Masonry and Exterior Repair – Siding Windows Doors

Tuckpointing and Masonry Contractors: Finding the Best Professionals in Chicago for Summer 2023

Introduction: As the summer of 2023 approaches, homeowners and property managers are gearing up for necessary maintenance and repair work. Tuckpointing, a crucial process for maintaining masonry structures in Chicago, requires skilled professionals. In this blog post, we will explore the significance of tuckpointing, the role of masonry contractors, and provide valuable tips on finding the best contractors for your project.

Understanding Tuckpointing: Tuckpointing is a specialized technique used to repair deteriorating mortar joints in masonry structures. Over time, mortar can crack, crumble, or become damaged due to weathering, age, or structural shifts. Tuckpointing involves the careful removal of damaged mortar and the replacement with fresh mortar, enhancing both the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the masonry. Hiring a skilled masonry contractor ensures that tuckpointing is executed effectively, preserving the longevity and appearance of your property.
The Importance of Masonry Contractors: Masonry contractors in Chicago play a vital role in maintaining and restoring masonry structures. These professionals possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to handle tuckpointing projects with precision. They understand the specific requirements of different types of masonry, such as brick, stone, or concrete, and can identify the underlying issues causing mortar deterioration. A reputable contractor will assess the condition of the masonry, offer expert advice, and provide a comprehensive plan to restore and protect your property.
Tips for Finding the Best Masonry Contractors:

a. Research and Referrals: Start by conducting thorough research online, looking for masonry contractors with positive reviews and testimonials. Seek recommendations from friends, family, or neighbors who have recently had masonry work done.

b. Experience and Expertise: Look for contractors with extensive experience in tuckpointing and masonry restoration. Ensure they are licensed, insured, and knowledgeable about local building codes and regulations.

c. Portfolio and References: Ask for a portfolio of their previous work to assess the quality and craftsmanship. Request references and contact them to gauge client satisfaction and the contractor’s reliability.

d. Written Estimates: Obtain written estimates from multiple contractors, detailing the scope of work, materials, timeline, and cost. Compare these estimates to make an informed decision.

e. Communication and Professionalism: A reputable contractor should communicate clearly, be responsive to your queries, and maintain professionalism throughout the project.

f. Contracts and Warranties: Before finalizing an agreement, ensure that all terms, warranties, and guarantees are documented in a written contract to protect both parties.

Conclusion: Tuckpointing is a crucial maintenance task for masonry structures, and hiring the right contractor is essential for a successful project. By understanding the significance of tuckpointing, recognizing the role of masonry contractors, and following these tips, you can find the best professionals to ensure your property is restored to its former glory for summer 2023 and beyond.

Provided by https://mtmasonrychicago.com/

Out with the Old and In with the New: How to Replace Broken Vinyl Siding

Accidents happen – and they can happen to your vinyl siding. It only takes one newly-licensed driver getting too close to the house, a solid home-run hit that didn’t quite make it into the field, or a hit from a wild windstorm to ruin your vinyl siding. Unless you were hit by a tornado, hurricane or earthquake, you don’t need to re-side your entire house. Just replace the piece or pieces of vinyl siding that are damaged.

If you know how to use a hammer and nail, you can learn how to replace a broken piece of vinyl siding using simple tools. Your biggest challenge will be to not break or damage other pieces of siding in the process. It’s not as easy as gluing on a piece of vinyl siding to cover a crack, but by using a prybar and an inexpensive tool called a “zip tool” it’s easy enough for a beginner.

A zip tool is made specifically for removing and installing vinyl siding. Any hardware or lumber store that sells vinyl siding will likely sell zip tools. It’s an easy-to-use lightweight hand tool made up of a handle and a flat square hook. You’re going to use the zip tool to unlock the good vinyl siding piece from the bad vinyl siding piece.

First, look at the overlapping vinyl pieces and find the edge where a good piece of siding overlaps the top of the broken piece of siding. Put the zip tool, hook side up, between the edges. Use the tool to carefully lift the bottom of the top piece of siding to uncover the top of the broken piece. Don’t pry too hard or you might break the vinyl. Slide the tool along the interlocking edges and unlock the two pieces.

Once the edges are loosened from each other, carefully lift up the top piece to expose the J-channel. A “J-channel” is a long thin piece of vinyl (or metal) with holes in it. Your broken piece of vinyl will be nailed into the wall through the J-channel. Don’t bend the top piece of vinyl too far or it will break and you’ll have more work to do. You can now see where your broken piece of vinyl siding is nailed in through the J-channel on the wall.

Your next objective is to take the nails out of the J-channel and the wall so you can remove the broken piece of vinyl. You will not be able to fit a hammer between the two pieces of vinyl to get the nails out, so use the flat end of a pry bar. If the prybar is going to hit nearby pieces of healthy siding, put a piece of wood underneath the prybar to protect the siding.

Once the nails are out, remove the damaged piece of vinyl siding. You might have to jiggle it or pull it up or down to loosen it. You can then nail on the new piece of siding. Do not use the same holes as the old one, and make sure you drive the nails in straight and not at an angle. You will likely have to use the pry bar to hammer in the nails as well. You do this by hammering on the neck of the prybar holding the nail.

Once the replacement piece is nailed in, use the zip tool to refasten the two pieces of vinyl siding. Put the zip tool inside the edging again and pull the old strip out and over the edge of the new strip. Once you pull the edging out and over, press your hand against the zip tool to lock the vinyl edges into place. Keep sliding the tool along the edging repeating the process until it’s all locked into place.

Your siding should be as good as new. Your teenage driver will eventually stop hitting the house, and the home-run hitter will eventually grow up and make the major leagues – but you can’t stop mother nature from damaging your vinyl siding. Keep some extra pieces of siding around, and keep your prybar and zip tool handy. You never know what’s going to fly your way, but you can be sure that you’ll be able to repair the aftermath of the collision.

Repair Your Aluminum Siding Damage with a Replacement Piece

Unless you live in the middle of a desert, your aluminum-sided house is not immune to damage. (Even if you live in a desert your home would not be immune to rolling cacti and sandstorms.) Storms knock poles and gutters down, trees fall over, and rolling objects roll on a course to collision. As durable as aluminum siding is, there may be a time when a piece of siding has to be replaced. A strong arm, a good knife and some roofing cement can help you do the job.

Look at the damage and your cutting skills and ask yourself if it will be easier to replace a whole piece, or to cut off just the damaged area. Replacing the whole piece will leave a seamless finish compared to replacing a part of a whole piece of siding.

If you decide to replace a whole piece, start with cutting the damaged piece of siding lengthwise, horizontally, removing the bottom and leaving the top. The top part will be used to glue the replacement on. If your aluminum siding is the type that simulates a double row of siding, start your slicing about one inch over the center line. If you want to cut out just the section that is damaged, start with vertical cuts, approximately 12 inches from the outer side edges of the piece of siding. Then slice horizontally between cuts.

After you cut the damaged siding, you’re going to cut your new piece of siding. First, make sure that the new replacement piece of siding extends three inches beyond the ends of the damaged siding. If you’re cutting out a smaller section, make sure the new piece extends six inches. Take that piece of siding and cut off the upper edge that has slots in it.

Now it’s time for the sticky part. Get some roofing cement or adhesive caulking compound and spread a good gooey amount over the piece of cut siding that is still on the house, and spread it on the ends of the siding panel that is on the house next to the spot where the replacement piece will be put on. Take your new siding piece, with the slots cut off, align it and press it on to the cement or caulk. Make sure the new replacement siding has the top cut edge snug behind the lower edge of the overlapping siding that hangs over it. The lower edge of the new piece of aluminum siding should be over the top edge of the piece below it. Press down on the siding to get the adhesive to spread and stick. The cement will be enough to secure the new siding, but you can tighten things up by adding some blind rivets – which work just like screws.

Aluminum siding is thin enough to allow repairs to appear inconspicuous. Replacing a piece of aluminum siding is often easier than trying to bust out some dents and grooves. If you can cut through thin metal, it’s a job you can do yourself. Whether it’s a rolling cactus or a hailing rain storm that threatens your siding, you’ll be able to keep your house standing tall and looking damage-free with a quick replacement piece that’s ready to take on another falling tree.