Discover three great reasons why commercial buildings need masonry to look their best.
Are you debating the right way to construct new commercial buildings or to do some heavy renovations to an existing building? If so, you’ll need to make many considerations and vital decisions about the material you want for your structure. Most people gravitate towards vinyl siding because it’s cost-effective. However, we’d like to argue that masonry is better for commercial buildings. Here are three reasons why commercial buildings need masonry.
Masonry is Eco-Friendly
Masonry involves constructing a building with bricks or stone, and because of masonry’s composition, it doesn’t have a negative environmental impact. When structures use synthetic or faux materials, such as vinyl, constructing each piece requires more energy and non-renewable materials.
But you can reuse masonry materials, such as concrete or brick, by crushing them. In addition, using materials made from naturally occurring stone introduces fewer pollutants to the environment. Use Natural Stone deems natural stone as a recyclable and sustainable choice, while the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association claims that concrete masonry is also a sustainable building material. You can also recycle, reuse, and repurpose bricks.
Commercial Buildings with Masonry Aid in Energy Conservation
Masonry helps maintain temperatures and conserve energy within any structure. Since brick and stone are so dense, masonry absorbs heat to create a regulated temperature. In other words, you can look forward to your building staying cool without letting heat in and warm without letting heat escape. Why does this matter? It’s fantastic for your energy bill because you will spend less on keeping the indoor climate consistent. In addition, your pipes will be less likely to freeze and burst.
Masonry is Long Lasting
One thing you might have already known or considered about masonry is its durability. According to the Clay Brick Association of Southern Africa, the average lifespan of bricks is 500 years! With proper maintenance, stone buildings can last at least 100 years, if not longer. Masonry is durable. However, as with any other material, it can degrade with exposure to direct sunlight, heavy winds and rain, and frigid temperatures. Nonetheless, masonry materials are robust, and regular maintenance can detect minor issues before they become costly.
In buildings protected by vinyl, you’ll have to pay attention to whether panels are cracking, warping, or leaking. However, with masonry, you’ll have to pay attention to tiny cracks or mortar erosion between the bricks. If you notice these things, a professional can repoint that area and add new mortar versus replacing existing bricks. In other words, you can easily restore commercial buildings consisting of masonry without a complete overhaul.
CONTACT DEL PRETE MASONRY TODAY!
Whether you are ready to start your next masonry project or are still hesitant and have questions, Del Prete Masonry is here to help. We have the experience and expertise to get it right the first time. Questions? Want to visit some of our residential or commercial projects? Ready to set up a consultation? Feel free to give us a call at 410-683-0650 or visit us online. We are happy to serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and to keep up with our new and exciting projects, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
Tags: brick, commercial masonry Baltimore, masonry construction, stone