Tuck-pointing:
Over a period of time, weathering causes the mortar between bricks to deteriorate. As a result, holes begin to appear and allow moisture, cold and insects to penetrate the wall. In addition, if not treated, the bricks around the deteriorated mortar will eventually begin to crumble. Tuck-pointing is the removal of loose and damaged mortar, replacing it with new, carefully dyed mortar to produce the best possible colour match with the existing mortar. We are fully experienced at using proper historical lime based mortar.
Brick Replacement:
Eventually over time, due to the effects of continuing freezing and thawing, bricks on the walls of your home can begin to crumble or spall. This is also true for chimneys, window sills, free standing brick walls, porches and where bricks make ground contact (at the base of your walls or on stairs). Once bricks have begun to crumble if left unattended this process can begin to spread to adjacent bricks and they will begin to show wear as well. It is important therefore, to replace damaged bricks as soon as possible, to avoid future expense. This involves careful removal of the damaged units and installation of new ones matching the colour and original brick as closely as possible. If necessary the new bricks can be tinted to produce a seamless match via our sister company Permatint. (see Brick Tinting tab or visit us at PermaTint.com).
Chimneys:
As your chimney is responsible for venting toxic gases and smoke from your home, its condition is important for your safety and that of your family. As with the walls of your house, the mortar and bricks of your chimeny can begin to show wear and tear. Often a simple repair will suffice, but sometimes a complete rebuilding from the roof line up with new brick is required. An inspection is the best course of action. Please contact us today for your free consultation.
Natural, Manufactured and Cultured Stone:
Natural stone is a very popular building material and many new construction homes are having their front walls clad with this durable material. Our stone masons are fully experienced with all forms of stone installation, as well as in producing the designs for both vertical and horizontal applications, such as flagstone.
Sometimes installing natural or manufactured stone is not possible, as a 5 inch ledge is needed to support it’s weight. In these cases the exact same stone look can be achieved using cultured or manufactured stone.
Manufactured stone is now an economical alternative to natural stone, and when installed by our skilled masons, you will achieve the look of natural stone at a reduced cost.
Cultured Stones is cast in molds taken from carefully selected natural stone, using a process that faithfully captures even the faintest detail. Even on close examination, these manufactured stones look and feel like the natural ones. Since Cultured Stone comes sized and shaped for quick and easy installation, and because it is so light in weight that it requires no additional foundation or support, a Cultured Stone wall costs far less than a full thickness natural stone wall. The average thickness is 1.75 inches and varies from 1 inch to 3 inches depending on the texture. Indoors or out, Cultured Stone is durable, colourfast and comes in over 70 different colours and stone types. Contact us for a full colour sample catalogue and if you cannot find your colour preference, our sister company PermaTint will tint the material to any colour of your choice.
Brick Openings:
Doors or windows often become unnecessary and unsightly. We specialize in door and window removal and then re-brick the openings, carefully tying in with the brick that matches the existing. If your brick is no longer available, we will use a similarly textured brick and PermaTint will tint the brick in place to produce a seamless match.
Conversely new openings or expanded openings may be required for new windows or doors. This involves cutting the brick to the exact size required and installing a steel support over the opening to support the wall. We then repair and touch up the brick work to ensure the new opening looks like it was always part of the original structure.
Through Wall Flashing:
Through wall flashing is designed to capture and provide a means of escape for moisture that penetrates masonry walls. If it is absent or incorrectly installed, water stains or pooling may be noticed at the floor or ceiling level. It is especially important that this problem be addressed by one of our masons, who are specifically trained in this type of repair.
New Construction:
We are not only limited to masonry repair or restoration, but we also have a tremendous amount of experience in new construction. Whether you require the installation of brick or block for small commercial buildings, re-bricking an existing home, retrofitting for a warehouse or building a school addition, we have experience in all these types of construction.