Tag Archives: masonry repair

21 Dec

Getting Ahead Of The Spring Masonry Rush

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Getting Ahead of the Spring Masonry Rush

It’s the holidays here in Ontario and it’s a time to be with family, eat lots of food and try and regenerate before the new year arrives. The last thing you want to think about is repairing your home. However, there is a big plus side to having a look around your home now, and finding a company who can slot you in first thing in the spring for some masonry repairs such as tuckpointing or repointing, brick replacement and chimney restoration.

Slow Season

The winter time is the “slow season” for most masonry restoration companies. Mortar requires certain temperatures to cure (chemically harden) properly, so most companies hibernate throughout the winter. This is the time that a company, such as Wilkens Masonry, would be more than happy to come and give you a free estimate. We can outline work to be done the moment we have a warm spell and spring has sprung.

Why the Rush?

When spring begins, and almost everyone performs their home inspection to see what they need to get done, Wilkens will be flooded with calls and all of a sudden find ourselves with a six to eight week backlog of jobs to deliver. This is a great problem to have for us, however we all know that once the weather starts getting warmer, and the weekend plans start piling up, the necessary repairs to your home can get forgotten and lost in the shuffle. All of a sudden you find yourself at the end of the year again trying to find someone to squeeze you in.

Give us a Call for a Free Estimate!

At Wilkens masonry, our estimates are always free. We serve the Toronto and Hamilton areas. We will come by and give you an honest assessment coupled with a fair price for the services we deliver. Also, if the scope of work is something we don’t cover, we can always point you in the right direction of a company that can service your needs.

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.

Mar

Creating Brick Openings For Windows and Doors

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New and Old Brick Openings

Old houses often need to have their windows upgraded, and brick openings are generally in need of updates to allow for new, modern, high-efficiency windows to be installed. Many older houses in Toronto, Hamilton and the GTA have brick arches above their windows which was the original way bricklayers would structure a wall to allow for support above the area where the bricks are absent. Nowadays, we use steel lintels to support the weight. They are much easier to install than brick arches and result in less trim work for the window installers to complete around the window after it has been installed. The arch is often considered more aesthetic as it has a traditional masonry look, but the clean and sharp lines of steel lintel-supported brick openings have a modern masonry appeal.

The Process

When altering a masonry opening on a house and changing the existing arch to a flat, steel lintel, the difficulty is in supporting the bricks above while you install the new support. We often use jack-posts and wedges which give us enough room to work. Once we have laid enough bricks on the lintel and the new mortar has hardened to offer support, we remove the posts and put on the finishing touches.

While some people want the brick arch to be recreated, which is something we can most definitely do, it takes quite a bit more time and, of course, more cost. We have to figure out a way to keep the original look but expand the arch further or contract it smaller so that the new window can fit seamlessly.

Working Together

At Wilkens, we have done both new brick-arched lintels and steel lintel installations hundreds of times and can be relied on to deliver the work you need to update your home and provide you with a sound and stable opening for your new windows.

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.

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.

Jun

Best Season For Masonry Repair In Toronto

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Best Season For Masonry Repair In Toronto

With summer quickly approaching, now is the time to think about the construction or repairs that your home is in dire need of. Have the long winter months of harsh snowstorms and onslaught of ice caused damage to your chimney? Maybe the melting snow caused water damage of your bricks that have created an aesthetically unappealing facade? Whatever the reason you are in need of high-quality masonry work, summer is the best season for masonry repair in Toronto. At Wilkens Contracting, our mission is to deliver nothing but the best brick repair services in the area! To learn more about our company, and how we can help you this upcoming summer season, take a look below.

Longer Days, Sunnier Skies

You might notice the copious amounts of road work and construction that takes place in the Toronto area, and across Ontario, when the warm months come sweeping in. The spring and summertime provide the best weather to complete construction and repair jobs successfully, on time and with beautiful results. As the nature of this job consists of being outdoors, the boon of longer daylight hours, clearer skies, and warmer weather that summer provides, means a more substantial amount of work can be completed in a day, providing faster results for you.

Why Hire Us?

As a fully licensed and insured family business, we strive to treat every customer as if they were a family member themselves. Our mission is to provide the highest quality services we can, ensuring that the job you hire us for is done on time and to your satisfaction. With over five decades of experience working in the Greater Toronto Area, we have the knowledge, skill, and expertise to facilitate repairs on chimneys, fireplaces, facades, and much more! We possess a vast inventory of bricks of all kinds, with mortar to match any colour used in Toronto homes, so our masonry repairs will seamlessly blend into your home’s aesthetic, showing no signs that you required repairs in the first place!

Schedule Today

With summer quickly approaching, now is the time to inquire about our free masonry estimates. With the best season for masonry repairs in Toronto upon us, secure our professional expertise before we become fully booked up! Whatever brick related services you require, we here at Wilkens Contracting can help!

Please click here to find our contact information online, and schedule your free estimate before it’s too late!

May

Masonry Repairs In Toronto

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Masonry Repairs In Toronto

Residents looking for quality masonry repairs in Toronto should consider enlisting the help of professionals to produce results you can be happy with. At Wilkens Contracting, we have decades of masonry experience under our belt, specific to the Greater Toronto Area too, meaning we know how to deal with local materials, and damage created from Canadian climates. With spring in the air, and the summer months ahead of us, now is the time to make sure your home’s masonry is in excellent condition, and if it’s not, to get the attention and care it needs to keep you in a structurally sound home. To learn more about what we can do for you here at Wilkens Contracting, please continue reading below.

Repairs, Restorations, And More

When it comes to masonry work, our company is well equipped to provide services for an array of issues. Whether your brickwork or stonework is falling apart, you have water damage that needs to be repaired, you are thinking about adding a new opening to your home, or you want to make sure the integrity of your structure stable and supported, we can help! We understand the local climate, and the type of weather and environmental damage it can cause to buildings in the area, and how to fix it. From revitalizing aesthetics to extending the life of the building material in question, we have the knowledge and know how to get any repair, restoration, or build project done right!

Satisfied Customers

Much of the business we get is gained through word of mouth of our highly satisfied customers. Many of our projects are from repeat customers and their referrals, illustrating just how much stock we put in building and maintaining positive relationships with our clients. Attentive customer care, transparent dealings, and communication are the pillars of our business, using our skills, knowledge, and experience gained through decades of working in the industry, to help all of our customers attain quality masonry repairs.

Contact Us Today

You don’t have to just take our word for it though, as our website is chock full of positive reviews and satisfied customers! So please feel free to continue to browse our website at your leisure, or contact us online or by phone to enlist our help right away!

We look forward to facilitating the repairs you need to keep your home in excellent condition for many years to come. Please click here to find our contact information online, and let us know how Wilkens Contracting can help with your masonry repairs in Toronto today!

Jan

Masonry Repairs Near Me

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Masonry Repairs Near Me

If your home, or office, is made out of brick or stone walls, at some point you will need access to a professional mason. This is especially true if you are located in Canada, as weather exposure and elemental damage of brickwork are far worse during the nation’s prolonged winter months. If you are not actively keeping an eye on the brickwork of your home, and the seasonal damage acquired, the structural integrity could be compromised, resulting in disastrous consequences. Therefore, it is essential to you and your home’s safety, to routinely look for damaged brickwork and enlist the proper help for repairs. Here at Wilkens Contracting, we provide professional and expert masonry repairs to the GTA and beyond.

Continue to read through this post to recognize the signs of repairs.

Bowed Bricks

Bowed, or bulging, bricks that can be seen in your outer wall is a significant sign of needed repair. If you notice that the bricks in your wall are jutting out, or caving in, there must be excess moisture behind the material. This water damage can cause more structural problems if not dealt with, so if you notice deformed bricks in your wall, now is the time to call us at Wilkens Contracting!

To deal with this water damage, our team would remove the affected bricks, assess the problem, replace the damaged bricks with new, matching bricks, and rebuild the section.

Stress Cracks

Although they sound much more dangerous than they are, stress cracks occur on a regular basis. A crack in your foundation, within 30 degrees of vertical, signifies natural expansion. Cracks should still be repaired by a professional as soon as you notice them. Even though they may not cause an immediate structural problem, if left alone, water can seep into the cracks causing more severe damage, like bulging bricks.

If you call Wilkens Contracting for your masonry repairs, we can quickly fix your stress cracks. Our team will colour match the repair as close as possible.

Listed above are just a few of the adverse effects Canadian weather can have on masonry work. If you fear that your brickwork has fallen into disrepair and you need a professional and expert mason to facilitate the repair, our team can help.

Contact Us

Wilkens Contracting offers professional and expert masonry repairs for those seeking help in the GTA. 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.

Oct

Masonry with Wilkens Contracting

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Masonry with Wilkens Contracting

At Wilkens Contracting, we take all of our masonry repairs seriously and give each client, and their homes, the care and attention they deserve. So if you live in the Greater Toronto Area and are in need of structural repairs, Wilkens Contracting is here for you!

Continue to read on to learn why Wilkens Contracting is one of the most trusted masonic contractors in the GTA!

Climate Consciousness

Having worked in Toronto for the whole of our existence, Wilkens Contracting understands the Canadian climate and the damage it can create on masonry construction. The country’s distinct four seasons can wreak havoc on brickwork, chimneys, fireplaces, and the like, especially in winter! We know what is needed to create structurally sound repairs and rebuilds that can withstand the volatile Canadian seasons.

Services

Wilkens Contracting can cover all of your masonry restorations in the GTA. Whether your chimney needs to be repaired or rebuilt, your fireplace refurbished or remodelled, or your bricks restored or tuckpointed, we are here for you!

Spalling damage is prominent in older buildings. This means that the brickwork and mortar are falling into disrepair, as the joints crumble and the bricks break apart, a building will become structurally unsound. When this happens, the masonry will need to be repaired, or even replaced, to keep the integrity of the structure. If you notice your brickwork is spalling, than contact us here at Wilkens Contracting, and we can bring your building back to its original condition, with our top of the line tuckpointing process.

Individual Care

Wilkens Contracting is a family run and family oriented company. This means we treat each of our clients like family. We will provide top of the line services, backed by over four decades of experience in the contracting industry, to all those who place their trust in our hands. Our masons are fully licensed and insured, and wholly knowledgeable about the industry so you can be sure you are getting the best of the best when you hire us!

Wilkens Contracting masonry testimonials speak for themselves, so have a look at what our previous clients have had to say! We look forward to adding you to our ever-growing list of satisfied customers.

Our company promises to provide all of our clients with the best services possible. We take pride in our friendly and open manner, and the knowledge and experience we have gained through our decades of existence. We will do everything in our power to complete your project on time and to the best of our ability.

So enlist the help of our masons here at Wilkens Contracting by giving us a call (416-425-8055), or contacting us online!

21

Dec