AMN Masonry

Looking to add a bit of flair to your home's exterior? Done with refurbishing the interior and want your curb to reflect some of that personality? When renovating your home, it’s important to make additions that complement the rest of your property so they don’t seem out of place. To make sure you make choices that augment your home elegantly, we've put together a list of simple ways to enhance curb appeal. Adaptable to quaint houses, expansive mansions, and everything in between, these tricks are bound to attract appreciation for passersby! 1.  Textured entrance Adding texture to your entrance is one of the quickest and easiest ways of upgrading your home’s curb appeal. Hanging plants, installing symmetrical lighting, and redoing the floor with tiles are just some tricks you can use to add oomph to your home’s exterior. Making these additions around the entrance instead of relying on a flat door and patio will give the space the depth it needs to look grand, r...

The curb appeal of your home can play a substantial role in determining the value of your property. Ninety-nine percent of NAR members  believe curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer. A great way to improve the aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space is by designing a beautiful walkway leading to your doorstep. Let’s talk about the planning considerations to design a beautiful walkway for your home. Are walkways and pathways the same? No. Let us walk  you through the difference (no pun intended).  Pathways are commonly built using natural materials like mulch. They’re around four to six feet wide. Walkways, on the other hand, are designed using solid hardscape material like concrete, stones, and pavers. They’re around two to three feet wide. Planning Considerations Home design The walkways should complement the exterior of your home. For instance, if your home exterior is built of bricks, you can choose a matching brown tint to create a harmonize...

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...