Concrete block

concrete box are a low-cost ideal material for building look at structures.  turkey box can be used for basement walls foundation walls or an entire new building they provide more strength and durability than brick, due to their size they are also more efficient to lay.  One standard block provides the same volume of 12 traditional brick. cinder blocks typically measure 8 by 8 by 16 inches, this is modular size that it means it allows for an extra eighth on an  inch mortar joint to complete the true 8 by 8 by 16 inches. cinder blocks are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 4 to 16 inches thick. in addition to a variety of sizes they also come in a vast range of colors and textures.

Crner or jam block,  have a flat surface at the end and no ear on the concrete block these are laid on the corner of the wall to give a smooth finish. your typical concrete block has ears on it to adhere the mortar to. typically when a wall is being built over eight feet it is filled with concrete and steel rebar, building codes may vary on this in areas where they have larger seismic activity  high winds or other adverse conditions.

to determine the number of parts you need for your structure multiply the length of the wall in feet by the height of the wall.  this will give you a square foot1 block is approximately one square foot of surface area on the wall

Chimney Repair

the chimney is one of the first spots on your house to require masonry repair. The main reason for this is because it protrudes above the roof line is exposed to the elements. In addition to being exposed above the roof line at all so is venting warm and hot gases out the flue liner. In the winter months the combination of warm gases venting out of a cold masonry structure allows for condensation and moisture to come by and with the freezer and thaw cycles causing extreme damage. most chimneys meant either a furnace or a fireplace some chimneys vent both the furnace and the fireplace.  On larger chimneys a dummy flu or a fake flu may be included to balance out the lows of a chimney. When it comes to chimney repair the majority of the work may be involved in the scaffold set up.

stone installation

Applying stone to your chimney or your home is a great way to beautify it, and increase its curb appeal. there's a wide range of culture stones or manufactured stones available on the market today. In addition to this natural stone veneers can be purchased.

manufactured stone or cultured stone is a man-made product the benefits of manufactured stone are the ease in which it can be found, it is lightweight, and it is a much lower costing alternative to natural stone.

natural stone veneers are actual piece of stone that has been cut to a similar dimension as cultured stone. natural stone is typically much more durable but also costs more and weighs considerably more.

Both natural stone veneer and cultured stone are applied in very similar methods.  invoice true or vapor barrier is applied then expanded metal is secured on top the moisture barrier using either tap cons or galvanized roofing nails.

after the expanded metal or metal last is firmly applied scratch coat of mortar is then put on top of it. scratch coat is exactly what it sounds like, a coat of mortar which is then scratched to allow better adhesion between the stone and wall.

after applying the scratch coat you are ready to install your stone veneer typically a cultured on manufactured stone should be late from the top down this allows any mortar or mess that come s from laying the stone to fall harmlessly to the ground instead of on top of fresh worked its just been laid.  As a general rule you should not acid wash or powerwash aggressively cultured or  manufactured stone.

Stone is set by applying mortar to the back of the stone or buttering the stone. Once you've applied the mortar to the back of the stone it is pressed into place firmly and held until at bonds to the wall.

Brick columns

Entry columns and wing walls are a great way to accent the front of your home. the columns and wing walls below became damaged after being soaked by moisture in the constant freeze and thaw cycles in Michigan.

Instead of repairing them the same way they were originally built we opted to change the design slightly by corbelling the brick work out of the top and capping the column and wing wall with a limestone slab.
in addition to providing better protection for the column the limestone also makes a very nice accent