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Brick and stone exteriors are generally considered to be the highest quality and easiest to maintain for the majority of homes, provided, of course, that you use an experienced and reputable construction firm or qualified mason.<br>
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Brick and stone exteriors are generally considered to be the highest quality and easiest to maintain for the majority of homes, provided, of course, that you use an experienced and reputable construction firm or qualified mason. Below, we look in a little more detail at the many advantages of having an experienced mason use brick or stone on the exterior of your home, and some other general facts about brick and stone exteriors: Fire resistant Both brick and stone are fire resistant, and go much further towards protecting your home than any other material. While this is of course, great news for you and those living inside in your home, it also helps to increase your homes value.
Energy efficient Over the years, research has consistently shown that brick can lower heating and cooling costs by as much as 8%, making it an energy efficient choice for your home, wherever you live. Sturdy Brick and stone exteriors are able to withstand high winds and unlike most other construction materials, do not usually suffer much damage during extreme weather conditions. Strong and durable, if your home is built using a brick or stone exterior, you can expect it to continue protecting your home for many decades to come.
Installing brick or stone exteriors While bricks are incredibly strong and durable, they are not 100% waterproof, and it’s essential that a waterproof barrier be placed on the wall before the brick siding is installed. You’ll also need to have a drainage plane or weep holes professionally installed, to prevent any water from accumulating and giving it an easy route to run out.A good mason will also make sure that falling mortar isn’t able to block this drainage system. While this process will add a little more to the budget, it will help prevent potentially costly problems from occurring later on.
Maintaining brick and stone exteriors Bricks are strong and long-lasting, but there is a chance that they may crack over time, so checking your home’s exterior every year is important. Smaller cracks may be nothing to worry about and may not need attention, but if in doubt, seek advice from your mason. It may be that the bricks themselves are fine and can remain in place, but the mortar might need to be replaced. If so, an experienced mason will use a technique known as repointing, in which the old mortar is removed to a depth of one inch, and new mortar is applied. The new mortar must match the existing mortar for adequate bonding, and while this isn’t usually an issue for modern homes, it can become problematic for older, historic homes.
For the majority of homes with brick exteriors, it should hold in place for at least twenty-five years, but cracks and gaps must be addressed when spotted. Overall brick and stone exteriors are highly effective, provided you use a professional mason or a reputable construction company with the appropriate skills.
RZ Construction Group Inc is a fully inclusive and one of the best construction companies in Queens NY. From initial design to final clean-up, our results speak for themselves. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to provide both commercial and residential construction services to customers in Astoria and the surrounding area. Proud to serve New York State for 25 years. No job is too small nor too big. If you are looking for masonry contractors in NYC or want to know more about our wide range of professional but affordable construction and repair services, reach out to us at (718) 938-9887.
