AMN Masonry

If you want to avoid spending on unnecessary repairs, check for water leaks in your walls immediately. The damage caused by water leaks can make excessive moisture spread throughout and worsen the situation ten-fold. It’s better to catch the source of water damage immediately to curtail the extent of the damage. What is Water Damage? Concealed plumbing pipes can burst due to several reasons  and cause water to leak into the structure. Hidden plumbing leaks behind walls can be difficult to identify and cause severe structural damage. The moisture gets absorbed in ceilings, flooring and drywall, as well as wooden structures and sheetrock. Even a slow leak can effectuate large-scale damage that needs expensive restoration. Here are some signs of water damage that can alert you early on. Early Signs of Water Damage ·  Musty odor: If you can smell something moist and musty, it’s probably a sign of mold growth due to moisture. ·  Visible signs of mold: Mold g...

According to the Insurance Information Institute , winter storms caused nearly $4.2 billion worth in damages  in 2018. When most people think of winter storm damage, they envision homes buried in snow and people slipping on ice. But the truth is that there are some far more potent threats that a winter storm poses. What are some common types of storm damage? Before we move on to talking about how to handle storm damage, let’s talk about the many types of storm damage, namely: ·  Flooding: Cold weather can cause the water in your home’s pipes to freeze. This exerts pressure on the pipe wall. As a result, the pipes could burst, causing flooding in the walls and other areas of your house. ·  Fires: It’s hard to imagine fires during a winter storm, but they’re quite common. Unguarded fireplaces and flammable equipment placed near overloaded circuits can cause mass fires that result in a lot of damage. ·  Cracks in Siding: Fast wind speeds—accompanied by ...

If your property has been damaged by fire, flood, or some other type of disaster, it’s imperative to have it restored promptly and properly. Exposure to moisture  and extreme temperatures  can cause extensive damage to concrete foundations, which can weaken the structural integrity of the building.   When it comes to building restoration, you need a contractor who has the experience, tools, and techniques needed to get the job done right. Choosing the wrong contractor can lead to costly delays or shoddy work that results in safety issues. While there’s no rocket science involved in selecting a restoration contractor, it’s not a decision you should rush into either. Knowing how to assess and evaluate different contractors is extremely important. Here are three tips on making your search successful. Hire a Restoration Specialist In your search for the right contractor, you’ll come across many companies offering “handyman” and “cleanup” services who’ll claim they ...

If you’ve ever needed brick or stone work done on your property, you probably know what an arduous task it can be to find a suitable masonry contractor. You’ll come across many people who’ll claim to provide you the desired results with their masonry work. However, hiring a residential or commercial restoration contractor just on the basis of their claims and promises isn’t such a great idea. If the work is completed and the results are not up to your expectations, then there isn’t much you can do apart from regretting your decision. That is why proper screening is vital before you select a masonry contractor. Getting the answers to the following questions will give you a good indication of how capable and professional a masonry contractor is. Are You Licensed and Certified? The first question you should ask a masonry contractor is whether they’re licensed and certified. Having the right certifications and license is an assurance of safety. It proves that the contractor is ...

While masonry materials can withstand centuries of use, there are some things that can cause them major damage and leave them weak and flakey. This damage if left unaddressed can cause all sorts of problem for you as a homeowner, varying from leaks to the more extreme crumbling walls.   Most masonry-related issues encountered in brick homes and other masonry buildings are caused by a phenomenon known as upheaval. This is when the soil surrounding your home expands, exerting excess pressure on your masonry-built basement walls. Since masonry materials are non-malleable, they develop structural stress in response to the exerted pressure, which causes your basement walls (and your home envelope in general) to crack, bow and ultimately fail. In Massachusetts, foundation upheaval is especially common because of the abundant precipitation we experience here.   But short of a wall caving in, how can you determine when your building needs an inspection from a masonry ser...

Brick chimneys are built to last long; however, they aren’t indestructible. Over time, usage and weather can take their toll on these seemingly invincible structures and make them look ordinary in terms of strength and durability. That’s where you need to step in, and make sure your damaged dear fireplace is tended to as soon as possible, to reward it for all those days and nights when it kept you and your family warm and cozy despite the frigid temperatures outside.   But how do you identify if there’s a problem with your chimney and if it needs repairs?   Here are three obvious signs that indicate a brick chimney needs urgent repairs. Imperfect Mortar Joints The mortar is what holds your chimney together, and should even a minor crack develop in the mortar joints between the masonry of your chimney, it could compromise the structural integrity of your entire chimney. Damaged Chimney Crown The chimney crown is the concrete slab that covers and seals the top o...

Here, in Boston, we use concrete to build just about everything. From home foundations and home floors to driveways and patios, concrete forms an integral building component of our cozy Boston homes.    Though concrete is strong and durable, it is constantly exposed to the harsh Boston elements, which means that over time it tends to wear down. In order to ensure that the concrete installation at your home continues to work the way it was designed to work, you need to be aware of the signs of wear. By knowing these signs you can tell when your concrete is in need of repair and make arrangements as such. Following are the three main signs of concrete wear as provided by professional concrete contractors : Presence of cracks Cracks in concrete can be caused by various factors depending on the type and location of the concrete installation. For instance, cracks on a driveway are often the result of featured contraction and expansion of the ground beneath. In walls ...