Blog

Custom Fireplaces

It’s cold outside and there is snow on the ground.  It’s a good time curl up by a beautiful fireplace with a good book and a glass of wine or a hot cup of tea. Check out the portfolio page to see a recent custom fireplace built by Solid Masonry …
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Dry Stone Walling

Dry stone walling is or dry laid stone work is stone construction without the use of mortar.   Dry stone work is usually used for fences and retaining walls but is also used for stair cases, bridges and can be creatively  used for many other purposes. The best looking and …
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Solid masonry contruction

Solid masonry construction has been used for thousands of years.  The world’s oldest buildings are solid masonry.  Solid masonry is a construction technique in which you have a wall or pier, or buttress… made up of masonry without any voids.   These walls are usually load bearing and also double as …
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Repointing

Repointing brick, stone or block involves removing the mortar between the masonry units and replacing it with new mortar.  As discussed in the previous post it is essential to match the mortar to the type of masonry wall and to the masonry unit used.  Mortar should be removed to a …
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Mortar

Mortar is made up of sand, lime and Portland cement.  Mortar has three primary functions; bonding, acting as the sacrificial element, and water permeability.  Mortar is what bonds (holds) the masonry units together, whether stone, brick or block.  It is also the sacrificial element of the wall meaning that if …
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