Tips and advice: masonry

Make sure your property is safe and structurally sound with correct brickwork and masonry.

Brick and stone have been used in building work for centuries. For any evidence of their long life spans and durability you only have to consider any building over a hundred years old that still stands today. masonry lends any property a classic and unique feel that is not seen often today because of its price tag. Don’t be put off by the cost, though; as stone is so durable you will never have to replace it in your own lifetime. Other cheaper materials can need replacement as often as every 25 years.

How masonry matches up to its alternatives

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brickwork and masonry

The cheapest alternative to stone is vinyl. Although its price is agreeable, vinyl unfortunately only has a life time of approximately 25 or so years and after this period will need considerable repairs or replacement. Another alternative is wood. Wood looks fantastic but like vinyl, suffers from a short lifespan of about 20 years. If you properly maintain, coat and paint it you can increase that lifespan somewhat, but again it is never as much as masonry. Another negative of wood is that it is quite expensive as well as time consuming with its upkeep. Aluminium is a more recent alternative to build your home with but is unfortunately not the prettiest of the bunch. If you’re looking for a fairly cheap material that is easily repaired and has a lifespan of up to 50 years it is worth considering. The last option is fibre cement. This is a reasonably priced alternative that has a lot of the aesthetic appeal that makes masonry in such demand. It has a life span of up to approximately 50 years with minimal maintenance or upkeep needed. It will never be genuine masonry - but it’s the closest alternative.

Maintaining masonry

If masonry is damaged or degraded it can lead to big problems for your home. If left unrepaired, masonry damage can lead to water leaks, decreased property value and reduced energy efficiency. These can be caused by deteriorating mortar, age, bowing parapets, bad workmanship and so on. The easiest way to prevent these problems is to keep your eyes open for them – visible cracks will indicate potential problems with the masonry as well as leaks or bulges. Once you’ve spotted these, you could hire a mason to inspect the damage and carry out repairs. These can involve replacement of bricks, of embedded steel or in extreme cases of damage; replacing entire walls.

Benefits of masonry

One of the first and foremost benefits of masonry is the massive increase in value it will give your home. Masonry makes any building entirely grander and this will be reflected in the raised price tag. The excellent life span of masonry is a second benefit and one that will keep giving for a long time. Any material that can successfully last over a century is one to be seriously considered when having building work done. Add this to the minimal maintenance masonry requires and you may be convinced the price tag is worth it – it won’t need replacement for your entire life time and it will still stand even when your children inherit your home or you sell it on.

JB