The home owners are fond of using brick facades siding for the exterior walls of their homes. Brick is normally the automatic choice for exterior decoration due to its uniqueness, beauty and durability advantage over other materials.

Brick has long been seen as the siding material and exterior beautification of walls since it is sturdy, durable and beautiful to touch and easy on the eyes. Caring for it is not a headache to the homeowner since it does not need any paints.

The siding walls that are made of bricks do not fade, are durable and ageless even in harsh weather conditions and environment. This is why it is preferred as suitable insulators for the exterior walls and as protection for the house against damage from the different weather patterns that tend to adversely affect the outer walls of houses.

Care should be taken to apply some clear vanish to the brick walls since they are porous by nature to protect them from the moisture effects during the rainy or freezing seasons like the winter.

It is usually used on wood framed wall over building paper, where a combination of cement, sand, lime as well as water is mixed together and used to fix the bricks firmly.

This mortar that is used in holding the bricks in place can also be decorated to look more attractive. The decoration can take different forms, like the concave, flush with bricks, extruding between the bricks or raked. Some are V-joined.

There is a new contemporary material that looks just like brick and it is called brick veneer. This is a manmade material that is now finding popularity with home owners as a brick replica. It is not as heavy as the old fashioned brick, is in varied colors, texture and sizes. It has creative unique patterns and modern touch although it is very similar to the old brick in durability and longevity.

Those who choose the brick sidings should at least find the qualified brick layers to do a proper job for them.

Your friends or family members would love random gift like a cookie bouquet delivery or fruit gift baskets.

Aggregates is a general term applied to those inert (that is chemically inactive) materials, which when bonded together by cement, form concrete. Most are used in our country are naturally occurring such as sand, crushed rock and gravels. Artificial and processed aggregate may also be use for making concrete. This may be broken bricks or crushed air-cooled blast furnace slag.

Light weight aggregates, which are usually by-products of industries and are processed from natural sources or natural materials have a high percentage of voids and are, therefore, light such as pumice, furnace, clinkers, coke breeze, saw dust, foamed slag, expanded clays, and shales, expanded slates, etc., These are also used for the production of concrete of low density. The workability of concrete with lightweight ones and is greatly increased with air-entraining agents, and hence the use of many light weight aggregates is being made in concrete where high strength is not desired.

Classification

Aggregates for concrete are divided in to three categories,

1. Fine Aggregates: Most of which passes through 4.75 mm I.S. sieve and are retained on 150 micron sieve.

2. Coarse Aggregates: Most of which passes through 63 mm I.S. sieve and retained on 4.75 mm sieve.

3. All in Aggregates: Mixed aggregates, as it comes from the pit or riverbed. It is sometimes used for unimportant work without separating in to different sizes.

Uses

1. Naturally occurring crushed stone can be used for producing any type of good concrete or R.C.C for construction purposes.

2. Broken bricks are used for water-proof construction.

3. Light weight aggregates are used to produce low density.

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Over time root growth from trees extends under your driveway. As time passes, roots expand with growth. Eventually the root grows to the point where the driveway lifts up off the foundation. These cracks create liability where someone can trip and fall over a raised crack in your concrete drive. There are several things that can be done:

• Instead of tearing out the entire driveway and transporting all that weight to the dump, repave instead. Tear out only the affected part of your drive and expose the root material. Cut out the root material out and dispose. Compact the exposed area in preparation for re pouring the concrete back to its original level. Use water in your compaction to ensure better results. After a day your concrete is ready for repaving.

• Find a brick paver (A thinner version of a brick) that suits your taste. If you are married, have your wife pick the stone or brick, because, the person you choose to build your new drive will be a “General Contractor” not a “Marriage Counselor.” A pallet of stone usually weighs about 3500 lbs. or a ton and half. A pallet of flagstone will cover 300 square feet of driveway. Now your drive is ready to be paved over the newly repaired area and the old concrete surface. New advances in cementitious glue additives allow the new pavers to be laid atop the old surface and stick permanently. In the future, should one or two stones come loose, they can easily be repaired without the entire driveway being torn up. Just replace your loose stones and re grout it with a sponge.

Re-paving saves money.

• Using old concrete as a base for pavers saves on demolition

• Save on re-pouring new driveway

• A driveway done in flagstone looks much better than plain concrete

• Flagstone & brick can be repaired without being able to tell it was repaired

• The bigger the driveway, the more you save!

Now that you are done and your driveway is functioning again, you will notice that the stonework looks much nicer than did the old concrete. You can color your grout to enhance the stones look. After the tenth compliment, you will ask yourself why you did not do it years before. Adding a stone lacquer can give it the wet look that your neighbors will envy.

The owner of Delphi Construction served as an apprentice brick tender at age 6 in Waterloo Belgium.

Chris Doctor is a licensed general contractor in the state of California.
Owner of Delphi Construction # 631583
Celebrating 20 years of building.

A stone fireplace adds a rustic, solid appeal to any room’s décor. The fireplace has long been a centerpiece for many homes. It serves as a gathering point, a place where the family comes together and shares some good cheer, a warm drink, a good story. When you add wood and make a fire, you have a place where you can sit for hours and just soak in the warmth. The fireplace is so ingrained in our culture, that almost every home has one and many paintings depict family gatherings around it.

If you are not one of the lucky people who have a house with a fireplace, never fear because there are so many options out there. You have a million choices regarding building materials and construction. If you get a contractor, be sure that they have experience and a good list of references and that they know how to deal with local codes and ordinances. One of the first choices you are likely to make is what type of configuration you want. You can choose a free standing unit which is set away from the walls, or you may choose a unit that is built into the wall. Typically, free standing units burn wood or coal and are made of cast iron and have an exhaust pipe which goes through the wall or ceiling to exhaust combustion fumes. The benefit of a free standing unit is the flexibility of moving it to another room or simply getting rid of it without any major demolition and modification to your home.

Most people don’t like the look of cast iron. Free standing units are now available in a huge variety of styles and colors and materials. You can get a unit that looks like an audio video cabinet. The flames are centered where a television would normally be and you are protected by glass doors and optionally a chain link barrier. The cabinet is finished in wood accents and even has storage for firewood underneath in an attractive alcove. The exhaust pipe is hidden by the top of the cabinet so it has a very neat appearance.

If you have a large home, you would normally opt for a stone fireplace built into the wall. You can also have it finished in brick or marble or granite, any number of materials are suitable. Installation is much more involved than it would be for a free standing unit, but it is well worth the hassle and cost as your family will enjoy it for years to come. If you have a talented stone mason, they can craft a wonderful fireplace and mantle. Some ideas include half-round tops, or the traditional rectangular opening. There is no limit to what you can build. Just make sure that you look at plenty of pictures. You can get some great ideas such as marble accents, statues, granite tops, cooking inserts, ventilation fans, etc. You can also have a gas line installed and burn gas instead of firewood. This can come in handy on a cold day when you run out of wood.

Stone fireplace styles are a great way of making your home look more elegant. Stone fireplaces add something special to any home they inhabit.

One of the great benefits of brick pavers is the relative ease in which you can replace cracked, chipped, or stained bricks. While concrete brick pavers are very strong and should last a lifetime if sealed correctly, accidents do happen. An unsightly oil stain on your new driveway or a chip caused by a dropped item can drive you crazy if not repaired.

When a paver does need to be replaced here is a step by step guide for replacing the damaged brick.

If you are replacing several bricks be sure to mark the bricks first to ensure that you are replacing the correct size brick in the correct spot. This is especially important if you used a complicated pattern in your paver layout. If you are replacing loose bricks it is good to get the correct bricks back into the original slot.

Once the pavers are removed be sure to clean any debris from the cavity. A thoroughly cleaned area will ensure that the bricks fit back properly while leaving the proper gap between the existing brick pavers.

Put a layer of sand down next. Use a wooden masonry wood float, taking the time to push sand into all the corners. Use the float or your foot to compact the sand down thoroughly. Check the level of the sand with a level.

It is now time to place the new brick paver into position. Use the marks you made to match up the correct position. Use a screwdriver to make sure the gap is even on all sides.

Finally, pour sand on top of the new bricks, filling all the gaps evenly. A mallet can be used to tap the new brick pavers into place.

If all is done well your new bricks should fit in seamlessly with your existing layout.

To learn more about brick pavers and see some samples of beautifully designed and installed systems check out http://www.outbackcontractors.com.

Like most materials over the years, stone products have evolved greatly. Today’s products and materials have vastly improved, in both functionality and affordability, enabling home owners to create interior and exterior designs formerly reserved for those with extravagant budgets.

When a home owner begins a project, they have a vision in mind of what they want the finished design to be. This vision consists, in part, of a design that delivers the following benefits; visually appealing, functional in a practical way, durable, and within a certain budget. The use of stone veneer in home additions, landscaping designs and hardscape features makes all of these benefits possible.

Natural stone veneer comes in full veneer (NFV) and thin veneer (NTV). Another option to thin veneer is man-made materials. All three products come with their own unique characteristics. Here is how they match up:

Natural Full Veneer:

1) Typically NFV is 3-5 inches thick.
2) This thickness provides an insulation factor not found in the thinner veneer.
3) Usually is a local stone, as its weight makes it cost prohibitive to transport.
4) Can be used in weight bearing formats.
5) Due to its weight, it requires the building of support footers, foundations or brick ledges.
6) The additional support structures required adds to the cost of this product, so be sure to consider this when you make your decision.

Natural Thin Veneer:

1) NTV is 1-1 1/4 inches thick.
2) Because it is natural, its pattern is varied (no two are identical).
3) Required to be less than 15 lbs./ sq ft.
4) Its light weight allows for easier handling, requires no elaborate support structure and reduces the shipping costs. 5) Can be placed over existing materials, as long as the material is clean and not in a state of disrepair.
6) Requires less time to install.
7) Can be used on zero tolerance fireplaces.
Can be cut to fit specific angles and corners.
9) Used in both interior and exterior designs.
10) Does not absorb water, therefore, expansion, freezing and cracking are not an issue.
11) They are not meant to be used in a weight bearing design.
12) Limited insulation factor, if any at all.

Man-Made Veneer:

1) 1-1 1/4 inches thick.
2) Less than 15 lbs/sq ft.
3) Less expensive.
4) Weight allows for lower shipping cost.
5) Comes in a variety of colors and designs.
6) Precut angles, which allows for true 90 degree corners.
7) As with NTV, can be placed over existing material.
Non weight bearing.
9) Due to the manmade nature, there is no variation in the pattern making for a more artificial look.

This is a brief summary of the benefits and advantages of using veneer in your design. There are many sources of good information you can choose from. I suggest that you get as much information as you can, so that when you begin your search for your contractor, you will know enough to determine if they are the right contractor for the project.

In my research for this article, I went to no fewer than 12 different sites, each one providing a wealth of information. I wanted to make sure I saw recurring information, so as to root out the bias opinion of a manufacturer promoting their product. I found a lot of good companies not afraid to discuss the different products and their uses. Basically, they are there to provide their customers with the information required to get the finished product they are looking for.

Here are three resources I would recommend as a starting point for your information gathering:

1) Sturgis Rock Solid Solutions in Kansas City Kansas
2) Stone NW INC. in the Portland Or. & Vancouver WA. Area
3) Mutual Materials whose corporate office is in Bellevue Wa.

If you go to the websites of these three resources, you will see exactly how much there is to learn about using stone in your home remodeling and landscaping designs.

I hope this article was of use in helping you with your home addition project. Good luck!

Thank you for reading this article.

For all your Home Addition and Landscaping Ideas, please visit http://www.insideoutadditions.com. Beginning February 1, 2010 you will find a free listing of local remodeling and landscape contractors.

You will also find a comprehensive gallery of Landscape and Home Addition projects, ideas and designs. Many of which are supplied through the contractor’s own portfolio.

Joseph Killian is a consultant and writer for insideoutadditions.com.

With over 10 years in the Tile and stone business, Alvaro de Ferranti (Chairman of DE FERRANTI a registered trademark) is an authority on Mosaics, rare limestone and marbles, pietre dure inlay, handmade and handpainted ceramics, wood fire terracotta, repoussage, verre eglomisee, shell and mother of pearl, leather floors and metal floors and any exquisite surfaces you can imagine. His knowledge stretches from material origins and uses, right through to installation and maintenance. You are most welcome to contact him through the webiste http://www.deferranti.com with any questions.

To see free videos, articles, and tutorials on laying flagstone and maintaing it, check out our website at http://www.the-flagstone-experts.com/ You’ll find great information to help you decide what to do with your house or business.