Posts Tagged ‘ bricks ’

Residential Brick Restoration, What to Expect

Monday, February 11th, 2019

Concerned about the signs of wear and tear in your brick masonry? Here are a few things to inspect when taking these steps to preserve the beauty of your home.

Your beautiful brick home may have been in the family for generations. Or you may have bought a fixer-upper with masonry that had a lot of character and potential. However you came to own your home, you may be concerned about the signs of wear and tear in your brick masonry could lead to larger issues in the future. Fortunately, regular inspections and calling a professional for restoration, or even repairs, is a simple way to handle issues like worn, cracked brick and crumbling mortar. Here are a few things to inspect when taking these steps to preserve the beauty of your home.

(more…)

Posted in Masonry Restoration

Choosing the Right Brick for Your Building

Friday, January 20th, 2017

Which brick is right for you?

Whether you have a historic building you are restoring or are starting from scratch, choosing the right brick for your building is crucial. Here are several different ways to help you choose the right brick that will last you (and your building) many decades. (more…)

Posted in Brick

Choosing the Right Masonry Paint

Wednesday, July 6th, 2016

Masonry paints can help you achieve the right look for your project.

We discussed last week how you can change the look of your structure’s exterior through masonry staining. But what if you want a more custom color or design?Masonry paints can help you achieve the look you want. Still, not all masonry materials are the same and finding the right paint for the job can be tricky. Here’s a few things to keep in mind so that you can make the right choices for your next masonry project. (more…)

Posted in Stone Masonry

When Is Masonry Demolition Necessary?

Friday, May 6th, 2016

Cracks in your masonry are a sign that you need repair or replacement.

If you notice cracks or chips in your bricks or concrete blocks, then it may be time to have them repaired or replaced. Dilapidated masonry can negatively affect the professional presentation of a business, which may even affect your success with sales and client retention. If left untreated, defects in masonry could worsen and even become safety hazards. It’s important to know when you need masonry demolition and to act quickly before the damage worsens. (more…)

Posted in Demolition

The Advantages of Commercial Brick Repointing

Friday, April 22nd, 2016

Commercial brick repointing adds value and longevity to your structures.

There are a large number of reasons why building owners seek the restoration of the external fabric of buildings, such as brick repointing. Brick repointing aids in conservation, property value, image, resale, and helps to combat the inevitable obsolescence of the materials used in older buildings. In much of the western world the main construction materials used in a number of buildings have been brick, stone and flint. While together these things have great longevity, they do not last forever, and these components age at different rates, often leading them to need repair at different times. Periodic brickwork replacement and brick repointing, especially stopping mortar failure, is key. (more…)

Posted in Brick, Brick

Modern Surface Treatments for Bricks

Friday, April 15th, 2016

Treating brick surfaces is a great way to get a unique and modern look.

Looking for a way to make your lobby or office look modern and chic? There are many different types of surface treatments that can take exposed brick to a new level of trendiness. One of the more popular ways of treating indoor brickwork is to coat the surface in mortar or plaster. The result is a white wall where the bricks can be seen underneath the treatment. Levels or mortar or plaster and the texture of the finish can vary depending on which style you choose. Here are a few of the more popular trends. (more…)

Posted in Brick, Brick

How to Waterproof Bricks

Friday, February 26th, 2016

If you have bricks in an area where they may often get wet, you may want to consider waterproofing them.

Unsealed brick absorbs water, which can significantly threaten the integrity of porous brick masonry and mortar over time. Sealing and waterproofing the brick exterior of a home is a must, as it improves the home’s value by extending the life of its masonry in mortar. Especially in wetter climates, this is a must. If you live in a humid climate, be sure that the sealer you choose provides moisture protection. Follow these steps to waterproof bricks and ensure their longevity. (more…)

Posted in Brick, Brick

Tips for Tuckpointing Antique Brickwork

Friday, February 5th, 2016

This antique brickwork is in need of some tuckpointing.

Tuckpointing is a way to remove old mortar between bricks and replace it with fresh new mortar. This is necessary if your brickwork is old and the mortar is crumbling. Adding new mortar can improve the structural integrity of old or antique brickwork. If you are considering tuckpointing some old brickwork, here are a few tips to consider. (more…)

Posted in Brick, Brick

Tips for DIY Brickwork

Saturday, November 7th, 2015

When you do brickwork yourself, you want to keep certain rules in mind.

While some projects will require a professional masonry service, there are other DIY brickwork projects that the average homeowner can complete.

Of course, proper preparation is most important when planning a DIY brickwork project. But, it’s also important that you have the right tips. Listed below are a few tips from Del Prete Masonry to help you get started on your DIY brickwork projects.

Purchase the Proper Tools

Before you start any projects, you want to make sure that you have all of the tools you need to complete your brickwork project efficiently. The last thing you want to do is have to run to the hardware store or order a specialty tool right when you are in the middle of your brickwork. Some of the tools you will need for your DIY project are spades and shovels, buckets, spot boards, bricklaying trowels, tape measures, bolster chisels and a soft hand brush just to name some of the most common tools for brickwork projects.

Focus on Safety

For any DIY project, especially a masonry project, you want to make sure that you and the individuals you are working with are completely safe. During some point of your brickwork, you will most likely find the need to cut some bricks to a certain size. When you do this, make sure that you and everyone working with you has his or her safety goggles on. Goggles are just like any of the tools you use, and goggles are necessary for your DIY brickwork.

Laying Bricks

Laying bricks is an art for a professional masonry service, but you can complete a basic brickwork project with a few tips. Always make sure that when you lay bricks the vertical joints are staggered. This gives the brickwork more support and strength. Also, remember that not all bricks are going to be perfectly square, so use your best judgment on whether you feel you need to cut the bricks. For any extensive projects, make sure to work with professional masonry service to make sure your project is absolutely perfect.

Del Prete Masonry

For any questions regarding new masonry construction, feel free to contact Del Prete Masonry. Our masonry restoration professionals have the experience and history of satisfied clients to prove that we’ll get the job done right, and cost-effectively. To get started with your masonry restoration project, please contact our office today at 410-683-0650 or email us at mike@delpretemasonry.com. We serve Baltimore City, County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. Keep up with our blog for masonry related information, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Posted in Blog, Brick, Brick

Brick Cleaning Do’s and Don’ts

Thursday, August 6th, 2015

Even with brick’s tough reputation, it still needs a good cleaning every once in a while. In the same light, if you clean your brick without knowing the proper way, there’s a good chance you can damage it as well. And what’s worse, brick cleaning can be a challenge in itself – whether inside or outside, brick is susceptible to dirt, soot, and even mold. But don’t worry! Armed with a little elbow grease and the right materials, brick cleaning can be a success. If you follow these tips, you’re sure to have your bricks looking good as new in no time.

Armed with a little elbow grease and the right materials, brick cleaning can be a success. If you follow these tips, you’re sure to have your bricks looking good as new in no time.

Brick Cleaning How-To

When brick cleaning, it’s best to start off with the mildest method and eventually work up to the harshest. You should always start by brushing off the excess debris and dirt on top first, and remember that wet brick hides stains, so repeating steps may be necessary in the future. These brick cleaning methods are listed from mildest to harshest and should be tried in the order they appear. (more…)

Posted in Blog, Brick