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Labels: Brick Driveways, Brick Pavers, Masonry

When patios, walls and walkways are made of brick, the value of the home is always pushed skyward - nothing matches the beauty of brick laid out in an intricate pattern. Even a simple brick driveway outshines the best asphalt or concrete slab. Brick is not just for the siding of the house, it can compliment any home style and improve the curb appeal and overall value of your largest investment.

The great thing about installing brick around your house is that it is relatively easy to do - which means your masonry contractor can have your project installed in very little time.

Many people choose to have a wood deck installed in the backyard, but the best way to make sure you increase home value is to go with the classic brick patio installation. It requires less maintenance, can be cheaper and faster to install, and has a higher aesthically-perceived value to potential buyers. This can mean a higher return on investment when you go to sell your house.

Brick walls in the garden are a great landscaping touch. Brick pavers surrounding a tall tree are the perfect accent. The contrasting colors of the brick (from red to white bricks against green foliage) can feature and highlight any aspect of the garden.

If a house has brick siding, it may be too much to try and add a brick driveway, walk, and porch. But a brick addition to the front yard on a house with wood or vinyl siding is a great complement to prevent the house from disappearing into the background. With suburban houses that already look alike, adding brick will pump up the curb appeal. Anything that can increase curb appeal can increase the overall value of the house.

Brick driveways are also less expensive to install than concrete or asphalt. Brick is also stronger during heat and cold extremes than concrete and asphalt. Finally, brick lasts longer. It's a great choice for your driveway.

Some things to consider with your Brick Paver Installation:

• Talk to your masonry contractor about sealing your bricks. Sealing the bricks is not a necessary step, but can prevent color fading from sun and weather exposure. You'll need to re-seal every few years, too.
• You'll want the pavers to be installed on the most level surface possible. Without levelling, your pavers could spread over time, even with edgers. Make sure you get a good base of gravel, then sand, and use metal edging with your pavers to prevent additional spread.
  
• Plan on spending about $10 to $15 a square foot for patio installations. It's usually less for brick driveway installations.

To find a local brick installer in your neighborhood, post your project - for free - at Construction Deal. We'll match you with brick contractors who can install pavers and driveways for your home. Look, you can flip through your yellow pages and call some masonry companies at random. Then wait for them to call you back. Then hopefully you'll get one or two to come out a bid on the job -- OR you can post the request with us... and let the brick installers call you.

The more bids you have, the better overall installation price you will get. That's how it works. Save time and save money with Construction Deal.

RELATED POSTS:
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Masonry Home Exteriors

Labels: Brick Driveways, Brick Installation, Brick Pavers

If you long for a warming fire in your master bedroom or maybe even in your living room -- if your house didn't come with one originally -- might consider adding a chimney and fireplace.

It can be a fairly expensive project but it will pay off for you in the long run. You'll be adding a wonderful new feature to your home that your family can enjoy for as long as you own your house. You'll also be improving the overall value of the home. Having a fireplace in the family room, kitchen, or bedroom is an added bonus that will definitely help you sell your home. Fireplaces rank among the top 3 features desired by new homeowners, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

There are pre-fab fireplace kits but they tend to look and work like a pre-fab kit. A true masonry fireplace will allow you to add a real wood burning fireplace to your most important rooms.

When planning to add a new fireplace, consider:

• If you can have a fireplace at your house. Some areas or neighborhoods don't allow them. Also, your house may not be up to code to have a fireplace added.
  
• The flow of traffic in the room. Make sure your fireplace won't interrupt the flow of the room. Also consider putting the fireplace where a window or door already exist to keep from having to squeeze it in and ruining the style or architecture of the room.
  
• If you can put the fireplace in a corner, you'll take up less wall and room space. A fireplace in the center of a wall can take over a room and limit your options with pictures/paintings, furniture, or TVs.
  

Decide on the Type of Fireplace you want:

• Wood Burning
• Electric
• Gas

Finally, you'll want to think about your mantle. The fireplace mantle can be the focal point of the entire room. You'll put your knick-knacks and family photos up there. You'll want to try to match the mantle to the decorations and design of your house and of the room itself. If you've got a rustic bungalow, you'll probably not want to install a sleek contemporary marble mantle. You can go with wood, brick, natural stone, and even metal.

One last thing to consider - your firebox opening doesn't need to be a square or rectangle. You can go with a slightly arched opening or even a semi-circle to give the fireplace a truly unique look and style. Have fun with your fireplace installation. Discuss your options with your masonry contractor.

If you need to find a masonry pro to install your new fireplace, you can post your request on Construction Deal. We'll match you with a local fireplace installation company in your area for free. It beats choosing someone at random from the yellow pages. Don't forget to ask for references -- you want to make sure you get a mason with a strong background in chimney building. It can be a very tricky process and the fireplace must be installed correctly. Good luck!

Labels: Brick Fireplace, Masonry Fireplace

Remember the story of the Three Little Pigs? There's a reason many build their homes with a brick masonry exterior - brick can withstand all the huffing and puffing that the weather can throw at your house. If you live in an area that has even minor changes in the weather, as well as the possibility for thunderstorms (and even hurricanes), it might be a good idea to consider either siding your new home with brick or residing your current home using these masonry wonders.

Heavy wind, rain, hail, and water can wear down vinyl and many other types of siding. It's why so many homes have brick exteriors. Brick fell out of favor after so many homes had brick siding from the 50's through the 70's. Everyone switched to vinyl, wood, or stucco siding for their homes. Now, a lot of homeowners now need to replace their siding and are considering brick masonry.

While rain can and does seep into brick siding and thin brick veneer exteriors, modern technology has made it easier to protect homes from damage with special flashing that can re-direct the water away from the house and foundation.

Advantages of Brick Siding:

• Very durable
• Fireproof
• Storm/Weather protection
• Very solid
• Great insulator
  
• Doesn't fade, rot, or require painting or sealing
  

Disdadvantages of Brick Siding:

• Can be expensive to install
• Requires professional installation

If you're thinking about installing brick masonry on your home, contact Construction Deal - we'll match you with reliable brick installers in your area. It's a free service to find a local Brick Contractor to help protect your house!

Labels: Brick Exteriors, Brick Siding, Brick Veneer