Archive for the Masonry Category

Intro To The Various Brick Options

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012 | Permalink

Are you aware that bricks come in many different types? Truth is, at first, I thought that bricks were only sold in one particular type. But there are actually many variants of bricks sold in the market today. Therefore, if you are thinking of using bricks for your home renovation project, becoming familiar with the different types will definitely help you make the right brick choice.

Like as there are plenty of options for home alarm systems, bricks are also available in various types which include the following:

  • Engineering Bricks – This type of brick is used mainly for their performance and not their appearance. Engineering bricks are generally used on sewers, manholes, groundworks, and other surfaces that are prone to frosting and water damage.
  • Handmade Bricks – As the name suggest, these bricks are made by hand by skilled artisans. Clay is thrown into moulds to form the brick. Each handmade brick showcases a distinct and pleasing appearance. They are characterized by having a creased face and unrivalled durability. Most of the well-admired historic buildings are constructed using handmade bricks.
  • Re-pressed Bricks – These are wirecut bricks that were re-pressed in order to form resilient bricks with a unique surface texture and specific size tolerance.

Other brick types available include wirecut, special shapes, fletton and stock bricks.

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Brick Isn’t The Only Stone That Works In Your Home

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 | Permalink

Although bricks are the most common construction materials used for house building or construction, there are actually other types of stones that would work just as great for your home. One typical reason why bricks are a popular choice when building homes is because of the fact that they are readily available (when compared to other types of construction materials). However, you should also be open to the idea of using other types of stones to design or construct your homes. Sometimes, to get the best result, you have to think outside of the box. Though it would be more convenient to stick with the familiar, welcoming the idea of using other stone materials for your home is not that bad either.

Other than the popular bricks, here the other types of stones that will also work well in your home.

Marble

Dubbed as the most versatile material ever uncovered, marbles can also be used in designing and constructing homes. The durability and elegance of marbles make them a popular choice for interior design, sculpture and construction. Marbles are popularly used when building modern homes. Moreover, they blend perfectly with other building materials such as ceramics and wood. Due to their unmatched resiliency, marbles are often the material of choice for high-traffic areas at home, like the staircase, hallways or even in the kitchen. Though this type of stone is known for its extreme durability, they are actually fairly easy to use, maintain and clean. As a matter of fact, marble tiles can be applied or used in all types of surfaces. And they can be conveniently cut into specific measurements, like ordinary tiles, to fit in tight spots or in a particular area.

Granite

This natural stone is now increasingly used in the construction business. However, due to its expensive price, granite is usually applied on smaller home areas such as the kitchen countertop. Though this type of stone is usually used to a minimum by those with tight budgets, homeowners who have the financial means to afford granite in large quantities use them as the primary material when constructing houses. Granite is also great for adorning the appearance of dull-looking kitchens or bathrooms. They can be used as a flooring material or wall panels for home.

Concrete Block

This is perhaps the most inexpensive material that can be used for construction. In certain parts of the world, concrete blocks, also known as concrete masonry units (CMUs), are used as the primary building material when erecting homes. Compared to bricks, concrete blocks are much larger. In addition, laying concrete blocks for walling is much easier. In fact, they serve as a structural core when doing veneer brick masonry but they can also be used as a stand-alone material. The advantage of using concrete blocks is that the void on the blocks can be filled with cement, with or without steel bars, for the purpose of reinforcement. Like bricks, they are readily available and can be purchased for a very affordable price.

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Integrating Brick And Paving Stone For A Unique Look

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 | Permalink

Bricks and paving stones are the popular materials used to boost the aesthetic appeal of driveways, walkways and even patios. In fact, more and more homeowners are combining the use of these two materials in order to create a look that will help them stand out in their neighborhood.

Before realizing how you can benefit from integrating the use of bricks and paving stones, you should first know about the individual advantages of using each type of material. Let’s begin with paving stones. These are basically a type of stone commonly used in constructing walls, courtyards, decks and other designing features that will allow you to set your home apart from others, aesthetics-wise. They come in a variety of patterns, colors, designs, and textures to fit every kind of home design or exterior scheme. One obvious advantage of paving stones is their unrivalled strength and unmatched resiliency. They are also very popular for their unique visual appeal. Compared to concrete, paving stones are much stronger and they are capable of withstanding constant abuse. In addition, they can also stand against extreme weather conditions, and if a part of the stone get damaged, replacing the damaged part is fairly easy.

Another great benefit of using paving stones is the fact that they are easy to install. You do not need to be an expert in masonry in order to install one but of course basic knowledge on the matter will definitely come a long way. Paving stones are also water-resistant making them an ideal choice even to humid areas.

Bricks, on the other hand, are at par with the paving stones with regards to durability and strength. Knowing this, they are very much capable of enduring even the harshest weather condition and they are also capable of lasting for centuries (when cared for properly). Bricks can be made from varying materials such as quarried stone, calcium silicate, soft slate, concrete, and of course, clay. Like paving stones, using bricks will allow you to boost the value of your home. Moreover, they are perfect for climate control making them the ideal material of choice when building homes in colder areas of the world. Bricks are also very low in maintenance, and are also made to be fire-proof.

With the aforementioned benefits of using paving stones and bricks individually, just imagine what these two materials can bring you if you decide to integrate them in one application. Blending the use of paving stones with bricks will help reinforce durability. For instance, when constructing your driveway, amalgamating bricks with paving stones will allow you to produce a sturdier drive way that will be able to withstand high traffic. Furthermore, their combination will exude unique elegance and class thus boosting the visual appearance of your home’s surrounding landscape and allowing it to stand out more.

Combining brick and paving stones will also give you the opportunity to play with colors, textures, and patterns thus allowing you to come up with a one-of-a-kind visual look. Since both of them are known to be hard-wearing and long-lasting, you will never have to worry about their upkeep, and you are sure to enjoy their striking visual appeal and excellent service for many years to come.

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Posted in Construction Material, Home Landscape, Masonry | No Comments »

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