Monday, May 18, 2009

Masonry How To's - Home Tips

Materials

Brick is considered as the strongest masonry material available. However, pure brick is already rare in the market and buyers who find it are surprised of its high cost. Brick comes in assorted colors.

Cleaning is easy and dark stains that may develop overtime are cleared with a regular cleanser. Over time, some parts may come loose between each other and these loose joints can damage your interior walls. It is fixed through a process called tuckpointing where the joints are filled with mortar.

Stone is another popular material among designers and homeowners. It is installed by starting at the top going down to ensure that no mortar will drip once it is completed. A good contractor will build the stone exterior with a stud frame to properly support the structure. Proper maintenance of the stone masonry is ensuring that it resists cracks brought by water through proper sealing. It retards the absorption of any liquid.

Concrete block is an efficient and economical material. It is made of Portland cement, gravel, sand and water. Like stone, a water sealant is also needed to avoid a weakening of materials. It is sprayed on the wall free from dust, oil and grease.

Problems

Some of the problems encountered in wall maintenance include moisture from cracks, weakening joints, discoloration and staining. This can be fixed by sealing the wall properly.

Also, the walls may be leaning on a different angle or sinking down the ground because of poor concrete at the bottom or compaction. The bricks, stones or concrete may also develop cracks due to aging. If there is too much pressure on the wall, it may develop bulges at the back side or worse, large cracks and crumbles. Call a professional contractor and have your wall inspected once you notice these problems.

Andy Denton of http://www.Realty.com

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