Posts Tagged ‘ winter ’

Cold Weather Masonry Tips

Friday, January 6th, 2017

Mortar must remain above 40 degrees to be workable.

Chances are, you haven’t been able to go outside without a coat or scarf on for at least a couple weeks now, you had to finally locate your ice scraper in the backseat, and you have been turning on the heat in your home during the chilly winter nights. The change in weather doesn’t just mean a change in your daily routine, it can require a change in your masonry. Here are some tips for cold weather masonry during these cold winter months. (more…)

Posted in Masonry Restoration

How to Properly Salt Your Steps and Sidewalks This Winter

Monday, November 16th, 2015

The right kind of salt goes a long way in preserving your masonry.

Sometimes a shovel does the trick to remove snow from your steps and sidewalks without damaging your masonry. But if this winter is going to be anything like last year’s, then you will probably need to use salt. De-icing products offer welcome assistance in the task of removing thick sheets of ice from walking surfaces. But these helpful de-icing products come with a catch: if you use too much of it, you risk damaging your masonry. If you repeatedly use heavy amounts of sidewalk salt, you risk the scaling and flaking of your masonry surfaces, a process which is called “salt fretting”. Salt fretting usually occurs at the base of buildings, where the building meets the sidewalks. It causes your buildings to look old and unappealing, damaging your property value. To avoid salt fretting, make sure to follow these rules.

If your concrete sidewalks or steps are less than 6 months old, do not use de-icing products! At this stage, the concrete is extra sensitive and prone to damage.
Check the ingredients list. If your de-icing product has ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate, don’t use it! These chemicals are extra damaging to masonry.
Mix your salt with sand to provide better traction for pedestrians.
In the spring, wash any area that had salt to get rid of the residue.
There are four types of deicing salts: Sodium Chloride (rock salt), Calcium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, and Magnesium Chloride. Sodium Chloride and Calcium Chloride should be avoided, because they contain chemicals that are harmful to masonry, surrounding vegetation, and human skin. Potassium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride are great choices for deicing salts, because they contain drastically fewer harmful chemicals, so they are good for your masonry, the environment, and you. With the right types of deicing salts, you’ll keep your concrete masonry looking like new!

Keep Your Masonry Looking Good with Del Prete Masonry!

While there are many other materials that we use at Del Prete Masonry, we’re not about to abandon concrete anytime soon. It has proven its worth many times over and we know that we can bring you a solid masonry structure with it. To find out more about your masonry options including concrete masonry, 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, Concrete

Tips for Cold Weather Masonry

Monday, November 2nd, 2015

There are certain precautions a contractor makes when working in the winter.

As cold weather approaches, it becomes more and more difficult to work with masonry. Working on masonry projects during the winter is still possible, but there are more considerations to keep in mind. When the weather dips below 40 degrees, the hydration in the mortar will expand and crack. The mortar can be rewetted before this happens, but if it is wetted too much, the mortar won’t stick to the unit. This is why it is better to hire an experienced, dependable contractor during the winter. An experienced contractor will know precisely how much to wet the mortar and what surface needs to be wetted. If you are looking to try your hand at a personal masonry project, waiting for warmer weather is the wisest choice. Masonry contractors, however, work year round. Here are some of the things that they look out for during the winter.

Speed Hydration. Many masons use speed hydration by using high-early cement or by adding an accelerator to the mortar. However, these methods do have the potential to change the color of the mortar.
Keep Units Dry and Warm. The best way to prevent masonry mistakes during the winter is to cover units with a tarp to protect them from rain and snow until they are ready to be used. A mason can also heat up some materials to ensure that the mortar is properly hydrated and binds correctly.
Know Your Products. Many commercially available admixtures that are marketed as “antifreeze” admixtures are actually just accelerators, rather than freezing point depressants. A contractor with experience knows how to tell the difference.
Keep Warm. It’s important to keep the masonry units and mortar warm, but it’s even more important to keep the masons doing the work warm as well! If working in high winds, it’s advised to set up a tarp as a windbreaker. If the temperature drops to below 20 degrees, it’s advisable to set up a heater or get to a warm, indoor space.

Build Your Next Concrete Masonry Project with Del Prete Masonry!

Posted in Commercial Masonry Baltimore, Masonry Contractor