Everything You Need To Know About Fireplace Restoration

Fireplaces are the places that provide warmth and cosiness in your living area. It keeps you active and fresh during the cold winters. It is a place where you can have a drink with your guest and spend quality time with your family. Existing from the ancient times, Fireplace Construction in Melbourne is popular and the must feature while constructing or renovating homes.

But like everything, fireplaces tend to get old and cause problems, especially if your home is aged. But is it beneficial for you to reconstruct your whole fireplace? The answer is yes. It decreases your electricity bill in winter as you don't have to use artificial heating procedures. With fireplaces providing necessary warmth, you can enjoy natural heat which is soothing to your body.

However, you need to reconstruct it safely (take help from professionals) to avoid fire hazards. Not only it is appealing to your home, but it also adds value when you want to sell it to potential buyers.

When Is Fireplace Restoration Needed?

You might overlook or ignore the damages that are occurring to your fireplace. The worst consequence is it can stop working completely or can cause fire damage to your building. To avoid these incidents, you should continuously monitor your fireplace.

• If you are getting fire problems due to the fireplace, then it's the first hint that it should be restored.

• Inspect the fireplace for any chips, cracks, obstructions or any other potential problems. If you find any, then it's time for you to restore it.

• See if your fireplace is looking outdated to the rest of your home decor, it's better to reconstruct it to match it with your present home's style and architecture.

• Check your chimney whether it's in slanting position or leaning unnecessarily. If you find any disorder, then it's time to reconstruct your Fireplaces in Melbourne.

Restoring the fireplace is a popular choice for people in Melbourne while planning home renovations. There is an extensive range of materials you can consider for restoration, like marble, stone, limestone, granite, red bricks and quartz. By getting the professional guidance in choosing the right material, you can restore the fireplace within your affordable budget.

Things You Need To Know About Brick Repointing

The building, houses and walls construction widely involves the use of bricks and stones. They are hardy material and can withstand wear and tear for long. However, the material which holds them together may not be that strong. Mortar is the uniting link between the structural materials which require regular attention to keep any structure healthy. Mortar is often known as pointing, and it needs to be repaired periodically to keep any building strong. The process of repair is also known as Brick Repointing.

What are the benefits of brick repointing?

Brick repointing is important for all kind of structures, whether it is a commercial building, heritage, landmark or home. It offers a variety of benefits such as it helps in the conservation of heritage building without damaging the originality of the structure. It preserves the buildings in its natural form without altering its visual appeal, while for home and commercial spaces, brick repointing adds aesthetic value. It enhances the overall appearance and transforms it from an old run down space to brand new look. This offers you better returns over investment by enhancing the resale value or the property.

Why brick repointing and blockwork is crucial?

Bricks and stones are strong and most durable material for any structure. However, mortar which keeps them together may not last for long. The harsh environmental conditions like air, rain, heat, physical stress and other factors erode mortar over time.  Weak mortar leads to the formation of deep cracks and poor joints, which if left unrepaired, can lead to a vulnerable structure. Thus, it is important to consider brick repointing and blockwork.

Why hiring professionals is necessary?

Repairing the torn out mortar is a tedious task which requires expertise and advanced tools. Professional service providers are equipped with the latest technology and have the best man at work. Their experts have years of experience and can handle even severe damage with great ease. Moreover, they are responsible for the quality work due to the credibility associated with the company name. This assures that you get only the best services no matter what.

R & K Bricklaying is well known for providing quality brick repointing and blockwork service across Victoria. We are in the industry for 25 years and guarantee you only reliable and reputable services. To know more about our services, call us on 0419 801 823.

Several Important Benefits of Brick Repointing

Maintaining the integrity and the physical appearance of a building’s framework is highly essential. If water is entered and penetrated in your brickwork; it can cause significant damage, deterioration and will result in the building structure losing value.

Though your home’s brickwork is a very visible part of your property, you might still fail to notice that it’s time to have your brickwork re-pointed. Brick repointing is one of the most effective ways of restoring the physical appearance and the condition of the building structure. Moreover, it plays an essential part in the overall building maintenance. Let’s take a deeper look at some of the major advantages of brick pointing.

1. It Helps Protect The Surface Area

Did you know that as per the Homebuilding & Renovating reports; mortar alone can compromise about 15% of the brickwork’s surface area. Thus, the standard of the mortar can have a significant impact on the overall quality of the wall.

Repointing can be a crucial procedure for helping to keep the quality intact – because the mortar age more quickly than the bricks. This is a sign of the mortar’s softness that protects the bricks from the worst effects of erosion and weathering.

2. Enhance Aesthetic Appeal

Your brickwork definitely needs to good look. However, sloppily applied brickwork can stain the look of your walls even if the actual bricks are in isolation, visibly immaculate. The kind of inept application can too easily happen if, for instance, the mortar is spread across the bricks or too much mortar is used. However, repointing done well is capable of giving your elevation allure in both its shadow and texture.

3. Prevent Leaks And Damp

There’s an obvious inconvenience to having to keep leaving out buckets to catch water that drips from a leaky ceiling or seeing damp patches forming on a wall. However, repointing can assist you in preventing both of those problems, as mortar issues could be to blame for them.

If leaks and damp are constant problems in your residence, you might think of other possible causes; however, we would urge you not to overlook the extent to which repointing might be able to help.

4. Preserving the Structure’s Integrity

Residents of Melbourne are aware of how harsh the local weather can be. Hence, it can wreak havoc on the standard of your home’s existing pointing. If that does occur, then there may, over time, be the necessity of repointing to protect the brickwork’s structural integrity

5. Enhance Shelf Life

If you do deem that your brickwork requires repointing, you can rest assured that, after this repointing has taken place, the house probably won’t need it again for decades. In fact, a properly completed repointing job should have effects that could last as long as 50 or 60 years.

Besides, exterior walls one of the famous applications of brick Repointing is the restoration of the fireplace in Melbourne.

Still unsure whether your house truly needs brickwork repointing? Get in touch R & K Fuchshofer  We can inspect the brickwork at free of cost. We specialise in brick repointing for exteriors and fireplaces in Melbourne. With extensive years of experience and in-depth industry knowledge, you can rest assured to get the work done in the highest possible manner. Call us to arrange an appointment!

Blockwork vs. Brickwork – Which is the best construction material?

Traditionally, bricks or blocks are used to build the residential properties. But, the choice of which one to use essentially depends on the client’s needs, budget and other factors. Both bricks and blocks are the durable construction material. In both the process, evenly shaped units are laid with the mortar and the binding material.

Let’s have a deeper look at the blocks and bricks.

Brick Construction:

Bricks are the solid unit which is commonly made from concrete, clay, shale, slate, store or calcium silicate. It is made by mixing with sand and water and pressing it into steel moulds. These moulds are later heated at the temperature of 1000°C which strengthens the bricks.

Bricks are great insulators. When laid by a professional and skilled bricklayer, it can aid into energy savings and enhances the comfort of the occupants.

Pros:

• Can withstand high-temperature and provide protection to the structures

• Better sound performance and can hinder the sound from outside

• Offers lower utility expense and keep the home cooler in spring and warm in winter

Cons:

• Extreme climate can degrade the surface due to frost damage

• It adds a significant amount of weight to the establishment. It expands the stress of the establishment

• If the part of the brick wall seems to be damaged, it can’t be repaired. You need to uproot the whole wall which can be a costly affair.

Blockwork:

Blocks are usually produced using concrete and are bigger in size, as compared to brick. Generally, blockwork is used as the part of the interior and exterior applications or auxiliary of the building. Though, blockwork is more expensive as compared to bricks. People who want to build a house in a short duration, opt for blockwork. One block is equivalent to four bricks which reduces the laying time.

Pros:

• Made from sustainable materials that are recyclable, blocks are environment-friendly. 

• As compared to bricks, blockwork is light offering more flexibility, durability and functionality. 

• Concrete blocks are better in enduring earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. 

• Blocks have higher density, thus providing better soundproofing solutions

Cons:

• They are not insulated 

• It is vulnerable to termites and flame

• They don’t provide insulation

Brick vs. Block debate is a very close one. However, it depends a lot on the place, situation and budget. Many prefer to hire professional bricklayers for brick masonry construction as such structures demand less maintenance. While on the other hand, some people prefer less construction cost and regular renovations to keep the blockwork well maintained.

If you are looking for the professional bricklayers of the blockwork specialist in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs, R & K Fuchshofer Bricklaying Services Pty. Ltd. is the perfect destination for you!

Why You Should Construct Fireplaces in Your Home?

When you think about fireplaces then first that comes to your mind is the feeling of warmness. That is one of the greatest benefits of constructing a fireplace in your Melbourne property which moves the thermometer in a positive direction. But there is much more to fireplaces in Melbourne than just providing heat.

Advantages of Constructing Fireplaces:-

Generally, many Melbournians look for fireplaces, while searching for your new home. It adds extra comfort and an extra touch to the overall architectural vitality to the entire house. Besides this, there are other extra benefits of constructing a fireplace in your home including:-

• less energy consumption

If you are living in an area of Melbourne where the climate is really cold, then all you need is the feeling of warmness. Having a fireplace in your home with a properly lined chimney is the best. It is renowned to be energy efficient as it will don’t reflect on your energy bill.

• Makes the environment comfortable

Walking into the home where there is lit fireplace is what every individual desire. It will create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your home. Also, fireplaces are often the cheerful places to gather around with friends and family.

• Improves your interior design

It is fact that no other heating appliances provide the kind of cost warmth which you can only get from the fire. If you have an open space to lit up the fire, then must construct fireplace in Melbourne and enjoy countless other favourite indoor activities.

• Increased home value

Owning a fireplace in your home can improve the overall look and feel. There are many individuals who actually, give more money for a house if it contains a fireplace. This way it also increases the value of your property and provides you with more money.

Enhance the Look And Feel of Your Home with Fireplaces

Whether you want to enhance the overall look of your home or save the utility costs, fireplaces in Melbourne is the best option. Looking for the professional help to construct or restore your commercial and residential fireplaces? R&K Bricklaying is the ultimate destination. Contact at 0419 801 823 and make your fireplaces everlasting.

How Bricklayers Can Help Improve The Condition Of Your Property?

Bricklayers in Melbourne lay bricks, stone and concrete blocks materials for constructing arches, repair walls, chimneys, fireplaces and other structures in accordance to specifications and blueprints. Bricklayers may be installing firebrick in industrial and commercial incinerators and furnaces.

The duties of a Bricklayer include:

• Laying bricks, stone and other materials for building commercial fireplaces, chimneys, walls, patios and walkways

• Laying firebricks which can be used for industrial chimney lining and smokestacks

• Trimming and cutting the bricks using power and hand tools

• Lining furnaces and boilers using bricks that are accident resistant

• Painting, cleaning or restoring brick structures

• Interpreting and reading blueprints and sketches

Bricklayers generally work on residential and commercial projects. A bricklayer has a continuing relationship for working professionally to meet the requirements of customers, maintain and grow business. They work internally and externally including homes of customers and on building sites, in all weather conditions or small and major projects. Bricklayers may work at heights and outdoors. At times they can be found working in tunnels and shafts.

There are 4 major ways to use bricks to make walls including:

• Brick Veneer

• Reverse Brick Veneer

• Double Brick

• Solid Brick

The major factors which need to be considered when preparing a wall include:

• Appearance

• Structural Capability

• Thermal Mass

• Toxicity And Breathability

• Fire Resistance

• Vermin Resistance

• Durability And Moisture Resistance

R&K Bricklaying provides the best and most affordable bricklaying service in Melbourne. With long term experience in the field of bricklaying we offer services of only the highest standards. We provide comprehensive services ranging from labour to material provision. If you want to know more about our expert services then please call us now at 0419 801 823.

Steps on How to Repoint an Existing Blockwork in Your House!

Due to changing weather conditions, wetting and freezing cycles, mortar joints can be eroded over a period of years. It majorly occurs in older buildings wherein the bricks and mortars are softer.

The mortar joints can be renewed or replaced by Brick repointing, which is the process of removing the damaged mortar and replacing it with the new mortar. This process isn't an easy job and it requires a professional with a high degree of knowledge, experience and skill about matching the new mortar with the original one.

Proper Time to Repoint

The need of repointing arises when existing mortar joints are either eroded when the mortar has shrunk away from the most of the edges of the brick. The major goal of brick repointing is to restore the brick to its original appearance.

Let us have a look at the and the repointing process of the blockwork:

Examine the structure:- 

Before starting any work, it is important that building owners examine the techniques used in the construction and the type of original mortar used. This helps in identifying the true problem with the construction and find out the causes of cracks and deterioration.

Construction Process:- 

1) Removing the old mortar: After you've examined the blockwork and the building, the next step is to cut away the old mortar. It should be done carefully so as to avoid any damage to any masonry units. After the cutting out of the old mortar the joints are cleaned by a brush and space is vacuumed. The remaining mortar is removed by a water jet.

2) Filling in the new mortar: The areas which have the deepest recession are filled first. Several layers of mortars are placed inside the recession and it is continued until the mortar is flushed with the masonry. The mortar needs to stay wet for a couple of days before setting.

R & K Bricklaying, with an experience of more than 20 years, is one of the renowned and established companies based in Victoria that takes care of all your home brick repointing needs. We make sure to offer you correct and friendly advice along with personal attention to details. 

Please feel free to call us today 0419 801 823 to avail all the blockwork services in Melbourne.