Masonry Restoration or Repair; What’s the Difference?
Masonry construction can withstand the test of time, but even the best-laid bricks experience wear and tear. Depending on the project, a masonry contractor will either repair or restore the masonry work. But, what’s the difference, and which do you need for your building? Read on as we explain the key distinctions between masonry restoration and masonry repair.
Masonry Restoration
Stonemasons perform masonry restoration to maintain older buildings. The goal of masonry restoration is to return a structure to its original integrity and appearance.
How Masonry Restoration Works
The process can be long and time-consuming because it requires masons skilled in restoration to repoint the wall and use materials that are specific to the era in which the building was constructed.
First, masons remove the damaged masonry carefully, so as not to harm the remaining wall, and apply fresh mortar that matches the building. From there, your contractor will track down materials that match the original masonry work with their specific color, texture, shape. Some materials become less popular over time making them harder to find, which is another cause for masonry restoration typically having a much longer timeline than masonry repair.
Cost of Masonry Restoration
Because of the time and skill masonry restoration takes, it can get costly. When done right, however, masonry restoration will have your building looking like it did when it was first built, making the restoration process well worth the effort.
Masonry Repair
Masonry repair, on the other hand, is the process of fixing individual sections of your walls. It can involve filling minor cracks or more serious issues like protruding bricks and leaning walls. It’s imperative to perform masonry repair as soon as the smallest issues arise because masonry is crucial to the structural integrity of your building. If issues are allowed to continue unchecked, it can create serious safety hazards.
How Masonry Repair Works
The repair process essentially involves a trained mason replacing problem stones and bricks with new ones. Or, if you just need to repair small cracks, the contractor may choose to fill them using concrete or sand filling.
The timeline for masonry repair varies due to the severity of your issues. Small cracks can be taken care of quickly, while larger issues can take much longer. However, masonry repair typically takes less time than masonry restoration because you don’t need to hunt down period-specific materials to match the current brickwork.
If you’re wanting to conduct regular maintenance on your building, then masonry repair is what you need. It’s the best way to stay on top of deterioration because small cracks can quickly become big problems.
Cost of Masonry Repair
Compared to masonry restoration, masonry repair is much more economical. However, masonry repair is not a substitute for masonry restoration. Ask an expert about which your building needs before taking on either project.
Why Choose Phoenix Masonry?
We’re well-known among general contractors along the Front Range because they count on us to complete projects on time, within budget, and as agreed upon. If you’re looking for a dedicated masonry contractor with experience in masonry restoration and repair, contact us for a bid today.