Posts Tagged ‘ construction project ’

The Steps to Preparing Your Site for Masonry Construction

Friday, October 26th, 2018

Excavating is the process of digging up any necessary dirt to prepare your site for masonry construction!

A new construction project is a big investment and requires a lot of planning and preparation. A commonly overlooked step in the construction process is preparing the actual site. You may think that starting construction is as easy as picking an empty lot and starting to build, but that is not the case. Here are the steps to preparing your site for masonry construction.

Rough Staking

This is the process of laying out the masonry construction project. This is an important step because it costs money to clear out a construction site, so it will save both time and money to know what needs to be done in advance. Rough stakes look like long sticks that are put into the ground to outline the area where the masonry construction will take place. This gives you and your masonry contractor an idea of what space they are working with.

Clearing

After the site is rough staked, the next step is to clear everything and make room for construction. Trees, roots, vegetation, and anything else that may be in the way need to be cleared. When clearing a spot, you must decide what to do with the debris. The easiest option (also the most expensive) is to hire someone to haul it away, but you could also opt to bury or burn it.

Excavation

If your masonry building is going to have a basement, then the ground will need to be excavated to accommodate for that. You will need to consider what to do with the excess dirt that is dug out of the ground. You may choose to use the dirt to fill in areas on the property that could use more dirt.

Rough Grading

Rough grading is when you shift dirt around to get the desired grade level that you want for your masonry construction project. When you do this, be sure to consider any drainage needs for the building. The best way to do rough grading is to cut and fill evenly in order to avoid those expensive hauling costs. This simply means that you want to use dirt you already need to dig up to fill open spaces and vise versa.

Contact Del Prete Masonry Today for Your Masonry Construction Project!

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 Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Posted in Masonry Construction

The Important Questions to Ask When Hiring a Masonry Contractor

Friday, September 14th, 2018

When looking for a masonry contractor, it is important to ask questions about their expertise and experience!

When you are looking for a masonry contractor for your next project, you want only the best. It can be difficult to sort through a number of possible contractors and try to figure out which one will give you the best quality for your money. When are you looking for a masonry contractor, here are some of the important questions you should ask to help narrow down your decision.

Certifications

The first thing you want to do is make sure the masonry contractor you want to hire is certified. This shows that they are legally certified to do the job that you want. If a contractor can’t provide you with their license or certification, cross them off of your options list.

Experience

The type of experience you want your masonry contractor to have varies depending on the specifics of your project. If you know that you want to use brick, you should ask about their experience with brickwork. You also want to inquire about their experience with cutting and laying different patterns so that you know if they can recreate your exact vision.

Time Frame

You want to have your design ideas together when talking to potential contractors so that they can give you a timeframe of how long it’ll take them to finish. If you have a specific time frame that you need it completed by, make that clear in the beginning so that you know your masonry contractor can get the job done by then.

References

One of the best ways to figure out about a masonry contractor is to look up reviews and get references. If a family or friend went to the same contractor, ask them about their experience. They are a lot more likely to give an honest opinion over the contractor that’s trying to sell you their services. Online reviews are also a good way to get more insight about a company. You can ask the contractor directly for references of their past clients and projects.

Insurance

Inquiring about insurance is just as important as making sure the contractor is licensed and certified. Insurance is crucial because if something goes wrong during the construction process, you want to be protected financially. If they do not have insurance, do not even consider them.

Contact Del Prete Masonry Today for Your Next Construction Project!

If you are ready to upgrade your home or commercial building with professional masonry installation or replacement, Del Prete Masonry has the experience and expertise to get the job done right for the right price. To explore our residential and commercial services and set up a consultation, please give us a call at 410-683-0650 or contact us online. We currently serve Baltimore City and County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. To see examples of our work and get more updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.

Posted in Masonry Contractor

Cement, Concrete, and Mortar, Oh My!

Friday, August 17th, 2018

Cement is an element that is contained in both concrete and mortar and is made up of limestone, clay, shells, and silica sand.

When it comes to masonry construction, there are a variety of different materials used in the process. From the actual building materials to the materials used to hold everything together, it can be really confusing. Cement, concrete, and mortar are terms that are often used interchangeably and they all resemble each other. However, they are very different. Here is the difference between cement, concrete, and mortar.

Cement

Cement is actually a component of both concrete and mortar. It is a binding material that is never used alone and is made up of limestone, clay, shells, and silica sand. These materials are crushed, combined with other ingredients, and heated. The final product is then grounded into a powder that is cement. The most common type of cement is Portland cement, which sets and hardens when combined with water.

Concrete

Concrete is a stand alone building material that doesn’t have to be combined with anything else. It is made of cement, sand, and gravel and is used for things like foundation walls, patios, and other masonry structures. Concrete is more versatile than the other two because it starts as a dry mixture and turns into liquid that can mold into any shape before it dries into concrete. The cement in the concrete is what allows it to activate when mixed with water and binds the mixture together to form one object.

Mortar

Similar to concrete, all you have to do is add water to mortar to activate the cement and allow it to harden. However, mortar is only made up of cement and sand. Because of this, it isn’t as strong as concrete so it isn’t often used as a stand alone building material. Instead, it is more so used as a glue to hold masonry materials together such as bricks, block, and stone. There is a special type of mortar known as thinset that can hold together tiles.

Contact Del Prete Masonry Today for Your Construction Project!

Posted in Masonry Construction

Why You Should Use Stonemasonry for Your Next Project

Friday, June 22nd, 2018

Stonemasonry is a very heat resistant material, making it great for fireplaces and chimneys!

When it comes to any construction project, the materials you decide to use make a big difference in the finished product. You want to choose high quality materials that also match the aesthetic you want. Stonemasonry is a great building material that will suit all of your construction needs. Here is why you should use stonemasonry for your next project.

Beauty

Stone provides a timeless, beautiful look to any building or structure. The sophisticated aesthetic of stonemasonry makes it great for any construction project. Stonemasonry is also versatile so there are a variety of design options you can choose from that will match your personal style.

Safety

Stonemasonry is one of the safest and most durable building materials you will come across. It has a very high heat tolerance, making it good for things like chimneys and fireplaces. It is also very wind resistant so it holds up well in harsh weather conditions. Oftentimes, the high safety quality of stonemasonry will lead insurance companies to charge less for stone versus other materials.

Low-Maintenance

Because of how sturdy stonemasonry is, there isn’t too much maintenance required. Stone doesn’t rust or require re-painting as time goes on. Repairs are typically minimal and your stone building or structure will rarely ever need replacing. This minimizes the amount of material that goes to waste, making it more environmentally-friendly.

Cost-Effective

Stonemasonry itself can be a pretty costly investment initially. However, it will save you a lot of money over time. As mentioned before, stone is a very durable material so you won’t be spending a lot of money on maintaining it, as well as the decreased insurance costs. In addition to this, stonemasonry can be combined with various insulation products that makes it energy efficient. This helps to decrease those costly monthly energy bills.

Contact Del Prete Masonry Today for Your Next Construction Project!

Posted in Stone Masonry