MASONRY AND CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS IN DUMFRIES
If you have a stone property that is lacking in kerb appeal, you might not be aware of how beautiful it could look once it's been restored to its former glory. Contact AP Stonemasonry and Building Services today to transform your property.
COMPLETE STONE BUILDING RESTORATION
Many properties in the past have been wrongly rendered to resolve water ingress issues or painted to seal and improve the look of the weathered stonework.
However, here at AP Stonemasonry and Building Services, we provide complete stone building restorations. This can include Render and Paint Removal, Glass blasting to create a new face on the stonework, Cement mortar removal, and Lime mortar repointing.
These 4 processes can completely transform a property's appearance, while also solving many other issues, such as dampness and heat loss.
Feel free to have a look in our gallery in the 'Complete Stone Building Restoration' section to see some of our recent projects.
Every Building is different, so please get in contact to discuss the specifics of your property.
REPOINTING
What does repointing mean or do?
Mortar Pointing is material in between the beds and joints of Stonework, Blockwork and Brickwork. This pointing is very exposed to the elements and will eventually need to be re-done. Often, it is found that the wrong material has been used to fill the beds and joints of a building material. The most common mistake made is cement based mortars being used within stonework.
There are many different types of stone used to build houses. However, in and around Dumfries and Galloway, the most common is Sandstone. This is a very porous stone, meaning it allows liquid and air to pass through it. A material of this type should be constructed and pointed using another porous material, which cement based mortar is not. This allows the stone in the walls to breathe, reducing moisture build up and helping to prevent dampness.
Sandstone is a relatively soft material. Therefore, the mortar being used to build it should never be harder than the building material itself. The problem with using a strong cement- based mortar is that it sets harder than Sandstone. This causes the stonework to crack and break if there is any movement in the walls of the property. Ideally, it should be the mortar cracks, so it can be replaced at a much lower cost.
Lime mortar sets softer than Sandstone. Therefore, by using a Lime based mortar, you can reduce the risk of the sandstone cracking as it will be the mortar that gives way, rather than the stone.
Additionally, lime mortar is much more flexible under pressure than cement mortar, so the risk of cracking in the mortar is greatly reduced.
PORCELAIN
Porcelain is a hard wearing, low maintenance building material that is perfect for patios and driveways. It is very durable and can easily withstand heavy foot traffic or pressure being applied to it, such as a car driving.
Because Porcelain is a non- porous material, it is easy to keep it clean, as it does not allow dirt and water to penetrate its surface.
Porcelain also has a stylish and modern appearance, making it a great choice for your home. There are a wide range of colours and styles available to suit any surrounding area.
CLADDING
What is Cladding and when is it used?
Cladding is the application of one material over, or on top of, an existing material to create a new layer.
It's generally used if there's already an existing structure, but the current look is not aesthetically pleasing or doesn't suit the surrounding area. To save knocking the existing structure down and having an entirely new structure built, cladding can be used to achieve the desired look.
Not only does it save on labour costs and material waste, but it also reduces the time required to transform the property and offers a wide range of different styles to achieve any desired finish to a building or wall.
CONTACT US FOR MASONRY AND CONSTRUCTION SOLUTIONS
For any kind of stonework or building project, contact AP Stonemasonry and Building Services. Email us at apstonemasonryandbuilding@hotmail.com. You can also give us a call on 07500 867147.