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A lot of homeowners want to use brick because they love the look and feel. It's great for siding, patios, and walks. Not only does it look great, but it lasts a long time.

However, to make sure the bricks last as long as possible and looks good in the process, many homeowners want to know what they have to do to maintain them.

We asked our friends over at Naper Valley Masonry, Inc. to give us the scoop on what is required for proper brick maintenance. Naper Valley Masonry specializes in high-end residential construction work in the Chicago area - and if anyone knows how to maintain an exterior of a house in a nasty climate, it's these guys!

"Brick is one of the most common choices for basic masonry materials. It's made of fired clay and is available in various choices of color and texture. It can be one of the higher-priced exterior finishes; however, being water repellent, easy to maintain and less expensive in the long run, it is a preferred choice for many homeowners. Brick masonry should last 100 years, with the first 25 free of maintenance. The most common maintenance is repairing loose joints between bricks, commonly called tuck pointing.

Stone is an ancient form of masonry. In theory it will last a lifetime. Stone exteriors work best when installed with traditional techniques. Problems can occur when mixing stone masonry with new building techniques. For example, many homeowners want the look of stone without paying the cost to get a properly-built stone exterior. They choose to go with stone veneer over a modern stud frame. This will likely fail over time.

Water is stone masonry's worst enemy because freeze-thaw cycles can cause cracks. Properly sealed stone masonry prevents these problems. Routine checking of your building’s exterior should be practiced after heavy rains. Any dark patches on the wall indicate that water has soaked into the surface, occurrences such as these will likely lead to problems in the future.

Bricks which have absorbed water are susceptible to their outer surfaces to flake off. When this happens, the damaged bricks need to be replaced as soon as possible. Otherwise, large areas of the walls of your house will be affected and it will become expensive to rectify.

Concrete block masonry is more common with industrial buildings. It should last 50 to 80 years, and the joints may need to be fixed after 25 years. Unlike brick, concrete blocks are not waterproof. You'll need to apply a water seal every 10 years. Some effective water seals are Silane and Siloxane, which can be applied by spray, after which they will soak into the surface of the wall like stain.

Signs of green algae growing on outside walls and black mold or wallpaper peeling off internal walls are a sign of dampness within the brickwork. Cracked bricks may indicate a serious problem with foundations. Ultimately the quality of the brickwork and masonry will determine how much and how soon repairs will be necessary, so choose wisely when getting masonry work done."

If you're in the Chicagoland area, give the guys at Naper Valley Masonry a call (630-978-7405) to get a quote on your brick masonry installation. Tell them you read about them on the ConstructionDeal.com website! And, if you're not in that area, you can always post your job on our site to find a quality brick or stone installer!

Labels: Brick Exteriors, Home Maintenance, Masonry Benefits

Need to replace those cracked concrete steps leading up to your house? The cheap and easy way to go is to replace them with more concrete. A new set of concrete steps can be cast and finished in a very short amount of time and for very little money.

Improve Curb Appeal
However, everyone wants to improve the curb appeal of their home. If you can, splurge and go the extra mile by adding brick steps. With the variety of colors and textures that are available in brick, you'll be outshining any set of boring, old gray concrete steps.

As an alternative, you can also add a brick facing to your concrete steps. A 1/2" to 1" layer of brick can be placed around the sides and on the steps to give it a feel of being a completely brick structure. This can be very effective for a large set of stairs.

Improve Home Values
In a time when folks are struggling to sell their homes, adding minor touches here and there can truly improve the aesthetic and value of your house. The brick walkway, a stamped concrete driveway, several landscaping retaining walls, and brick steps can dramatically change the look of your exterior.

Those brick steps out front could allow your house to catch up to the rest of the neighborhood (if you're behind) or be the shining star (if you're even or slightly ahead.)

Need to Find a Brick Step Installer?
We can help. ConstructionDeal.com is a website that matches homeowners to contractors. At no cost.

No matter what your masonry project, we can connect you with brick installers for driveways, walkways, and stairs. You won't have to search at random in the yellow pages book. Simply post your project and get calls from local pros. It's that easy.

At ConstructionDeal.com, we help you get your masonry project done!

Labels: Brick Exteriors, Brick Installation, Brick Pavers

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

Ready to install brick siding on your home? We can help. Submit your request to ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with brick siding installers at no cost. Simply tell us about your project and get quotes from up to 4 brick contractors.

Save Time - get quotes fast instead of calling brick masons at random from the phone book. Save Money - 4 quotes means you'll be able to pick the best bid for your budget.

We help you get your project done at ConstructionDeal.com

Labels: Brick Exteriors, Brick Siding, Brick Veneer