Services for Masonry in Wichita, KS

A handyman using a trowel to lay and spread mortar across a short brick wall during while providing services for masonry in Wichita, KS.

There is a reason why masonry began 7000 BC and is still in practice today. However, nobody would even think of building another Great Wall of China or a Colosseum. Back in the day, time and money were no issue and building something that would take a lifetime of longer did not pose any problem whatsoever. Our ancestors often used earth, stone, or brick-faced concrete to build empires, amphitheaters, or walls as defensive lines. Let’s not forget about the art of laying bricks and binding them together by mortar. Slaked lime and sticky rice were used 220 BC. Then, travertine limestone and volcanic ash in 70 AD. All those traditional methods are important, but there is more to modern masonry in Wichita, KS.

Unfinished attic with brick and wood

Many people that pursue a specific career in construction these days opt for the art of bricklaying and masonry. Wichita, KS property owners who appreciate traditional brick construction will likely want to have something similar on their properties.

Your local Wichita handyman experts at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area are experienced masons who take pride in their precision, patience, and craftsmanship. Our expert team doesn’t want this wonderful art to become less and less frequent or have brick veneer products take over the real show.

Although traditional brick homes are a common thing in Europe, you don’t necessarily need to build a brick home from the ground up. With our Wichita masonry services, you can request having only the front of your home’s siding equipped with a beautiful brick system or ask for a unique brick fence combined with wrought iron. There are endless possibilities with masonry!

Wichita Masonry Defined

When it comes to masonry, bricks, stones, and mortar typically come to mind and probably give you a slight European vibe as well. Whether it takes you back to Ancient Chinese or Roman days, brick is also useful in North America for those who are patient at building their own unique structures, whether it’s for their home’s siding, chimney, or outdoor fireplace.

There are several types of common Wichita masonry materials:

  • Brick (fire or acid also available)
  • Concrete blocks
  • Stone (or natural or manufactured)
  • Granite
  • Structural tile
  • Precast paneling

Brickwork and other types of masonry traditionally relied on the properties of mortar—the binding material that holds the entire unit together. Nowadays, additional bonding substances are used to create more resilience. Overall, the ingredients used to create mortar play a huge role. A huge part of Wichita masonry is defined by mortar’s important properties:

  • Workability: Some may talk about mortar workability, which is probably the most essential part of creating your mortar mix. Too much water or not enough could easily impact your overall construction process. Your local Wichita handyman, the bricklayer, brings enough professional experience to create the perfect workable mortar for brickwork.
  • Bonding: When referring to bonding in mortar, we’re looking at its adhesion strength, friction, and mechanical engagement between the mortar and masonry system.
  • Strength: There is a mathematical formula to calculate the compressive strength of mortar. But it suffices to know the three main categories of mortar, which are: Portland cement combined with lime, masonry cement, and mortar cement. Whichever category is chosen will determine the compressive strength for that specific structure you’re building.

Whether it’s for residential homes or commercial buildings, Wichita masonry projects can start from a foundation wall over a flashing layer or even as a replacement for existing siding. During the masonry installation on siding, there needs to be at least one inch of airspace between the sheathing paper and brickwork.

Lastly, there is another thing that defines masonry. Wichita, KS bricklayers at Mr. Handyman have received a specific certification and credentials that highlight their specific skills. Industry training, schooling, and work in the trades are what define our craftsmen’s skill and expertise.

HAS MASONRY BECOME LESS COMMON IN WICHITA?

There is one thing that often discourages people from choosing masonry. Wichita, KS property owners and our team at Mr. Handyman have talked about the price of creating fire bricks or cutting stone materials for building. From sourcing materials to intensive labor work, these are the main reasons why people tend to shy away from masonry. Wichita, KS residents want to build properties within four to six months rather than a year or two, which is fully understandable.

Most of our clients that have turned to Mr. Handyman about Wichita masonry services typically have an existing property, but they seek additions and enhancements that involve brick or stone masonry. Wichita, KS service technicians get a wide array of requests for corner bricks on siding, fireplaces, patios, and industrial brick partitions.

If anything, brickwork is coming back!

Wichita Masonry Installation Service

A crumbled and destroyed brick mailbox stand in the process of being rebuilt and the final results provided by Mr. Handyman’s masonry services.

We are proud to offer our quality masonry installation services to the local residents of Wichita and many surrounding areas, whether it’s to increase curb appeal by adding a cozy stone fireplace to your patio or installing a brick partition inside your home for increased insulation capabilities.

The main two materials we work with include:

  • Bricks: Burnt clay, sand lime, and engineered bricks are materials used in construction and manufacturing. Concrete or burnt clay brick units are pretty common for residential and commercial buildings, whereas sand lime and engineered materials are generally preferred for smaller structures in public environments.
  • Stone: Stone masonry is the most ancient type of masonry. Wichita, KS residents that appreciate stonework tend to install stone units as non-load-bearing, which means that the material is designed to carry only its own weight.

Whether you have a brick project, stone, or other challenging projects for which you require a trained professional, hire your local Wichita handyman to help you install the following masonry projects:

  • Siding
  • Walkways
  • Chimneys
  • Fireplaces
  • Arches
  • Wall partitions
  • Patios
  • Stairs
  • Fence posts
  • And much more!

SOLID CONCRETE VS. HOLLOW CONCRETE

Depending on your setting and budget, you can choose between solid and hollow concrete blocks. While solids are heavy and more expensive, you will greatly benefit from their high structural integrity, especially when planning to install load-bearing walls that support the weight of the floors.

On the other hand, hollow concrete blocks require steel reinforcement for stability. You may have heard of “reinforced concrete,” which is frequently found on public structures.

Overall, solid concrete is ideal for efficient small to medium structures, such as a pavement from your doorstep to the front gate. However, hollow concrete is ideal for institutional buildings like schools and churches because they are easy to manufacture, and, therefore, cost-effective.

Signs You Need Masonry Repair in Wichita, KS

If you have existing stone or brickwork that hasn’t received the maintenance it requires or has suffered damage from external forces, it will need immediate repair services. Often, it may not be easy to identify warning signs because you’re used to marveling at historic architectural buildings that have taken a beating for thousands of years. Unfortunately, if you have crumbly mortar or cracked bricks, you’ll need to call your Wichita handyman right away.

CRACKS:

Neither burnt clay nor concrete bricks can last forever without the necessary routine maintenance. Although Wichita masonry is designed to last for many years and can withstand harsh weather conditions, thermal expansion still has the ability to trigger cracks over the years. Reading the types of cracks may require a professional to determine the severity. For example, vertical corner cracks on brick siding indicate foundational problems caused by shifting soil and house settlement. The same can occur on concrete fencing and pavements.

When worried about your masonry, Wichita, KS property owners can call Mr. Handyman for a detailed inspection. Small damage is easily fixed with epoxy or polyurethane crack injection. Untreated cracks will only get worse and eventually allow water to trigger structural damage to your foundation.

MOISTURE DAMAGE

Cracks and holes will always invite unwanted moisture to penetrate the core of a structure and cause damage. To protect its structural integrity, our Wichita masonry services will help you identify small instances of moisture damage and stop them from becoming worse. Stormwater can deteriorate and weaken cement that already shows signs of wear and tear due to worn sealant on the surface.

FREEZE AND EXPAND

Untreated or unnoticed moisture damage within a brickwork unit could show in the midst of winter when moisture freezes inside the unit and swells. This is how large cracks occur after a long cold winter because it’s physically destroying the structure from the inside out.

SPALLING

Wichita masonry experts talk about spalling when pieces of concrete break and divide themselves from the substrate or solid body. Fragments fall off due to interior stress, damage and worn bonding. While it’s repairable, we recommend hiring a service technician to inspect the whole system from the inside out. This way, it’s easier to determine the most suitable repair method to recover the system’s original strength.

BULGING

If the bonding quality of the mortar deteriorates due to damage, it could lead to bowing bricks, where walls begin caving in at the specific trouble spot. During this type of masonry repair in Wichita KS, your technician would need to inspect the underlying problem by breaking down the affected area.

Stains

Ever noticed white sheen on your red brickwork? It’s naturally emitted from the mortar, cement, lime, sand, and clay used during the construction and becomes more visible after the rain. It may give the overall unit an appealing, industrial appearance. However, it needs to be cleaned before the calcite becomes harder to remove.

CRUMBLY MORTAR

One important routine maintenance job includes restoring mortar joints. Of course, that’s not easy to remember because it needs to be done once every 10 to 15 years, depending on how bad the weathering and decay is and how susceptible existing cracks are to water penetration. But mortar repacking is part of masonry. Wichita, KS handymen will make your mortar look good as new. Rely on our team of experts for efficient masonry repairs in Wichita KS.

WHAT CAUSES OF DAMAGE TO MASONRY?

Wichita, KS service technicians get this question a lot. The truth is that all materials used to build or construct a piece of architecture have a shelf life—some longer or shorter than others. Of course, it highly depends on the quality of work that you put in. Next, there is the climate and the severe weather conditions it brings.

From discoloration to cracking, it’s crucial to get damage fixed with professional masonry repair. Wichita, KS masons like those at Mr. Handyman have helped many property owners protect their structures with preventative maintenance and minor repair services.

Damage through Vegetation

It’s easy to blame your natural environment for causing damage to your masonry. Wichita, KS properties that are surrounded by nature may increase your curb appeal as long as you take the necessary measures in maintaining the exterior. Plants can access your masonry system via cracks and holes where they will continue to grow and cause interior problems. Also, if your brickwork falls victim to soil shifting or lateral pressure, severe damage can occur.

Mind the Seasons

Whether you had ice dam or roof problems over the winter, during the snowmelt season, you will be able to tell if anything has suffered from water damage. Extreme temperatures can lead to cracks in your mortar and make your brick system loose. It’s important to get it inspected to ensure there is no interior water damage.

Inefficient Maintenance

You would like to think that you have an indestructible system when installing masonry. Wichita, KS residents tend to take their fire bricks or concrete blocks for granted and forget to inspect their mortar after ten years. Red bricks also have a protective sealant that you need to re-apply every 10 to 15 years. Unsure how to maintain your Wichita masonry? Contact your local Wichita handyman for a detailed inspection. Chances are, it only needs minor repairs and perhaps some power washing.

Poor Installation or Repair

If you have hired an unlicensed mason in the past, that would explain the poor installation service, or repair jobs for that matter. Depending on what they have built, serious damage like a collapse could occur, which is highly dangerous if you have people near that structure. Efficient Wichita masonry requires precision and a sharp eye for detail and is not meant for uncertified builders or DIY projects.

Need New Masonry in Wichita, KS? Trust Mr. Handyman to Get It Done!

Whether you need chimney repair or mortar repair, trust our Wichita masonry team at Mr. Handyman of the Wichita Metro Area to restore the beauty of your natural stone with our array of services. We can even install new masonry features that will last for years and add to your property value.

We serve locals of Wichita and many nearby areas, such as Andover, Goddard, and Sedgwick. Grab your phone and contact us today to learn more about our dependable Wichita handyman services or to schedule an appointment for masonry service.

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