Newly constructed brick masonry may have brick efflorescence occur.
Have you ever seen brickwork with powdery scum on it that’s white, brown, green or yellow? That’s what masons call efflorescence. Efflorescence has been a masonry problem for thousands of years, and occurs when deposits of water-soluble salts are left on the surface of the bricks as water evaporates. This usually happens about a month after a building is constructed, but sometimes as long as a year after completion. (more…)
Brick is designed to withstand harsh winter weather.
Many people ask what they need to do to “winterize” their brick pavers. Good news: Interlocking brick pavers are designed and installed to be able to withstand even the harshest winter climate and frost cycles. That said, here are a few tips to further ensure the long-term success and aesthetics of your brickwork.
While there’s no need to cover up your beautiful pavers or shovel off the snow right away, following these tips can increase the lifespan of your brick paver installation.
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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Choose brick because it’s timeless.
Brick is made from clay and shale, two of the most abundant, natural materials on earth. These materials are fired through a kiln at up to 2000 degrees, fusing together into the durable material we call brick. Clay brick is actually much stronger than concrete brick, and boasts thousands of color and shade options that will not fade.
Brick started as a building essential in the Near East and India over 5,000 years ago. It has since been used by the ancient Egyptians, the Indus Valley civilization and the Romans. Today, it remains a popular all-American building product that is a staple for our infrastructure. Still, bricks are also subject to much more stringent manufacturing processes. That means it performs better and more consistently than ever before.
Brick is a non-combustible material, meaning it is an excellent choice for cladding and resisting/confining fires. Structures built from brick also offer dramatically more protection from wind-blown debris, and provide superior moisture control than other materials.
Brick is timeless. It won’t rot, dent, or need to be painted, and it cannot be torn up or eaten by termites. Brick features modular units and shapes that can fit with just about any architectural style, whether it’s colonial, Victorian, or post-modernist. It also tends to look better with age. Plus, brick absorbs noise, making it acoustically advantageous.
Brick has exceptional “thermal mass” properties, meaning it has the ability to store heat and then slowly release. This helps brick structures stay cool during the hot summer months and warm during the winter. Brick also produces minimal waste, is incredibly recyclable, and otherwise incredibly environmentally friendly.
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.
Keep up with our blog for masonry related information, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+!
Brick masonry walls are durable, but still need inspection.
While brick masonry walls are long lasting and durable, it is still important not to overlook their regular inspection and occasional maintenance, if it is required. Regular inspection will help you identify problems, and especially get a handle on small problems before they develop into large expensive ones. With regular inspection you avoid unpleasant surprises. (more…)
Keep your bricks looking beautiful for years to come with the proper commercial brick repair.
Whether you just purchased a historic building, found a fixer-upper, or have been in an aging property for a long time, you may not realize that seemingly small issues with your brick masonry may indicate huge problems for you now or in the future. By getting commercial brick repair done today, you can insure your beautiful brick will both embellish and support your building for years to come.
If your brick masonry has lines distributed through it that look like the side view of a flight of stairs, it’s time to repair the cracking before it becomes a bigger problem. Cracking along mortar joints can indicate foundation problems that may require major repairs. Cracking can also suggest more minor issues like an initial design flaw, deterioration, or settlement.
Even businesses and homes that do not have all-over brick masonry may have brick chimneys. While chimneys are self-supporting structures, if they are not properly cared for they can lose their ability to support the building and potentially damage the surrounding structure. It can be easy to put off chimney repairs since they seem costly and unnecessary, but getting a brick repair specialist to examine the structure is your best bet to prevent problems down the road.
This symptom indicates a major structural issue. If any part of the building or home appears to be leaning forward or to the side, it is vital to address the issue immediately. The section of wall or chimney that looks unstable today can turn in to an entire building that is unstable and legally uninhabitable tomorrow.
Unsecured walls are another urgent problem for your business property. You may need this type of commercial brick repair if corners were cut before or after you acquired the property. Many times historical properties undergoing renovation or restoration need walls reconnected to make the building safe again. Before you worry about cosmetic concerns, make sure you tackle structural issues!
You may not notice a leak until after a particularly bad thunderstorm or flash flood, but once it’s there it should be addressed as quickly as possible to prevent more harm to your business. A leak in the wall will eventually lead to building-wide deterioration and can be quickly resolved with our expertise (and prevented in the future with waterproofing services).
Stains are expected as your masonry ages and a great and cost-effective way to spruce up your building’s appearance is by getting your bricks restored or repointed. Brick is a beautiful and historic building material and by properly caring for your brick, your business can shine from the foundation to the façade.
If you are worried about leaning or just want to get your brick looking brand new, Del Prete Masonry has the experience and expertise to get the job done right for the right price. To explore our commercial brick repair 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.
You’re looking to have some professional masonry work done for your Baltimore business. However, you don’t know what to look for in a commercial masonry company. DelPrete masonry is here with a simple guide to how DelPrete masonry qualifies in all 3 things to look for in a commercial masonry company. Experience to get the job done, professionalism to get it in budget and on time, and a large body of work to prove they can get it done. DelPrete Masonry, has everthing you look for in a commercial masonry company.
Masonry is more then simple work or construction, it is a craft passed down from masters to apprentices who must undergo years of tutelage to become journeymen and then masters themselves. (more…)
It is exciting to complete a home renovation project. When you take a look at your beautiful new kitchen complete with granite countertops and a shiny new built-in wine cooler, you think, “What’s next?” The inside transformation will most definitely increase the value of your home, but many forget to remember that the outside is what draws consumers in. Pulling up to the front of your home gives a potential buyer his or her first impression of the home. “It’s great, but…” is a common phrase when something is off in a buyer’s mind. You want top dollar for your property so making sure the outside matches the inside is crucial to increase the property value.
Giving your home curb appeal will escalate its property value. A manicured lawn, a custom stone sidewalk and a smoothly paved asphalt driveway are all factors that contribute to curb appeal. Repointing your chimney is also a good way to give your home the “oomph” factor it needs. If your chimney looks like it is not supposed to be attached to your house, it may be time to have it re-done.
Using brick to add property value is very common and is a mason’s job. Residing your home with brick not only increases its appearance but makes it more energy efficient. Brick and stonework have become more popular among new homebuyers. The more people want houses like this, the higher the price of the home. It is a smart choice to add stonework to your front and back yards.
Having a patio for guests and family to sit on is wonderful during the spring, summer, and fall months. It allows for more space to entertain. Friends will be impressed with a stone patio complete with an outdoor fireplace. This air of elegance increases the property value significantly. The higher the quality of materials is, the higher the price of your home will be.
Call Delprete Masonry. As Maryland’s foremost experts on masonry repair, construction, and demolition, our skilled teams have what it takes to provide you with the very best in masonry contracting. At Del Prete Masonry, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
To find out more about your masonry repair options, 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+.
Spring is coming, your tax returns are around the corner, and you’re planning a new home improvement project. Del Prete Masonry is here to help, and to lead off we’ll explain why brick is the best material for your new home improvement project.
Fired brick, or ceramic brick, has been in use for thousands of years as a strong, long lasting material, durable to the elements. The component elements of brick can be altered to change its attributes, for example, brick can be made lighter, or stronger depending on the mixture. The raw materials and temperature that bricks are fired at can also be used to change the temperature of the bricks. Brick does not warp, rot, or erode as other construction materials might. It is also fireproof, and brick masonry has been shown to reduce the chances of a home being destroyed by a fire.
Brick is requires little maintenance, and has a high thermal mass, both aspects which make it an energy efficient building material.
Brick masonry construction does not need to be repainted, sanded, or refinished, like painted wood or plaster, and it does not fade and need to be replaced like vinyl siding does. All the maintenance brick needs is an occasional cleaning. This saves you time, energy, and money.
Brick’s thermal mass also makes it energy efficient. The thermal mass of a material measures how a material absorbs and releases heat. Another way to put it would be as a measurement of the thermal “inertia” of a material. Materials like iron are good thermal conductors and have a low thermal mass, it absorbs and releases heat quickly. Brick acts as a material with a high thermal mass, and has a high thermal inertia. Brick keeps the house cool during the day, slowly absorbing and storing heat from the surrounding air and sun. When night comes time and the outside temperature starts to cool, the brick releases the heat it has absorbed into the home, and then starts the process all over again with dawn. Materials with a high thermal mass, like brick, are best in temperate climates like where we are.
As a design material, fired brick is one of the most flexible materials around. Brick come in many colors, from whites and yellows, to the more common pinks, reds, and browns. Brick may even be purple or black. Bricks can be made to all be the same color, or you can alternate colors, and construction patterns to make designs in whatever you’re constructing. It can be used in classical as well as contemporary design. And brick can be used well with other materials as a complementary or contrasting feature.
Call Del Prete Masonry. As Maryland’s foremost experts on masonry repair, construction, and demolition, our skilled teams have what it takes to provide you with the very best in masonry contracting. At Del Prete Masonry, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
To find out more about your masonry repair options, 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+.
At Del Prete Masonry, we’re proud to continue the historic tradition of masonry, a craft that extends thousands of years into our past, with a history as storied and fascinating as the chronicle of any nation. Today, we’re looking backwards into the history behind one of the most crucial and powerful items of our trade: the humble brick.
As far as historians can tell, the earliest discovered bricks date as far back as 7500 BC. These early bricks were dried, which means that they were made out of clay-laden dirt and mud, then dried under sunlight until they were hearty enough to be used in construction. The oldest known bricks hail from a part of the planet that is now Syria. Other discoveries, which date as far back as 7000 BC, include bricks from the ancient city of Jericho and the Egyptian fortress of Buhen which ran along the west bank of the Nile River.
As early as 2000 BC, bricks were certainly being used in Chinese architecture. Scientists and scholars have even established that the Chinese were already mass-producing bricks roughly 300 years ago during the Western Zhou dynasty. In 1368 AD, under the Ming Dynasty, bricks were already being fired in kilns. To make these bricks clay and water were mixed together, then trampled over by oxen who beat it into a paste. The paste was then lain in wood frames and smoothed with a wiry bow. The bricks were then stamped with the brickmaster’s insignia and loaded into a wood-fueled kiln and removed while the kiln was still burning.
The Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations also used fired bricks. The Romans designed and perfected the use of mobile, cart-bound kilns and constructed massive brick buildings and structures all over their empire bearing the seal of the Roman legion. The middle ages saw brickmaking finally make its way to northern Europe and was popular in places without native rocks suitable for construction. Some of these buildings still stand today in Denmark, Germany, Russia, and Poland. This kind of brickmaking and architecture would eventually transform into the style that became popularized during the Italian Renaissance.
We recognize the importance of history and our professionals know everything about brick masonry, from practical skills to historical facts. For other questions regarding brick masonry, feel free to contact Delprete Mansonry. Our brick masonry 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 brick masonry 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+.
Your home’s masonry foundation is incredibly important to its long-term survival. Without a solid foundation, you’re home or business will swiftly crumble and sink into the ground. That’s why it’s important to be on the lookout against foundation damage. Foundation damage is typically caused by moisture and will manifest in a number of ways. Del Prete Masonry is here to help with some of the most common signs of a bad foundation.
Door and window installers do their utmost to put in their wares so that they’re completely level. If they start to move out of alignment, it’s most likely because your masonry foundation has started to move. If your doors and windows become very difficult to open and close, or even show signs of damaged glass, it’s highly likely that the foundation in that region of the house has started to go bad.
If the level of your home’s floor starts to change, it’s almost certain that the foundation beneath it has started to settle, however this can be difficult to notice, especially with carpet. If your floors are uncarpeted, try dropping a marble and seeing if it rolls in an area you thought was flat. A sinking masonry foundation may prompt the developing of cracks in your drywall, particularly drywall near windows and doors. Be sure to look out for ejected drywall screws/ nails and baseboard gapping.
While minute cracks are not unusual in masonry foundations, walls, and footers, be on the lookout for large, patterned cracks that seem to keep growing. If you see clearly rectangular patterns of cracks in your foundation masonry, or you notice unusual bulges in the foundation walls, the ground beneath it could be shifting. It’s also worth paying attention to your masonry chimney, if you spot cracks or damage on it, the frame of your house could be unstable.
Oftentimes, a masonry foundation will be set on top of posts and beams, if an inspector finds that these are leaning, the house has probably changed its position. If you spot water underneath your house or find that the ground seems wet on one face of it but dry on another, you could have drainage problems that need fixing. Taking care of these issues can nip masonry foundation damage in the bud.
Call Delprete Masonry. As Maryland’s foremost experts on masonry repair, construction, and demolition, our skilled teams have what it takes to quickly and accurately assess your masonry foundation for any problems or structural weaknesses and can offer fast and affordable repairs. Your house is your most prized possession and a masonry foundation is one it’s most important systems, so why not take good care of it?
To find out more about your masonry repair options, 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+.