Posts Tagged ‘ concrete masonry ’

Bricks or Concrete Blocks for Your Commercial Property?

Thursday, September 29th, 2022

Bricks or concrete blocks for your commercial property?

If you are currently in the planning stages of building a commercial building, you may be wondering what materials will be ideal for protecting your property from the elements and will last for many years. Brick and concrete are both great choices that are insect-proof, fire-resistant, and have a significant amount of thermal mass. These are excellent options for retaining heat during the wintertime. Here are some characteristics of both materials when determining between bricks or concrete blocks for your commercial property. (more…)

Posted in Concrete

Determining When to Replace or Repair Concrete: Part Two

Friday, August 5th, 2022

del prete masonry replace repair concrete

Call Del Prete Masonry immediately to determine whether we should replace or repair the concrete.

Cracks in your concrete come in various shapes and sizes. It’s common for foundation cracks to develop within the first year of new construction. Mostly near windows, the corners of the floors or walls, or in the longer sections of your concrete. If cracks become larger or allow water to enter, call Del Prete Masonry immediately to determine whether we should replace or repair the concrete. (more…)

Posted in Concrete

Does Your Concrete Driveway Need to be Repaired?

Friday, April 22nd, 2022

A concrete driveway is a part of the house we desire never to replace.

You love your house, but your worn-out concrete driveway will ruin its curb appeal. A driveway is a part of the house we desire never to replace. Unfortunately, your driveway cannot survive the environmental elements forever. Here is a list of signs to analyze if your driveway needs to be repaired or not. (more…)

Posted in Concrete

3 Different Demolition Methods

Friday, June 18th, 2021

Building demolition is not a simple as smashing the supports until the entire structure falls down. Demolition is a precise science, and depending on the location and type of building, there are several methods of demolition. Factors like the primary building materials, the purpose of the demolition, and how to dispose of the debris are considered by demolition experts before choosing to tear down a building. Here is a quick overview of the different methods of building demolition.

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Posted in Demolition

Repair or Replace Concrete Sidewalks Before Halloween

Thursday, October 6th, 2016

Make sure your concrete sidewalks are safe for trick or treaters this Halloween.

Does your home or business see a lot of traffic from trick or treaters? Concrete sidewalks and walkways that are chipped, sunken, even, or otherwise in a state of disrepair are not only an eyesore that can damage the visual appeal of your property, but also a safety hazard. Consider repairing your sidewalk before Halloween swings around. (more…)

Posted in Concrete

Signs You Have a Bad Masonry Foundation

Friday, January 9th, 2015

Foundation

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.

Crooked Windows and Doors

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.

Cracked Walls and Sloped Floors

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.

External Cracks/ Wall Bulges

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.

Misc. Signs

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.

Need To Repair Your Masonry Foundation?

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+.

Posted in Blog, Commercial Masonry Baltimore

Concretes Uses in Commercial Masonry

Thursday, August 28th, 2014

There are a few different materials that have been used for centuries by builders. Concrete is one of them, though it has changed and been improved upon over the years. Concrete is a material that we still use frequently for masonry projects. It’s used as a foundation for homes and businesses, as a material for signs and statues, and even for roads and sidewalks. One of the best things about concrete is its versatility. Concrete can be used for nearly any masonry project. When you think of concrete, you probably think gray, drab, and boring – but concrete has become so much more than that. With new innovations and the ability to mix colors into concrete, it has become a great, aesthetically pleasing material to work with. That’s certainly not the only benefit of using concrete, though.

Why We Still Use Concrete for Masonry

Sustainability – This probably wasn’t a reason for using concrete hundreds of years ago, but it’s certainly a reason that we use it now. Producing concrete results in very few carbon dioxide emissions. The majority of carbon dioxide emissions from a concrete building actually come from the electricity used inside the building. Concrete also has reflective qualities that help keep it cool, resulting in less of an “urban heat island” problem when concrete is used in place of aggregate in cities.
Durability – When we build a structure, we want it to last. Concrete structures have been known to last for centuries if they’re taken care of. Some concrete structures date all the way back to the Roman Era. Concrete is used for bridges, tunnels, and dams – all structures that require the strongest material available. When we use concrete, we know we’re using something that stands the test of time and pressure.
Low maintenance – If you’re like most people, you don’t want to spend a lot of time taking care of your building or masonry structure. Concrete is relatively low maintenance and doesn’t attract mold or deteriorate simply because of time. Weather can wear it down, but there are precautions that you can take to keep your concrete structure standing and intact. It’s easy to take care of and will last you a lifetime.

Building with Concrete

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 when you choose concrete. 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+.

Sources: WBCSD Cement, CBDG

Posted in Blog, Commercial Masonry Baltimore