Masonry Repair in Etobicoke Masonry repair is something that, in the GTHA, most home owners will have to think about at some point in the near future. Northern weather is extremely trying on brick and masonry walls and, while most houses can withstand it for decades, many homes are in need of some restoration. Snow and ice deteriorates bricks and mortar when it has been exposed for too long. Freezing water expands and pushes the mortar and clay apart. This increases exponentially as the years wear on and eventually can become a problem for your home. This problem can manifest aesthetically, in how well your home is sealed and, eventually, structurally. It is always a good idea to get your home in Etobicoke checked out for any masonry repair or restoration it may need. Types of Masonry and Brick Repair In Etobicoke The types of homes in Etobicoke are varied in brick selection and age. South Etobicoke has many homes that are “newer”. This “newer” means that the homes are only about 70-80 years old. This is still plenty of time to have a need for brick replacement, repointing or tuckpointing, parging and, of course, chimney repair or replacement. In the more northern areas of Etobicoke, the homes are a couple decades older and we find that, that extra 20 years definitely makes a difference. Old, soft brick shows signs of deterioration even quicker in areas where water has pooled or disproportionately saturated parts of a home. So, pretty much every part of Etobicoke will have homes in need of some level of masonry repair, ranging from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand in cost. Get a Free Estimate If you get in touch with us at our office or reach out to us via our WEBSITE, we

What Is The Cost Of Brick Repair In Toronto? Toronto is an old city filled with thousands of old brick homes. As harsh weather slowly wears away at their brick walls, they find themselves in need of brick repair. The freeze/thaw cycle of the fall and winter months degrades the faces of bricks leading to exponential increases in deterioration. The face of a brick is generally harder than the interior. Once that has been removed, brick repair is needed to ensure that the integrity of your home is not compromised. This ranges in cost from a few hundred dollars to many thousands, depending on how extensive the damage has become. Addressing it early can limit the amount of brick repair needed to be done. Toronto brick repair is generally priced on a per brick cost as a guideline, with adjustments to the final quote made based on access to the work area, type of brick needed etc. Is Brick Repair Necessary In Toronto? People often ask whether or not brick repair in Toronto is necessary with homeowners being divided into two categories. First are the people who see minor deterioration on their bricks and request a quote for brick repair ASAP. Then there are people who see bricks deteriorating and feel that there is no rush to get brick repair performed. They may leave it for many years. The correct approach lies somewhere in the middle of these two philosophies. It is very rare that brick repair is needed on an emergency basis. From time to time, if bricks have fallen from a chimney for example, a mason will be needed as soon as possible to secure a home and ensure no more immediate damage will take place. Generally, brick repair is something that you want to have done sooner

Building a New Arch Before steel was able to be manufactured inexpensively for using as lintels over windows and doors, masons had to build arches over any openings in masonry walls. This was done using an arch shape which allowed the weight of the bricks and framing above the opening to be transferred to the sides and not down straight on to the wood and glass of the old windows. A curved piece of wood, known as a form, was used to stabilize the bricks while the mortar dried and was removed later once the structure was secure. There are many forms of arches including a soldier arch, a row lock arch and, what we will see here, a jack arch. Jack Arches Jack arches are sort of an optical illusion. The bricks are cut at an angle at the bottom and top to allow for a straight mortar joint on top as well as a straight opening at the bottom where the window will go. Because the bricks are still slanted as they would be in a regular arch, the weight is still transferred, but the appearance is what we achieve now using a steel lintel. This work takes a bit longer than using steel and is slightly more expensive, but if you are going for a traditional, beautiful look, it is definitely worth it. Give Us A Call Or Visit Our Website For A Free Estimate! At Wilkens Masonry, our estimates are always free. We serve the Toronto and Hamilton areas. We will come by and give you an honest assessment coupled with a fair price for the services we deliver. Also, if the scope of work is something we don’t cover, we can always point you in the right direction of a company that can service your

Finding A Local Mason For Restoration Toronto There are many ways to find a mason who you can hire to perform restoration around your home in Toronto. You can search online, you can check local forums and groups or you can ask your neighbours and friends. Most people have had to hire a masonry contractor in the past. There are a few things to look for when deciding on who to call. Online Reviews The more reputable masonry companies you will find online have many reviews that anyone can filter through. Look for reviews that mention the type of work you are looking to have performed. See if anyone mentions price and customer service (This is something that Wilkens prides itself on). If enough people have reviewed and the reviews seem honest then this is something to use as an informative tool. Word Of Mouth Your neighbours and friends are the most reliable source for recommendations when it comes to taking care of your home. These are people you can trust and people who will generally know what you want in terms of quality and experience. Also, if the work you are looking to have done is something they have already had delivered, you can look at photos or take a look in person, knowing that the photos are genuine representations of the product. Free Estimates and friendly advice Wilkens Masonry is well known as a company that doesn’t always try and sell you on doing restoration work. We want to chat with you and learn about your needs. Masonry repairs can be necessary and immediately needed, but they can also just be good due diligence that can be put off for now until one’s budget allows for it. Either way, we want you to be informed when making a

Finding The Best Brick Match In an ideal world, when you are renovating your home, you would be able to find the same brick used in the original construction for any changes or repairs you wanted to make to the masonry walls. Also, in this ideal world, that brick would have the same weathering and patina that comes with decades of dealing with Canadian weather. While this is not exactly possible, we are able to find many bricks that match or blend quite well with the wall. Brick Sizes There are many different sizes of brick that are found throughout the world. When considering the size of a brick, you need to think of all three dimensions. The height and length of the brick face, of course, but also the depth of the brick. In Ontario, we have many brick sizes, but the most commonly found brick in older homes is the Ontario sized brick. This is the brick of the Annex, High Park, Leaside and many more old Toronto neighbourhoods. Other common brick sizes are: Metric Modular, CSR and Jumbo. The latter two are mostly found in newer homes. Brick Faces The next thing to consider for a brick match, is the face. You are looking at two things: colour and texture. Most homes in Toronto and the surrounding areas have bricks that are either red, orange, or yellow. With age, we have to add in the shade of the brick, darker versions of the aforementioned three colours. At most masonry suppliers, you can find these bricks in various shades of all three. While there are times when you can find an almost exact match, you may have to settle for something that, upon close inspection, will show that a repair has been done. Give us a Call for

Small Masonry Repairs Toronto And Hamilton There is no shortage of masonry restoration companies in Toronto and Hamilton. Masonry is an age old trade, people have been laying bricks as long as homes have been properly made. However, many companies seek larger, longer jobs to keep them busy for greater periods of time. It is a fair need as many companies have larger crews that they want to keep working. It is because of this that not every company though, unlike Wilkens, will perform small repairs. Big Repairs vs Small Repairs Many people are on the hunt for a masonry contractor that can help them with a quick fix. Not everyone has it within their budget to hire a company to do a full rebuild of a chimney, or replace hundreds of bricks. Not everyone has the luxury of restoring their masonry to its former glory. This means that small repairs are something sought after. The nature of the industry, however, has lead to a relatively lazy approach. The truth is that some contractors won’t even come and take a look when they hear that all you need is a few holes filled or a few bricks replaced. Wilkens Masonry is known as a leader in the small repairs part of masonry. Our trained masons can be in an out in a few hours and we can do it for a fair price that won’t break your budget. A few holes tuckpointed, some spalling bricks replaced, a small section of your foundation parged or your chimney repaired rather than fully rebuilt. For all of that and more, we are your guys. For the record, though, while we are more than happy to come out for the small things, we will also come out for the bigger jobs too. Give Us