FAQs About Rock Restoration & Masonry Repair

Masonry is a specialized skill in the art of building structures out of stone and concrete bound together with mortar. Masonry restoration is a large-scale project that involves detailed, careful repair and rebuilding of existing masonry structures. For instance, if you have an old, crumbling chimney that needs more than just basic chimney repair, you may need a masonry restoration specialist.

When you call our team of masonry specialists, we will begin with a comprehensive evaluation of the age, condition, safety, and stability of your masonry structures. We will assess the materials and techniques used and determine the best repair method to maintain the structure’s value, beauty, safety, and integrity. We are highly skilled and experienced in crack stitching, anchor socks, heli beams, underpinning, screw piles, resin ground injections, and more.

In some cases, the damage is far too extensive for rock or masonry repair. We can attempt rock restoration if the structural integrity is sound and there are enough intact, undamaged rocks to support our efforts. Otherwise, we will need to replace the rock. If we don’t, cracks will expand further, the rocks will crumble, and the entire structure will come down.

It helps to be aware of the signs you need tuckpointing or rock restoration services. This way, you can call us early enough that the repairs won’t be as extensive or expensive. In general, you should consider tuckpointing every 25-30 years; however, certain factors will increase wear and tear, accelerating damage and degradation. Watch out for these signs you need tuckpointing or rock restoration services:

• Crumbling rocks or structures.
• Large or expanding cracks in rock.
• Holes in the mortar.
• Gaps between rocks.
• Flaking mortar.
• A white substance on the mortar or rocks.

The amount of space you need between the fireplace and surround is often a matter of personal preference or aesthetics. Generally, the surround should be between half and two-thirds of the room’s height. There should be about six to 12 inches of space on each side.

A fireplace sound must be constructed from noncombustible materials. These materials include tile and stone.

Our stone repair methods depend on the type of stone, extent of damage, age of the structure, where it is located, and the purpose of the structure. In extreme cases, we will cut out and replace damaged structures, but we try to avoid that to preserve the stone’s beauty and structure. We may be able to rebuild areas using fillers that are precisely matched to the color and pattern of the stone. Small cracks, stains, and chips can be polished out using a high-speed grinder. For large-scale structural damage, we may need to insert anchors and a cage and cover it with mortar or another type of filling. We can then replace the missing stone.

You should have your chimney swept twice per year for wood-burning fireplaces and once per year for smokeless fireplaces. If you use your fireplace more often, however, we recommend having it cleaned every three or four months.