration services, you can ensure that your house is protected with a layer of parging to prevent any damage from harsh elements as the season’s pass. Doing so will allow you to sell your home at a higher estimated value than you would have sold it for if it didn’t receive the proper maintenance measures. 

 

Repellant Against Insects and Critters

The weather isn’t the only thing that parging protects a home against. Holes and cracks in your concrete are pretty much open invitations for tiny bugs and critters that any homeowner would rather keep outside of their home. Insects and other creatures such as mice can climb in through holes in your walls that can keep growing without a protective layer on top. 

A pest infestation is something that can be incredibly difficult to get rid of and can cause even more damage to important parts of your house. A better and more cost-effective solution for the long term would be to secure protective parge coating over your surfaces to future proof against unwanted entry from bugs and critters.

 

Conclusion

Parging is more than just an extra layer on top of your concrete base. It serves a functional purpose to keep your home’s foundation protected from harsh weather, warm during cold winters, and to block any intrusive insects and other creatures from burrowing their way in. By securing your concrete surfaces early on, you can also add curb appeal to your property that will make it more valuable on the market down the line. When presented with a choice to add parge coating when building your home, the best choice would be to say yes and enjoy the benefits you reap as a result. 

 

Here at Red Robin Masonry, we help ease the burden of maintaining a home by providing quality masonry services in Toronto to our clients. Contact us for your parging needs, brick repair, or other masonry requirements.

Parging – What Is It and Why Is It Important in Construction

Parging - What Is It and Why Is It Important in Construction

When looking at the process of building a home, you may have come across the term “parging.” If you do not know what it means, parging is the process of applying a cement coating over a wall surface. It is a standard treatment for a structure’s foundation and exterior walls, especially if these walls are made of masonry.

If you are interested to learn more about parging, this article will go over what it entails and why it is important. Let the information below serve as a guide if you have a construction project in mind.

The use of parging

Parging is typically a mason’s responsibility. It involves applying a layer of smooth cement to walls built with blocks. This provides a smooth surface on which different coatings can be applied, such as waterproofing and paints. Parging also helps protect the concrete blocks.

Parging can also be for aesthetic reasons, particularly in external applications, such as in an exterior wall. The surface does not have to be smooth. Instead, it can be textured to achieve different styles. Texturing is possible in multiple ways, such as by mixing in gravel, pebbles, and other materials into the mix before applying it onto a surface.

Parging is also applicable to walls with signs of brick deterioration. In that case, the process is usually paired with a steel mesh to add strength and support. This is then followed by another parging phase using a lighter cement mix over the previous one.

The importance of parging

Parging is vital to any wall to protect its surface from external forces such as rain, wind, ice, and snow. This protection removes the potential risk of moisture seeping into a masonry wall, as this can expand when frozen and crack the installation. At the same time, it also acts as an extra layer of insulation, ensuring the home is as energy efficient as possible.

Identifying the need for parging

Not all surfaces will require parging, and not all surfaces will be deemed ready for parging. If you are interested in parging, it is always vital that you work with a skilled mason. They can quickly identify which walls need to be parged, and they have the skills to carry out the task effectively.

Plus, if they find a wall that needs to be parged, but it is not in a suitable condition, they can quickly fix the problem first. For example, if they find a severely damaged chimney, they will have the chimney fully repaired before parging it.

Conclusion

As you can see, parging plays a vital role in your construction project. It helps protect masonry work from unnecessary risk, and it provides a smooth finish that looks aesthetically pleasing.

That said, while you can do parging by yourself, it is a skill that takes a long time to perfect. We recommend that you work with a skilled mason to do the job. They can identify which surfaces need to be parged, and they can make sure the job is done with the best results.

Red Robin Masonry is a masonry company that offers various services from brick repair, parging, and more to satisfy your construction needs. If you are looking for parging services in Toronto, reach out to us right away!

What Homeowners Should Know About Parging – Our Guide

What Homeowners Should Know About Parging - Our Guide

It is often said that the home is where your heart is, as it’s the place you stay and sleep, build a family, and create a life you envision. This is why building the home of your dreams isn’t a walk in the park because you will want to ensure it is well-constructed, visually appealing, safe, and durable. Every step of the construction process should be taken seriously, from the planning stage to the actual building down to its completion.

In this article, we’ll specifically tackle what parging entails as part of your overall construction. Keep on reading as well to find out what the two types are, how it works, and how to apply the mixture, before you hire masonry services.

What parging is

It is the process of using a mixture of cement, sand, and water used by contractors to cover small areas and coat the surface of blocks. For the most part, it makes use of a trowel with the mixture or coating pressed into the existing surface. The ultimate purpose is to ensure the refinement of your concrete or masonry’s surface and serve as protection against water permeation. Know that this plays a crucial part in the overall construction of your house.

Two types of parging mixtures or coating

There are two types of mixture or coating that are commonly used for parging. Take note of the following before you look for parging services in Toronto:

  • Cement-based coating: This mixture consists of cement, water, lime, and sand, and it is usually sold as a pre-made mix. There is a wide range of mixes that you can choose from based on colours. Ultimately, this type is considered to be a durable coating that can be used on any surface.
  • Acrylic coating: This coating is regarded as a modern type of parging mixture. Unlike a cement-based coating, this mixture has less cement content while containing adhesive and fibreglass. Finally, it offers versatility and quality work ideal for robust water insulation.

How parging works

If you’re wondering about how parging works and when it is applied, consider the following pieces of information:

  • For foundation walls: It is performed to cover and strengthen the surface of your foundation wall. A thin coating material is applied to the wall’s visible surface, giving it a smooth texture in the end.
  • For cracked concrete: It is performed to fix and hide the cracks of your concrete. The process includes removing the existing clumps, scrubbing the surface, filling the cracks with mortar, and applying the coating using the trowel.
  • For wall coating: It is performed to smoothen the walls’ surface to incorporate designs for aesthetic purposes. The process involves applying a thin coat of cement or mortar to the concrete surface of the wall.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that parging is a vital part of the overall construction. Not only does it provide a protective coating, but it also improves the overall aesthetics of your walls. Ultimately, it can impact the value of your house and give you and your family a comfortable place to live in.

We take pride in being one of the leading masonry companies in Toronto. If you’re specifically looking for parging services, get in touch with our experts at Red Robin Masonry – we’re happy to help!