BRICK AND STONE RESTORATION
Commercial Brick and Stone Restoration by AmeriSeal and Restoration
A commercial building is much more than the brick, stone and, mortar that is is composed from, its an investment into the future, an important asset and is the outward representation of your company to the public. Upkeep, planned maintenance, and occationaly unplanned maintanence are all required to keep your company building standing in this century, and on into the next.
When you have problem with your building's brick, stone, or concrete, AmeriSeal and Restoration is there for you! AmeriSeal and Restoration's brick and stone restoration professionals are experts with an eye for perfection. We have restored masonry all over Ohio, from Cincinnatti, to Columbus and onto Akron, Cleveland, and everywhere in between, we've been all over the state!
We are located in Akron and provide restoration services for brick and stone all across the State of Ohio. We operate on three principles for our work, Pride, Quality, and Customer Service. These three principles encompass everything that AmeriSeal and Restoration stands for: Pride in our workmanship, Quality and Customer service for our Clients.
AmeriSeal has done work on buildings and structures that you drive by every day, Check us out at Akron General Hospital in Downtown Akron, The Football Hall of Fame in Canton, and in Lorain making repairs to the Charles Berry bridge.
AmeriSeal Brick and Stone Specific Services
AmeriSeal and Restoration - We have worked across all of Ohio
What causes damage to Brick and Stone Masonry?
Water: The number one culprit of brick and stone damage is water, in any form, and its because brick, stone and concrete are actually porous. Water damage is common to brick, stone, (and concrete), so waterproofing of these surfaces is required upkeep for a long building life span.
- Damp spots - These form when areas of moisture are present that have no place to go and cannot escape the masonry, leading to bricks and stones that protrude out of or have sunken into the wall. It can also lead to water damage to the areas behind the masonry.
- The freeze-thaw cycle - It is a winter phenomenon that Northern Ohio sees frequently during the late fall and early spring months. It begins as water seeps into tiny cracks and pores in the brick and stone work during the daytime, when its warmer. At night the temperature drops and ice forms in the gaps, chipping and popping off parts of the brick and stone. This is also seen in concrete and referred to as 'scaling'. It is one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, for waterproofing your masonry and concrete regularly.
- Evaporation leading to efflorescence - This happens when water that has mixed with salts for deicing, has soaked up into a brick, stone, or concrete slab, evaporated, and left behind the salt. This is more of an eyesore than a direct cause of damage, but it provides evidence of water entering your brick and stonework, which may require waterproofing because water can cause deeper structural damage behind the masonry.
Age: Time is the destroyer of all things, but proper maintenance and care of damaged areas will keep a building standing tall against the test of time.
- Mortar Deterioration - This happens over time as the building endures the elements, the mortar takes the brunt of the damage, being softer than the brick and stone it supports. Micro-cracking will appear and as water gets into the mortar cracks, it will cause more damage, discoloration, and loosening of the bond to the stone. Eventually the brick or stone will not be supported at all by the mortar and the wall may become unstable in parts. Mortar usually has a long lifespan of between 20 and 30 years, but will need to be replaced as time passes and cracking begins.
- Cracks in the stone or brick - Cracks form over time due to expansion and contraction of the brick or stone with high or low temperatures, and this leaves the brick open to water damage. In the warmer months the brick expands, and during the winter months it contracts. Wide vertical cracking and lower horizontal cracking are two dangerous signs that need to be inspected and taken care of by a masonry expert ASAP.
- Settling - Dirt settles over time and becomes a problem when uneven setting occurs. This leads to a very unique cracking in brick that looks like stairs. It is a crack that steps up or down, then horizontally, then up or down again, repeated. This can lead to vulnerabilities in the structure, and eventual collapse. The foundation of the wall must be built up back to level, and the mortar repointed.
Temperature: works hand-in-hand with water damage, temperature is responsible for:
- The Freeze-Thaw Cycle - Mentioned above, it is a vicious cycle of water entering stone and brick, freezing, and causing micro-cracks to become larger and larger as more water is able to enter the crack and refreeze. It is a very real cause of damage, found more in Northern Ohio where temperatures drop more dramatically than in the southern parts of the state.
- Scaling - Seen often in natural stone that is not waterproofed, scaling is damaged caused when water is able to get under the surface of the slab and pop off thin chunks, leaving a scar on the surface that looks a bit like fish scales. This is a noticeable type of damage that is only caused by unsealed stone (and concrete!) being damaged by the freeze-thaw cycle. It is damage that is entirely preventable with regular sealing services by Ameriseal and Restoration.
- Spalling - Spalling in stone happens when fragments are broken off of the main body or slab due to water absorption inside of the stone. It is similar to scaling, but spalling occurs further within and causes larger areas to break off, leaving a chipping or flaking scar that appears as if the stone is peeling apart.
Restoration is always more economical than replacement
It is always a more economical option to fix a small problem area than to replace, and this is the approach AmeriSeal and Restoration takes with our restoration services for brick and stone. Providing only the services that the client needs is part of our Quality and Customer Service principles, we won't upsell or repair anything that isn't broken!
Often it is not needed to replace the entire facade, wall, or decorative masonry if the problem is caught and taken care of in a timely manner. It is when a problem area is allowed to grow into a bigger issue, that costs rise and much more work is required to restore the area. For this reason we encourage those with property and buildings to invest into preventative maintenance, it will save on costs in the future!
Choose AmeriSeal and Restoration for your Brick and Stone Maintenance Needs
We have been chosen to work on and for many institutions in Ohio, landmarks like the Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio, Stark State College, Port Clinton Bridge, Summa Akron City Hospital and Akron General Hospital located in downtown Akron, Historic locations like Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens Museum, and the Operating Engineers Union Hall in Cleveland Ohio.
We thank these prestigious locations for choosing us and assure you that AmeriSeal and Restoration puts the same work ethic into all of our projects. Restore your brick and stone back to new with AmeriSeal.
Call 330-794-8040 to schedule a free quote!
Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm; Closed Weekends