Category Archives: masonry restoration

22
Aug
Wilkens is Family Owned and Operated Since 1977
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The Beginning of Wilkens Masonry

Since the beginning, Wilkens Masonry has strived to be a company the people of Toronto, Hamilton and the surrounding areas can rely on. We have always been family owned and operated and have a vision for the future which includes the expansion of our quality services into more regions of Southwestern Ontario.

Family Owned and Operated

Our owner, Ernie Wilkens, has worked hard over the past decades to build a company his children could be proud to be a part of. Olivia Wilkens, Ernie’s daughter, is the office manager and oversees all administrative parts of Wilkens. Richard Harris, Ernie’s nephew, is our lead estimator. Jake Wilkens, Ernie’s son, is our head mason. The rest of our team, while not bearing our last name, is very much a part of the family!

What Can Wilkens Masonry Do For You

Wilkens Masonry is your one stop shop for chimney rebuild and restoration, fireplace restoration, tuckpointing or repointing and all forms of brick repair and restoration. We serve the Greater Toronto Area as well as Hamilton and Burlington.

We are fully insured, our estimates are free and we can work closely with you or a hired general contractor to make sure that our quote will fit in with any blueprints or plans that may exist.

Wilkens Masonry Is Now In Hamilton

Wilkens Masonry has officially set up shop in Hamilton, Ontario! We have been serving Toronto for 45 years and are excited to be in a new city where we can build our reputation as a full-service masonry restoration company. Get in touch for a free estimate to discuss your repointing, tuckpointing, parging, brick repair and chimney repair.

We are fully insured, our estimates are free and we can work closely with you or a hired general contractor to make sure that our quote will fit in with any blueprints or plans that may exist.

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.

30
Mar
Does Your Home Need Tuckpointing or Repointing?

Does Your Home Need Tuckpointing or Repointing?

Many houses in Canada have stood for more than a hundred years. Extreme weather from our cold and wet winters lead to the gradual degradation and erosion of the bricks and mortar that form the walls of those houses. The warm days and cold nights of late fall, winter, and early spring lead to water saturating your masonry, liquid during the daytime, and then expanding at night once the water freezes. This loosens the masonry, bringing about a need for repairs.

What is Tuckpointing or Repointing?

Tuckpointing is the industry name for what is more accurately known as re-pointing. It is the replacement of eroded or deteriorated mortar on your masonry walls. Using a pointed bag with a small hole cut on one end, you can apply fresh mortar (mixed to a smooth texture) to the joints found in between the bricks. Once the mortar has dried, the mason will carefully pack the mortar into the joint ,with a wooden dowel or metal jointing tool, and shape the joint to blend in with the rest of the wall. Once this is done, brushing the small, loose particles of mortar off the wall finishes off the process, leaving the mortar to completely cure which usually takes twenty four hours.

Why do You Need Tuckpointing?

Masonry walls are made up of brick and mortar. The mortar is softer than the bricks and generally is found to deteriorate more quickly than the bricks on your wall. When this happens, it is necessary to get work done on your home so that the damage doesn’t worsen and lead to potentially more work at a greater expense.

 

Blending the Old with the New

Wilkens Masonry specializes in tuckpointing and in blending the new mortar with the old. There are dozens of mortar colour tints available, and our trained masons have become Toronto’s best at finding the right colour and tint when tuckpointing walls. Part of the method involves finding a blend that starts off dark enough so that it will dry to the best match. As mortar dries, it usually lightens up, so there is a certain aspect of guesswork involved with achieving the final colour.

More Benefits

The obvious benefits for your home, once tuckpointing has taken place, are an overall aesthetic improvement, as well as prevention of further deterioration of the mortar and bricks, which can incur much higher costs. However, if there is enough damage to your walls, tuckpointing can actual help the energy efficiency of your home. Heat in the winter and cold in the summer can leak out through the tiny gaps in your masonry and lead to drafts and overall higher cost to maintain the temperatures we have all grown accustomed to.

Get Your Toronto Home Tuckpointed or Repointed

Call Wilkens Masonry at 416 425 8055 or request a free estimate online. We will respond right away and have someone evaluate your masonry needs with a no obligation quote.

 

05
Jul
Hire quality masonry services in Toronto
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Hire quality masonry services in Toronto

Working with a professional masonry contractor for your home improvement needs comes with many benefits compared to when DIY. However, the process of choosing a reliable contractor can be a daunting task. That is why it is important to ensure you work with a professional masonry contractor from Wilkens Contracting to benefit from our services. From brick restoration and repair to professional masonry services, Wilkens Contracting should be your first choice in Toronto!

We have the expertise!

Involving professionals for your brick and stone projects ensures that they will put their expert skills into it. Sometimes an issue that appears to be minor like crumbling stone could actually be dangerous for your foundation and these repairs can be extremely risky if not done by professional hands. Moreover their vast knowledge on construction material and the years of experience are enough to keep your home safe from damages.

We are efficient!

Apart from work expertise, our professionals also save you money and time in the project. Trying to take up the task on your hand can be tough and time consuming for you. You would need proper training before gearing up for it. In contrast, our professionals will complete the task faster and also save your money on supplies and potential damages. We have connections in the industry which can help you get better deals on material required in the project!

Think of the resale value!

Shouldering the burden of a masonry work can be risky for you as it may cause further harm to your home instead of repairing it and this would ultimately decrease the value of it. On the other hand, appointing our experts to maintain and renovate your stone structures will give it a better appearance, which will be attractive to any interested buyer as well!

A variety of services!

With experienced masonry contractors, you can also enjoy other services. Whether you require joint repair, masonry restoration, structural stabilization, cast stone repair, concrete rehabilitation, and more, you can count on a good masonry contractor.

If you are looking to hire quality masonry services in Toronto, then Wilkens Contracting is just a phone call away! We would love to hear from you and talk about your project! Click here to find our contact information or to speak with a representative.

17
Nov
Wilkens Contracting and Masonry Repairs
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Wilkens Contracting and Masonry Repairs in Toronto

Here at Wilkens Contracting, we place emphasis on our relationship with our Toronto based clients when it comes to masonry repairs and all of their restoration needs. Fully licensed and insured, our company prides itself on our customer service.

Making sure your brickwork and masonry are structural sound is what we do best. Read on to learn how Wilkens Contracting can help you and your masonry needs!

Repairs and Restorations

Masonry refers to the building of structures using individual units, often bound together by mortar, and is a highly durable form of construction, as many structures throughout history have been built using this method. But all buildings need a touch up now and again to make sure the walls are structurally sound and performing their functions to the best of the materials’ abilities.

Missing, cracked, or broken mortar is not a repair you should take lightly. As mortar binds and protects the brick themselves, it is an essential aspect of a structure and must be given the respect and care it deserves. As part of masonry services, we focus on maintaining the integrity of this mortar, known as tuckpointing.

Whether you are looking for masonry repairs, brick restoration, or chimney and fireplace repairs and rebuilds in the Toronto area, Wilkens Contracting has you covered.

A Company for all Seasons

Our company understands local weather patterns and the elemental damage that comes with living in a country with four very distinct seasons. With over three decades of knowledge and experience in the Toronto area, you are in safe hands when you choose Wilkens Contracting to do all of your masonry repairs.

Testimonials

Much of our business is gained through repeat clients and their referrals, illustrating just how much Wilkens Contracting focuses on satisfying all of our customers’ needs. Not only do we get the job done right, but we also do it in a timely and friendly manner. We take our clients through a step by step process of their repair so they can understand everything we are doing and why.

But don’t just take our word for it, check out what our previous clients had to say about our workmanship and customer service. As a family-based company providing masonry repairs to the Toronto area, Wilkens Contracting can serve all of your restoration needs.

Give us a call at 416-425-8055, or contact us online to get the process underway!

12
Oct
Masonry Restoration with Wilkens Contracting
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Masonry Restoration at Wilkens Contracting

Wilkens Contracting sees the art and beauty behind perfectly executed masonry restoration. If you are in the Greater Toronto area and are looking for someone to repair your walls, fireplaces, or chimneys, look no further than Wilkens Contracting.

Read on to learn why Wilkens Contracting is leagues above the rest!

Centuries-Old Knowledge

Technological progression of stonework and architectural integrity is what has propelled humanity into the future. With a focus on building bigger, better, and stronger structures, our history is filled with buildings that have lasted generations. This is all thanks to the builders who spearheaded innovative stone techniques and dared to try new materials and architectural forms.

Here at Wilkens Contracting, we take the knowledge gathered through centuries of masonry work and use it in our twenty-first-century jobs to produce the highest quality stonework our clients can be proud of.

Tuckpointing

Here at Wilkens Contracting tuckpointing is just one of the masonry restoration projects we can undertake. Tuckpointing is most often used for aesthetic repairs and maintenance when the bricks begin to spall (crumble and break apart on the surface).  We focus on evening out the mortar joints of older brickwork to give an even and unified look to the structure.

Our masons tint the mortar before applying directly to the joints, so the new material can blend evenly with the existing colours and shadowing. By doing it this way, Wilkens Contracting will leave your brickwork looking seamlessly vibrant so you won’t have to worry about the eyesore of patchwork or mismatched bricks. Take a look at all of our tuckpointing testimonials from our previous satisfied clients.

Renovations

Wilkens Contracting also offers other types of masonry restoration. We can create new openings in your walls for all of your renovation projects, whether they are window size, door size, or any size in between. Our company can also resize openings to fit new frames.

Our masons have access to many types of antique bricks, so we can easily match the materials used on many older structures in Toronto, so you won’t have to worry about any unsightly repairs. Have a look at our photo gallery to see the seamless work with your own eyes!

Wilkens Contracting brings that knowledge and understanding to every one of our masonry restoration jobs. We see the beauty in perfectly executed masonry. Our company takes pride in the work we do, and we want you to take pride in it with us.

Contact us online and fill out our free estimation form to get your restorations underway!

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