Masons are those who work with stones, bricks, cement, etc. in order to build houses, pathways or walls. This type of job has been practiced for many thousands of years, only that the materials have certainly evolved a lot.

Most masonry experts start as apprentices. Apprenticeship programs can be accessed through community and technical colleges or masonry unions. To enter this kind of programs it is generally required to be over 18 years old and to have a high school diploma. Sometimes apprentices are also required to take a test.

Apprenticeship programs for masonry restoration Connecticut can last three or four years and include on-the job type of training. As they advance in their training, apprentices can get extra job benefits such as health insurance, vacation time, and so on.

There is also classroom learning involved, with subjects such as construction math, how to read blueprints, or history of the masonry trade. Moreover, prospective masons learn about the tools, tricks and techniques used for this type of job.

Cement masonry apprentices get to learn some other essential things such as how to set forms, make and spread cement, and so on.

After finishing the program, apprentices may start working as journeyman masons. After gaining experience, they can finally become master tradesmen.

Masonry areas which are exposed to harsh weather sometimes need to be tuck pointed. This can be the case for chimneys, outside brick walls, veneers, patios or other similar parts of a building or a house.

In short, the mortar between the brick can get damaged and therefore needs to be removed and replaced. But in order for this technique to be considered tuck pointing and not re-pointing, the mortar needs to have the same color as the bricks. After that, a thin line is being cut in the middle of the newly added mortar, and this line is filled with mortar with a contrasting color to the brick structure.

The prices for tuck pointing may vary, as they depend on a large number of factors. The average price is that of $5 to $25 per square foot. As an example, an area which is 8 feet high and 40 feet long can cost somewhere over $1,600.

The variations in price largely depend on the labor involved. Tuck pointing materials are rather inexpensive. In case you are located in a region where construction jobs are generally more expensive, then tuck pointing may also cost you more than in other areas. The best option is to call New England Masonry and Restoration for pricing and the different options that are available to you.

In case you own a building, there are many chances for it to have been built with the use of masonry. Masonry is a construction method which can hold bricks or stones together. In short, any kind of building which was built with bricks is likely to have masonry involved in it.

In some cases, the whole building was made with masonry, but most of the time buildings are made with different materials. However, many buildings keep their masonry facades, because they look better than modern types of materials.

There are many signs that your Connecticut masonry needs to be fixed, including cracked bricks, discoloration or crumbling mortar.

Masonry repair involves patching cracks in the mortar. There are also many situations in which your brick, mortar or stone has to be replaced, at least in certain places. As far as masonry restoration is concerned, this involves more efforts than a mere repair.

The very first step is that of removing old, damaged masonry. Then those structures are replaced with brand new materials that mimic the appearance of the old ones. As a matter of fact, masonry restoration is necessary only when a whole building’s masonry gets affected, and that, of course, does not happen very often.

Smoke stacks are long pipes which basically allow the air to escape from a building. The very first smoke stacks appeared in the Industrial Revolution. In fact, smoke stacks are nothing but chimneys used for industrial buildings.

Smoke stacks have to be tall enough to facilitate gas release and smoke. Due to the fact that the smoke needs to rise up, rain covers are not to be used. Modern-day smoke stacks are equipped with electrostatic precipitators, which capture ash and soot and thus reduce pollution. Smoke stacks that can be restored more easily are usually made of steel, concrete, fiberglass or other components.

Many types of buildings can be a good fit for smoke stack restorations, including historic buildings and industrial ones. It all depends on the type of materials, the techniques which were used, and the degree of damage. There are many innovative products nowadays which can guarantee a good quality repair or replacement of a building’s smoke stack.

Smoke stacks can generally be affected by constant rains, winds, annual freezing, accumulation of acids which can eat through concrete structures, seismic activities, lightning, temperature variations, etc. Masonry restoration Connecticut inspections are recommended a few times a year, to make sure problems are discovered in due time.

Masonry restoration can be quite a challenge, depending on the exact type of building, the type of material, its design and architecture, and, of course, on the age of the building. In case the original materials are no longer available, and therefore cannot be used for masonry restoration, professionals may use engineered materials, which can resemble to the initial appearance of the building.

The changing seasons, together with pollution, harsh weather events, all these can wreak havoc on masonry structures. The sooner you intervene, the better. You can thus even save a building, prolonging its life and helping the community benefit from a beautiful architectural element.

Cracks tend to develop in masonry walls, and water can penetrate into their structure, causing further damage. This is but one of the many problems that can appear in the case of masonry structures. At any rate, you need to estimate the budget, design, the bids, the proposal preparation, the pricing, etc.

In case you find it hard to quote on a masonry restoration project, perhaps one of the things to do is to call on a masonry estimating company. These kinds of companies usually focus on estimating services for masonry restorations and other related works.