Home Masonry — Colliers Masonry

For most people a home is a big investment and most homeowners take care to maintain its value, and modify it according to visual preference and function. The masonry items of the home play a major role in maintaining its value and creating these modifications.

Function

The basement is a good place to start improving your home. Waterproofing could be a good start if you’ve got an older home. You might have plans to finish the basement and waterproofing will help protect that investment. We often waterproof homes, both from the outside by excavating, and from the inside with the installation of a sump pump. The sump pump will turn on and eject the water from underneath your floor once it reaches a certain height. A backwater valve is also a good idea in a basement to prevent a sewage backup and is often paired with the installation of a sump pump. Once the plumbing work has been completed, you might consider replacing the concrete floor to reduce dampness and provide a level surface to complete the finish work on. Homeowners typically don’t have underpinning completed in their basement unless they plan to create a basement apartment, as the cost is high compared to its benefit.

Moving upwards in your home, next is the main floor. Homeowners who are renovating the main floor may consider different improvements to their masonry items. Common items are creating new window and door openings and closing in the old ones. If you have deck or patio in the backyard, many homeowners have an opening cut for a double door to access the patio directly. Also, if you are changing the placement of the kitchen or bathroom, the window openings will need to be changed. Less common nowadays are fireplaces. John is an expert at installing wood burning fireplaces and gas fireplace surrounds, making them the beautiful showpiece of the home. However, gaining popularity are outdoor fireplaces and pizza ovens. Everybody loves having a fire in the fireplace, and an outdoor fireplace is a great way to have a place for fires, without having the smoke smell in your home.

Visual

The most effective way to modify your home for preference and function is around the outside of your home. Masonry items are essential to achieving this.

Commonly modified masonry items at the front of the house are driveways, front steps, stone veneers, and retaining walls. These items could be completed in a combination of interlock, concrete, and stone. Each having pros and cons, that when added with -the variability in houses, variability in individual preference, and variability in budget, create a diverse environment of residential masonry items.

At the rear and sides of the home, walkways, patios and garden beds are common items modified at each home. These items are long lasting, so can be extended and added to as the home matures.

There are endless possibilities for the masonry items of your home, which is part of the charm. They can allow you to make your home, your own.