Commercial & Residential Concrete Repairs Contractors Collin County TX

Whether you decide to buy a home or are considering selling your home, then a home inspection is certain to be a part of your future. And while many people think of a brick house as virtually indestructible, there are still things that can happen to hurt its structural integrity. Consequently, if you are a prospective buyer or seller of a brick house, having a home inspection is a must.

As you venture into the real estate world, it is vital that you don’t go it alone. You need to work with a realtor who understands, and will point out and discrepancies or damage to the brick work of a home. If you find after an inspection that your home is in need of brick repair, give us a call. Our expertly trained masons will repair your home at a great price. To be sure that you truly know what elements of a brick home will be checked during a home inspection, here are some standard elements that will inspected. Knowing this will ensure that all elements are properly inspected.

Elements of the Brick Home Inspection

• With the inspection, any plants such as those that might climb up the brick work, will be pointed out. Consider removing any plants that might be inclined to “take root” on your house.
• If your house has weep holes – and many older brick homes will – then be sure to clean them out and remove anything that may plug them. The weep holes serve the purpose of allowing any moisture or rain that might have gotten behind the walls to escape.
• On some houses, you will see a white, salty deposit on the brick surface. This is known as efflorescence, and it can be removed with a stiff brush and water. Even though it is easily resolved, in a brick home inspection, efflorescence will be pointed out.
• Because mortar is less durable than brick, there are instances where it is necessary to do tuckpointing. This is when the mortar may begin to crumble and leave space between the bricks. When this occurs, water can seep between the exterior wall and your home’s interior wall. A prospective buyer will need to know if tuckpointing is on the To Do list.
• A brick home inspection will also include looking for evidence of spalling. It is sometimes the result of inferior materials, but is more likely to result from moisture or salt (effloresce).

Whether you are buying or selling, working with a Texas realtor and brick home inspector is a crucial step in the real estate process. After all, brick homes typically have a higher resale value – but only if they have been maintained – or you have taken the time to get any needed brick repair work done prior to placing your home on the market. If you, as brick home owner, want to ensure that your home is ready to go on the market, talk the Omega Masonry team. We look forward to hearing from you.

The settling and heaving of concrete are the two most common culprits behind cracks appearing on the surface of a concrete structure. Oftentimes, individuals need the eyes of their local concrete contractors to verify what the cause behind the cracking is. Still, it doesn’t hurt to know the difference between settling and cracking. When you know what to look for, you can call in the professionals sooner and tackle the problem early on.

Is Your Concrete Settling?

If you are witnessing the development of new cracks on your driveway or in your basement, there’s a very good chance that your concrete is settling. Settling occurs as a result of different conditions impacting the soil that lies beneath the concrete, such as:

1. The soil beneath the concrete wasn’t properly compacted before the concrete was laid.
2. The soil has a high clay content.

High clay content can be problematic as the soil and concrete are further exposed to the elements. Rainwater, for instance, can seep into the soil and cause the clay within it to expand. This results in pressure being placed against the concrete, thus leading to cracks. It can also reduce the strength of the concrete and cause it to sink downward.

Because settling happens explicitly at the ground level, at least at first, it’s worth paying mind to your driveway, garage floor, and basement floor. If these areas are showing new cracks, then settling is a likely culprit behind their formation. Consult with concrete contractors in your area to diagnose the cracks and see if they pose any structural risk to your building or driveway.

Is Your Concrete Heaving?

The heaving of concrete is characterized by concrete that has become uneven, heaving upward and cracking as a result. This has to do exclusively with clay-laden soil beneath the concrete.

As we discussed above, soil with a high clay content is very absorbent of water. This means that the soil swells with water when it’s wet and then shrinks back down when dry. These consistent movements are reflected in the surface of the concrete, giving it an uneven and jagged appearance.

Should You Call the Concrete Contractors for Help?

Whether you feel confident diagnosing heaving or settling on your own or not, it never hurts to have the knowing eyes of a professional concrete repair expert on your side. While the visual differences between settling and heaving can be quite stark, there are instances where the signs are a fair bit subtler. Unless you are a concrete expert yourself, it can be impossible to tell the difference.

For this reason, it’s important that you identify cracks when they begin to form and act appropriately. Sometimes these cracks remain superficial and dormant in nature, posing no risk of significant structural damage over time. However, it is also possible that the cracks are active, meaning that they can become worse over time and present a very real risk of damage to your structure. Call your local concrete contractors as soon as you see new cracks forming. This is your best chance of accurately having the issue diagnosed and treated, if necessary.