Brick Driveway Installation

Interested in a completely new look for your home? Want to add instant curb appeal?

A Brick Driveway Installation
Well, we're not talking about anything groundbreaking or brand new to the industry of home remodeling. We are talking about getting rid of your old black asphalt driveway or your cracked gray concrete driveway and replacing it with brick pavers.

It's a very simple solution to really helping the exterior look of your home. And it's not a very expensive project.

Installing a Brick Driveway
The great thing about a brick or masonry driveway is that you have tons of brick and stone colors to choose from. It's not just the flat red brick anymore. Nearly every earth-tone color is available to really make your home driveway stand out from the crowd.

There are a huge number of layout design options for your pavers, as well. The patterns can very anything from a conservative straight-up-and-down design to a wildly exotic layout with circles and waves of brick.

The beauty of brick pavers on the driveway is reason enough. The aesthetic appeal of bricks or stone on the main entrance to the home means that you've got added value. Added value increase what you're home is worth -- that makes it all worth while.

Repair options mean it's easy to fix a cracked or broken brick. Try that with a solid concrete driveway that is cracked when the nearby tree roots push it up. It can be a matter of going in and digging out the old, broken brick and replacing it with a similarly worn new brick.

Now, the trick is - how do you find brick driveway installers in your neighborhood? Well, you could choose a company, at random, from your phone book. You could ask some friends for a recommendation. But the best way to save time and save money is to post your request on the ConstructionDeal.com website. At No Cost. We'll match you with qualified brick installers who want to install your new driveway. And those multiple bids mean you'll get the best price and you'll get to choose a brick contractor hat you're comfortable with.

RELATED POSTS:
Masonry Home Exteriors
Brick Paver Design Patterns
Improving Home Value: Brick Pavers

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Improving Home Value: Brick Pavers

When patios, walls and walkways are made of brick, the value of the home is always pushed skyward - nothing matches the beauty of brick laid out in an intricate pattern. Even a simple brick driveway outshines the best asphalt or concrete slab. Brick is not just for the siding of the house, it can compliment any home style and improve the curb appeal and overall value of your largest investment.

The great thing about installing brick around your house is that it is relatively easy to do - which means your masonry installer can have your project installed in very little time.

Many people choose to have a wood deck installed in the backyard, but the best way to make sure you increase home value is to go with the classic brick patio installation. It requires less maintenance, can be cheaper and faster to install, and has a higher aesthetically-perceived value to potential buyers. This can mean a higher return on investment when you go to sell your house.

Brick walls in the garden are a great landscaping touch. Brick pavers surrounding a tall tree are the perfect accent. The contrasting colors of the brick (from red to white bricks against green foliage) can feature and highlight any aspect of the garden.

If a house has brick siding, it may be too much to try and add a brick driveway, walk, and porch. But a brick addition to the front yard on a house with wood or vinyl siding is a great complement to prevent the house from disappearing into the background. With suburban houses that already look alike, adding brick will pump up the curb appeal. Anything that can increase curb appeal can increase the overall value of the house.

Brick driveways are also less expensive to install than concrete or asphalt. Brick is also stronger during heat and cold extremes than concrete and asphalt. Finally, brick lasts longer. It's a great choice for your driveway.

Some things to consider with your Brick Paver Installation:

• Talk to your masonry contractor about sealing your bricks. Sealing the bricks is not a necessary step, but can prevent color fading from sun and weather exposure. You'll need to re-seal every few years, too.
• You'll want the pavers to be installed on the most level surface possible. Without levelling, your pavers could spread over time, even with edgers. Make sure you get a good base of gravel, then sand, and use metal edging with your pavers to prevent additional spread.
  
• Plan on spending about $10 to $15 a square foot for patio installations. It's usually less for brick driveway installations.

To find a brick installer in your neighborhood, post your project - at no cost - at ConstructionDeal.com.

We'll match you with brick contractors who can install pavers and driveways for your home. Look, you can flip through your yellow pages and call some masonry companies at random. Then wait for them to call you back. Then hopefully you'll get one or two to come out a bid on the job -- OR you can post the request with us... and brick masons will call you.

The more bids you have, the better overall installation price you will get. That's how it works. Save time and save money with ConstructionDeal.com.

RELATED POSTS:
Brick Paver Design Patterns
Masonry Home Exteriors

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Adding a Fireplace & Chimney

If you long for a warming fire in your master bedroom or maybe even in your living room -- if your house didn't come with one originally -- might consider adding a chimney and fireplace.

It can be a fairly expensive project but it will pay off for you in the long run. You'll be adding a wonderful new feature to your home that your family can enjoy for as long as you own your house. You'll also be improving the overall value of the home. Having a fireplace in the family room, kitchen, or bedroom is an added bonus that will definitely help you sell your home. Fireplaces rank among the top 3 features desired by new homeowners, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

There are pre-fab fireplace kits but they tend to look and work like a pre-fab kit. A true masonry fireplace will allow you to add a real wood burning fireplace to your most important rooms.

When planning to add a new fireplace, consider:

• If you can have a fireplace at your house. Some areas or neighborhoods don't allow them. Also, your house may not be up to code to have a fireplace added.
  
• The flow of traffic in the room. Make sure your fireplace won't interrupt the flow of the room. Also consider putting the fireplace where a window or door already exist to keep from having to squeeze it in and ruining the style or architecture of the room.
  
• If you can put the fireplace in a corner, you'll take up less wall and room space. A fireplace in the center of a wall can take over a room and limit your options with pictures/paintings, furniture, or TVs.
  

Decide on the Type of Fireplace you want:

• Wood Burning
• Electric
• Gas

Finally, you'll want to think about your mantle. The fireplace mantle can be the focal point of the entire room. You'll put your knick-knacks and family photos up there. You'll want to try to match the mantle to the decorations and design of your house and of the room itself. If you've got a rustic bungalow, you'll probably not want to install a sleek contemporary marble mantle. You can go with wood, brick, natural stone, and even metal.

One last thing to consider - your firebox opening doesn't need to be a square or rectangle. You can go with a slightly arched opening or even a semi-circle to give the fireplace a truly unique look and style. Have fun with your fireplace installation. Discuss your options with your masonry contractor.

If you need to find a fireplace installation contractor to install your new fireplace, you can post your request on ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with a local brick fireplace installer your area for free. It beats choosing someone at random from the yellow pages.

Don't forget to ask for references -- you want to make sure you get a mason with a strong background in chimney building. It can be a very tricky process and the fireplace must be installed correctly.

ConstructionDeal.com - We Help You Get Your Project Done!

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Find a Masonry Contractor: What is Masonry?

Many people are never quite sure what all is involved in masonry work. I thought I would provide some definitions of what a masonry contractor does.

What Does a Stone Mason Do?
They specialize in construction with natural building stone or manufactured units such as brick, concrete block, adobe, glass block, or cast stone that is usually bonded with mortar.

Masonry can be used structurally or as cladding or paving. It is strong in compression but requires the incorporation of reinforcing steel to resist tensile and flexural stresses. Masonry veneer cladding can be constructed with adhesive or mechanical bond over a variety of structural frame types and backing walls.

Masonry is noncombustible and can be used as both structural and protective elements in fire-resistive construction. It is durable against wear and abrasion, and most types weather well without protective coatings. The mass and density of masonry also provide efficient thermal and acoustical resistance.

Brick, concrete block, and stone are the most widely used masonry materials for both interior and exterior applications in bearing and non-bearing construction. Stone masonry can range from small rubble or units of ashlar (a hewn or squared stone) embedded in mortar, to mechanically anchored thin slabs, to ornately carved decorative elements. Granite, marble, and limestone are the most commonly used commercial building stones. Glass block can be used as security glazing or as elements to produce special daylighting effects.

Masonry mortar is made from cement, sand, lime, and water. Masonry grout, a more fluid mixture of similar ingredients, is used to fill hollow cores and cavities and to embed reinforcing steel. Anchors and ties are usually of galvanized or stainless steel. Flashing may be of stainless steel, coated copper, heavy rubber sheet, or rubberized asphalt.

If you need to have masonry work done on your home, you can use our free service to find a local brick mason or brick installer!

Post your project on our site at no cost! ConstructionDeal.com is a website dedicated to matching homeowners with masonry companies - We Help You Get Your Project Done!

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"masonry." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2005. Answers.com 06 Nov. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/masonry

Masonry Home Exteriors & Brick Siding Options

Remember the story of the Three Little Pigs?

There's a reason many build their homes with a brick masonry exterior - brick can withstand all the huffing and puffing that the weather can throw at your house.

If you live in an area that has even minor changes in the weather, as well as the possibility for thunderstorms (and even hurricanes), it might be a good idea to consider either siding your new home with brick or residing your current home using these masonry wonders.

Heavy wind, rain, hail, and water can wear down vinyl and many other types of siding. It's why so many homes have brick exteriors. Brick fell out of favor after so many homes had brick siding from the 50's through the 70's. Everyone switched to vinyl, wood, or stucco siding for their homes. Now, a lot of homeowners now need to replace their siding and are considering brick masonry.

While rain can and does seep into brick siding and thin brick veneer exteriors, modern technology has made it easier to protect homes from damage with special flashing that can re-direct the water away from the house and foundation.

Advantages of Brick Siding:

• Very durable
• Fireproof
• Storm/Weather protection
• Very solid
• Great insulator
  
• Doesn't fade, rot, or require painting or sealing
  

Disdadvantages of Brick Siding:

• Can be expensive to install
• Requires professional installation

Ready to install brick siding on your home? We can help. Submit your request to ConstructionDeal.com. We'll match you with brick siding installers at no cost. Simply tell us about your project and get quotes from up to 4 brick contractors.

Save Time - get quotes fast instead of calling brick masons at random from the phone book. Save Money - 4 quotes means you'll be able to pick the best bid for your budget.

We help you get your project done at ConstructionDeal.com

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Brick Paver Design Patterns

Brick Paver Remodeling Ideas
Ready to have a brick patio, walk or drive installed by a brick mason?

First, you'll need to decide on a pattern.

Brick pavers allow for nearly endless pattern possibilities. When laying bricks for a patio or a walkway, there are various designs options for paving patterns. Naturally, some patterns are more difficult to cut and install than others.

But make sure you choose your favorite pattern and avoid what might be easy or less expensive. Brick pavers, if installed correctly, can last quite a long time.

When you're having a masonry contractor install your brick pavers, keep in mind that the more intricate the pattern, the longer it will take to install. Which can mean a higher installation cost. But, again, it's something you're going to have around your home for a long time. A more detailed pattern could mean that you're making an even greater improvement to your home, thereby increasing the homes value.

Ready to install your brick pavers? We can help. Visit ConstructionDeal.com and submit a request.

We'll send your project to 4 brick installers. They'll contact you and submit quotes. At no cost.

Save Time - Why search at random through the phone book, call and leaves messages, and then repeat your project over and over again?

Tell us once and we'll pass it along to brick masons.

Save Money - getting four quotes is better than just one. Four quotes means that you'll be able to pick the bid that works best for your budget.

At ConstructionDeal.com - we help you get your project done!

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Interior Decoration Ideas: Thin Brick Veneer

Can't decide what color to paint your dining room? Tired of the same-old same-old in your home?

Here's a tip that could really make the interior of your home come to life: cover one or more walls with a thin brick veneer.

What Is Brick Veneer?
A brick veneer is a great choice to accent a room and do something unique that will be the center of conversation at your next party. The thin bricks are applied the same way a traditional brick wall is built. A masonry contractor an create the look and feel of a full clay brick wall with mortar but without the extra weight, extra cost, and extra cleanup costs.

You'll have the same choices of brick colors to choose from that you'd have with regular clay bricks. You can pick the perfect brick shape, style, and color that's right for your house and make a complete wall or even a chair railing for the wall.

The thin brick veneer wall will have the same sound dampening effects that a full wall would have. It will be just as durable, as well. You'll even have the benefits of extra fire protection in the areas of the brick installation.

It's a great addition to any home interior and could even improve the value of the home.

Need to find a brick installer? We can help. Submit your request to ConstructionDeal.com - it's a fast and easy process to find local brick contractors.

There is no cost and no obligation. Save money - get up to 4 quotes and choose the best one. Save time - brick masons call you instead of you searching at random through a phone book and calling businesses.

We help you get your brick masonry project done...

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Masonry & Brick Applications

Applications of Masonry
Masonry is commonly used for the walls of buildings, retaining walls and monuments. Brick is the most common type of masonry and may be either weight-bearing or a veneer.

Concrete block masonry is rapidly gaining in popularity as a comparable material. Blocks - most of which have hollow cores - offer various possibilities in masonry construction, generally providing great compressive strength, and they're generally best suited to structures with light transverse loading when the cores remain unfilled.

Filling some or all of the cores with concrete, stone or steel reinforcement (typically rebar) offers much greater tensile and lateral strength to structures.

Advantages of Masonry

• The use of materials such as brick and stone can increase the thermal mass of a building, giving increased comfort in the heat of summer and the cold of winter and can be ideal for passive solar applications.
• Brick typically will not require painting and so can provide a structure with reduced life-cycle costs, although sealing appropriately will reduce potential spalling due to frost damage. Concrete block of the non-decorative variety generally is painted or stuccoed if exposed.
• The appearance, especially when well crafted, can impart an impression of solidity and permanence.
• Is very heat-resistant and thus will provide grat fire protection

Disadvantages of Masonry

• Extreme weather may cause degradation of the surface due. This type of damage is common with certain types of brick, though relatively rare with concrete block. If non-concrete (clay-based) brick is to be used, care should be taken to select bricks suitable for the climate in question.
• Masonry must be built upon a firm foundation (usually reinforced concrete) to avoid potential settling and cracking. If expansive soils (such as adobe clay) are present, this foundation may need to be quite elaborate and the services of a qualified structural engineer may be required.
• The high weight increases structural requirements, especially in earthquake-prone areas.

Structural Limitations of Masonry
Masonry boasts an impressive compressive strength (vertical loads) but is much lower in tensile strength (twisting or stretching) unless reinforced. The tensile strength of masonry walls can be strengthened by thickening the wall, or by building masonry "piers" (vertical columns or ribs) at intervals.

Where practical, steel reinforcement also can be introduced vertically and/or horizontally to greatly increase tensile strength, though this is most commonly done with poured walls.

Do you need a brick installer or masonry contractor? We can help.

ConstructionDeal.com matches homeowners with masonry companies - at no cost. Simply submit your project and get up to 4 quotes from masonry pros. There is no obligation to hire any of our members. It's a fast and easy way to find masons.

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"masonry." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2005. Answers.com 06 Nov. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/masonry