Archive for the ‘ Concrete ’ Category

Concrete Considerations: Building Houses with Concrete

Thursday, September 1st, 2016

Concrete is becoming an increasingly popular building material.

Concrete has become increasingly popular as a construction material for residential houses. In 2015, concrete houses made up of 15-20% of all new homes built. Concrete comes with a number of benefits that make it ideal to work with for housing development. Here are a few things to consider when choosing to build with concrete, and why it could be a good home addition investment.

Quiet Comfort

Insulated concrete creates a barrier that reduces the amount of air entering the home from outside by about 75%. This means more even temperatures and less drafts. Concrete’s mass also helps to reduce sound penetration by up to 80% in comparison to frame houses. On average, concrete houses are ⅔ quieter than frame houses.

Pest Proof & Safety

Unlike frame houses, concrete doesn’t provide any source of food for termites or carpenter ants. This will also prevent rodents from hiding within your walls. Furthermore, concrete is also the best material for safety against harsh weather like tornados and hurricanes. Concrete walls can withstand up to 250 miles per hours. Insurance rates are typically much lower for conrete homes as a result of their stability.

Reduced Energy Bills

Concrete homes require significantly less energy to heat up or cool down than a frame house. Concrete walls are airtight and do an effective job at preventing air from escaping the home. Concrete homes keep things comfortable with less work from your air conditioning system.

Healthier Environment

Because concrete form walls do not contain organic material, they will not mold or mildew. Not only does that mean less maintenance, but the reduced air infiltration also helps keep allergens out. The foam used to create concrete forms is nontoxic and free of asbestos and fiberglass. Concrete houses come with many benefits. Whether you’re looking to build a house or just an extension, it’s important to consider all of your options.

Concrete Masonry and Repair from Del Prete Masonry

For all of your questions regarding masonry repair and restoration, 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.

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Posted in Concrete

Safety Tips for Working with Concrete

Friday, June 17th, 2016

Be cautious when handling fresh cement.

Concrete is an incredibly beneficial material to work with due to its malleable characteristics when freshly mixed, and durability when hardened. Still, it’s imperative to understand the risks surrounding concrete construction job sites and how you can minimize exposure to health and safety hazards.

Exercise Caution Around Fresh Materials

Wet cement is a caustic material that can result in severe chemical burns when exposed to the skin or eyes. Stay safe by always wearing the proper eye protection, alkali-resistant gloves, and full length shirts and pants when working near wet cement. If you must stand in fresh concrete while it’s being placed, ensure that you are wearing water proof boots.

Furthermore, cement presents the danger of inhalation due to its naturally small particles. Exposure to cement dust can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and upper respiratory system. Exercise safety precaution by wearing a dust mask when opening bags or sacks of cement.

Protect Your Body

Working on a construction site can present a number of hazards that may cause bodily harm. Wear a hard hat to protect your head and avoid working beneath heavy machinery where falling objects may be common.

Materials and machinery required to make and pour concrete can also be very heavy and strenuous on a person’s body. Take care to keep your back straight and your legs bent to avoid strain on your back when lifting heavy objects.

Worker Safety Tips

Make sure you know to use tools and operate machinery safely before doing so. Exercise caution near mixers and ready-mix trucks that have confined spaces.

Any areas of the skin that come into contact with wet concrete should be washed away immediately with cold, running water. Flush your eyes with water if they come into contact with fresh concrete. If burns persist, seek medical assistance right away. Don’t let small problems turn into big ones!

Stay Safe on the Job with Del Prete Masonry

Need someone to do the heavy lifting? 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+!

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Posted in Concrete

The Benefits of Concrete Blocks

Wednesday, May 25th, 2016

Concrete blocks offer numerous benefits across a number of different construction, landscaping and hardscaping applications. It is a budget friendly and earth friendly material that can suit a number of different tastes and designs. To learn more about the many benefits of concrete blocks, read on.

Concrete Blocks Cut Construction Costs

Concrete blocks are a budget friendly and earth friendly material that can be used for any number of designs and landscaping.

Concrete blocks are a budget-friendly building material and are far cheaper than a number of other common building materials. In order to produce brick hectors of land, a large amount of wood and coal are utilized. Concrete blocks are significantly cheaper as they require fewer resources to manufacture. This translates into lower costs overall. In fact, each block of concrete saves approximately 25% when compared to brick.

Using Concrete Blocks Leads To A Reduction In Maintenance Costs

In the long run, concrete buildings, structures, and pavements stand the test of time while requiring minimal maintenance compared to other materials, giving them a definite edge. Moisture, which warps wood and causes metal to rust and degrade, has no such effect on concrete blocks. While wood is vulnerable to moisture, sunlight, mold, and insect infestation, concrete blocks are not and will not require costly repair under these conditions. This is why structures built thousands of years ago using concrete still stand today.

Concrete Blocks Are Energy Efficient

It turns out that 80% or more of the greenhouse gasses generated from structures are released due to the energy it takes to constantly heat and cool them. Concrete is different. Insulated concrete wall systems have a high R-value and thermal mass as well as low air infiltration. This means that unlike other structures, which leach heat or cool air out into the world, concrete structures have high thermal efficiency and ensure a stellar energy performance. Homes constructed with insulated concrete do not experience large temperature fluctuations, and can cut their energy bills by up to 25%.

Get In Touch With Del Prete Masonry Today

For all of your questions regarding marble flooring, 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 Concrete

Concrete Masonry is Kind to the Environment

Thursday, March 17th, 2016

Concrete masonry is an environmentally-conscious choice.

Sustainable solutions are very important in construction projects, and more and more companies are just realizing the benefits of concrete masonry.

From helping businesses with energy efficiency to using minimal equipment, concrete masonry is a great way to be environmentally conscious during your next project. Let’s take a look at specific examples of how concrete masonry is kind to the environment. (more…)

Posted in Concrete

How to Create Stunning Hardscaping, Part 1

Friday, January 15th, 2016

Aren’t you glad you planned ahead for this beautiful stone walkway?

Adding some professional hardscaping to your commercial property can greatly increase your property’s appeal and value. Research really pays off when it comes to planning a hardscaping design. You want to keep in mind the unmovable elements of your property, as well as other aspects that should factor into your design. Jumping into a hardscaping project with little planning can result in a design that is defunct after only a few years. Here’s what to keep in mind when you’re planning out your hardscaping design. (more…)

Posted in Brick, Commercial Masonry Baltimore, Concrete, Stone Masonry

What are the Environmental Benefits of Concrete Restoration?

Thursday, December 31st, 2015

Cracked concrete? It might be time for concrete restoration.

Masonry restoration projects can require large amounts of time and energy depending on the size, scope, and, intricacy and materials involved in the undertaking. This is when concrete masonry can be highly effective as a low cost and energy-saving method to fulfill all of your restoration needs. Concrete restoration comes with a number of environmental benefits as well, which you can expect and enjoy for your next building project. (more…)

Posted in Blog, Concrete

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

Keep Your Concrete Masonry Looking Like New

Thursday, October 8th, 2015

When you think about concrete, you usually don’t think about maintenance. Concrete is durable and long-lasting, and most people don’t think it really needs much upkeep. The fact is, properly maintained concrete lasts longer and looks better. Maintaining concrete, especially decorative concrete, can extend its life and beauty and keep it looking clean and bright, rather than faded, dirty, and stained. Why wouldn’t you want to keep your investment protected? Let’s learn how to properly maintain our decorative concrete structures!

Maintaining concrete, especially decorative concrete, can extend its life and beauty and keep it looking clean and bright, rather than faded, dirty, and stained. Why wouldn’t you want to keep your investment protected?

Four Steps to Maintaining Your Concrete Masonry

Clean your concrete at least annually

Concrete is pretty low-maintenance, but you should clean it at least once a year to remove dirt and grime build-up as well as rust and other types of stains. (more…)

Posted in Blog, Concrete

The Rundown on Concrete

Friday, May 8th, 2015

Concrete is an impressive material

We’ve talked about marble and brick, but what about concrete? Concrete may not be the prettiest girl at the ball, but she’s sturdy and cost efficient. So, let’s get the rundown on what makes concrete an awesome masonry material for your next project. Ready? Here we go! (more…)

Posted in Concrete