Category Archives: Brick Restoration

09
Dec
What Does Brick Replacement Involve?
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What Does Brick Replacement Involve?

Brick replacement in Toronto, Hamilton, Burllington and Oakville is a part of home restoration and upkeep that most homeowners will have to deal with at some point in their lives. Cold weather brings a lot of moisture and sub zero temperatures.  When brick and masonry is saturated with water and the temperature goes below zero, the expansion of the water leads to deterioration that gets worse and worse as it happens more and more.

Figuring Out Which Bricks To Replace

Often, there are bricks that are borderline in need of replacement, and figuring out exactly which bricks to replace is one of the difficulties of brick replacement in general. Our first job is to  ensure that the bricks we are breaking out of the wall are absolutely in need of replacement while leaving in bricks that may have some surface wear but, for the sake of budget, do not need to be replaced at this time.

Removing The Bricks

Using a handheld jackhammer or, if the mortar surrounding the bricks in soft enough, a carbide blade saw, the bricks are removed while limiting the damage to surrounding, healthy bricks, as much as possible. Also, we can only remove a certain amount of bricks at a time without having bricks above the area of replacement shifting or falling. Bricks support their counterparts above on a 45 degree angle and, depending on how many bricks are needed to be replaced, the project has to be done in stages to allow the new bricks to set and become load bearing.

Get in touch for a free estimate!

Give us a call or visit our WEBSITE to set up a free quote for the brick replacement you may need. You can also check out or glowing reviews on HOMESTARS and GOOGLE. We look forward to hearing from you!

Original Wilkens Team

29
Oct
Masonry Repair in Etobicoke
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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 can set you up with a free estimate. It is always a good idea to have someone come and look around your home and figure out ways to make your beautiful Etobicoke home last for another hundred years and more. Check out our photos and reviews on GOOGLE and HOMESTARS to see what our other customers are saying.

 

 

10
Jul
Cost Of Brick Repair Toronto
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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 rather than later as it will have an influence on the final cost. If there are a dozen bricks to replace on a wall and a few areas in need of tuckpointing, a repair can be performed for under a thousand dollars. However, brick deterioration can spread exponentially out from the original spot, turning a dozen bricks into over a hundred and all of a sudden you are spending thousands of dollars on something that should have been handled sooner. That is why brick repair is definitely necessary.

Hiring A Brick Repair Contractor In Toronto

For your brick repair needs in Toronto, you should always turn to Wilkens Masonry. We are family owned and operated and have been since 1977. We offer free quotes, friendly advice and excellent customer service. You can read our reviews online at HOMESTARS and GOOGLE and can reach us on our WEBSITE or call us at 416 425 8055

13
May
Building a New Arch
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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 needs.

Check us out on Homestars and Google! You can also Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation or call us at 416 425 8055.

A Photo Showing Previous Brickwork Replaced With New Brickwork

Brick Arch Over An Opening In A Wall

New Brick Arch Put Over A Window Opening

06
Jul
Finding A Local Mason For Restoration Toronto
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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 decision on how to take care of your house. Contact us now for a FREE ESTIMATE or check us out on GOOGLE to see our reviews.

17
May
Finding The Best Brick Match
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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 a Free Estimate!

At Wilkens, our estimates are always free. We work in the Toronto and Hamilton as well as the in between areas. We will drop by and give you an honest estimate coupled with a fair price for the services we deliver. Also, if the type of work is something we don’t cover, we can always point you in the right direction of a company that can service your needs.

Take a look on Homestars and Google! You can Contact us  for a free consultation or give us a call at 416 425 8055.

 

03
May
The Masonry Season Well Under Way!
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The Masonry Season Well Under Way!

Every year, the question we ask at Wilkens Masonry is: when can we get back to work!? The main barrier we face in the masonry repair and restoration industry is the weather. For larger jobs, we can avoid the cold and wet weather of the winter months by closing jobs in with a series of tarps and scaffolding and then install job site heaters. For smaller repair jobs, the cost would be too high. So, we find ourselves waking up in March and April, and checking the weather before we even have our first cup of coffee.

This year though, we’ve had a streak of good luck! The masonry season has begun and we are off and running. The weather turned in our favour at the beginning of April and we are finally able to get to all of our wonderful customers who have been waiting for Mother Nature to play ball! We are so happy to be back at it and can’t wait for the weather to get warmer and warmer.

What To Look For On My House

Now that the weather has stabilized, it is a good time to take a walk around your home and look for signs of brick, mortar and other forms of masonry deterioration. Look for discolourations that show where water has saturated the wall. Identify areas where the brick and mortar appear to be softer or seem to be flaking off. These are spots on the wall that are being effected by the weather and, while the cause of the deterioration needs to be addressed, reinforcing the masonry is a good idea.

Honesty And Ethics With Your Quote

The trades and restoration, with masonry as no exception, are home to all types of people and companies. When dealing with any company, you should always trust your feelings with the person who is trying to sell you on having them perform your work. There are many outfits that can do good work, but they aren’t always  a pleasure to deal with. At Wilkens, we aim to show you that honesty and ethics in the world of masonry are not forgotten concepts or simply a banner to add to your website’s homepage. These are two ideas that are at our very core and philosophy as a company. You can learn more about us here

Give us a Call 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 needs.

Check us out on Homestars and Google! You can also Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation or call us at 416 425 8055.

 

23
Feb
Small Masonry Repairs Toronto And Hamilton
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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 A Call 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 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 needs.

Check us out on HOMESTARS and GOOGLE! You can also CONTACT US now for a free, no-obligation consultation or call us at 416 425 8055.

 

13
Feb
Is It Too Cold For Masonry Repairs?
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Is It Too Cold For Masonry Repairs?

Many people in Toronto, Hamilton and the surrounding areas wait until the spring season has undoubtedly arrived to turn their attention to home repairs. However, living in southern Ontario means that we often have warm weather spells throughout the winter. If you have a small masonry repair such as a chimney repair, a few bricks to replace or some tuckpointing to be done, you may want to reach out to Wilkens Masonry and have the work done before the rush of the warmer months.

Does Temperature Matter?

For mortar to be mixed, you add water to a mixture of sand and masonry cement. If the temperature is below zero, it means that the water can freeze and the mortar will not be able to “cure” properly (this is the chemical process by which mortar and concrete become hard. Sometimes, in a pinch, you can add a liquid that speeds up the curing process and allows the mortar to be worked with at colder temperatures. However, this can alter the look of the mortar and make it harder to do aesthetic work. Speaking to the masonry estimator can help you determine what course of action to take and weather or not the brick replacement, tuckpointing, chimney repair, parging or other masonry repair needs to be done.

Are Masonry Companies Open Throughout The Winter?

While we cannot speak for the responsiveness of other Toronto and Hamilton based masonry restoration companies, Wilkens is open year round. We will come out and take a look at the work you may need done and provide an honest opinion on the importance and process of the project. If it’s too cold we will let you know and we will help find a solution to ensure you are well taken care of.

Give us a Call 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 needs.

Check us out on Homestars and Google! You can also Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation or call us at 416 425 8055.

08
Feb
Homestars Hamilton
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Wilkens Masonry Is Now On Homestars Hamilton!

Wilkens Contracting Inc. has been built on quality and referrals since 1977. Most of our leads for masonry restoration, brick repair and replacement, tuckpointing and chimney repair has come from word of mouth and returning customers, throughout that time period. Now, with our recent expansion into the wonderful city of Hamilton, we are proud to be listed on Homestars. We are planning on a broadened relationship with the home renovations website Homestars as one of the ways that the good people of Hamilton, Burlington and the surrounding areas will find us and bring us out for a free estimate.

What Will Wilkens Masonry Be Offering In Hamilton?

Our services to the people of Hamilton will be all things masonry restoration! We want to give you a free estimate, at your convenience, for your brick restoration and repairs, your tuckpointing and repointing, your new masonry openings, your chimney repair and rebuilds and much more! Hamilton is a booming city that we are excited to grow with and serve.

How Does Homestars Work?

Homestars has a brilliant system for helping people find reliable, verified companies for their home renovation and repair needs. The first option, if you are seeking a trained masonry restoration specialist, you can go on Homestars and put out a general call for a reliable contractor. Homestars will send your posting to the companies in the designated area that fit your needs and give them the option to reach out to you.

The next way that you can use Homestars is as a directory for contractors who you can read about, vet and contact all on your own. Homestars has rated the companies based on a variety of categories to give you the control in choosing the contractor, such as Wilkens, for your project.

Give us a Call 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 needs.

Check us out on Homestars and Google! Watch our short video on Youtube. You can also Contact us now for a free, no-obligation consultation or call us at 416 425 8055.

 

 

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