Masonry Contractors to Masonry Repair
Alamo Masonry Repair (AMR) began as a local masonry contractor performing new construction and specializing in custom stone works building
patios, waterfalls, archways, retaining walls, fireplaces, and other new masonry structures including brick and stone homes and commercial
block buildings with brick and stone veneer. Around '97 or '98 Alamo Masonry Repair started to lean away from the new construction and specialize
in repair of masonry cracks and damage as we saw the need for masonry repair services that focused on the details and made a true effort to do
masonry repair right, and not just a patch over the cracks. When we specialized in masonry repair, we changed our name to this focus. As with any
major transition, it was not easy focusing on masonry repair. We had a lot to learn.
Matching Mortar for Masonry Repair
We quickly realized that there was far more to
matching mortar for masonry repair than just adding some pigment to color the mortar.
What we found is that most mortars had faded or darkened from their base tone of grey or white. This seemed easy enough to compensate and perform
the masonry repairs, but we quickly found problems with the masonry repair industry standard of mixing some from a bag of grey mortar and some
from a bag of white mortar to adjust this tone. While the blending of grey and white is the only way to match this tone, Alamo Masonry Repair
learned that we could not do this with the pre-mixed bags of mortar without changing the ratio of binding materials and mortar type. This was
evident in changes of color and hardness in one batch to the next on the same masonry repair project where we knew that we had measured the
exact same amounts from each container.
When we found this, we began research into how this could happen, and the answer was simple. The binding
materials have dramatically different weights, and when placed into a bucket and vibrated in transport, these materials separated into layers
inside the bucket that we could not see. These studies led us into other research to better improve the industry of masonry repair, but
we identified that to blend the grey and white tones you must mix the binding materials in proper proportions for the mortar type ratio on your
own and not use pre-mixed bags to blend.
As Alamo Masonry Repair (AMR) continued to research, I was reminded of my formal studies in chemistry and lab works. I had finally found a way
to apply the things learned in school to the career I grew up in.
Masonry Repair Services
Alamo Masonry Repair began offering
mortar analysis and matching services
to our customers to accurately identify the mortar type and compressive strength of their mortar in addition to the color matching services.
Over the next ten years, we became not only the first to specialize in nothing but masonry repair, but as we gained competition, we became the
most trusted name in masonry repair due to the practice of matching mortars completely and the professional masonry repair services we provided.
While the goal of Alamo Masonry Repair was to provide quality masonry repair, we also wanted to improve the industry and provide all customers
the highest level of quality for masonry repair, and realized this was not
possible on our own. We could only train so many crews to do masonry
repair the right way. So in an effort to reach more customers and provide them the best in masonry repair, we opened our lab services to our
competitors and homeowners. This quickly took hold, but it began to create a conflict to compete in the local masonry repair industry.
Masonry Repair in Dallas Fort Worth
This led Alamo Masonry Repair to change our name to AMR Labs, release our masonry repair training
manual and bags of custom made premixed pointing
mortar to the public, and step back and out of onsite masonry repair services allowing us to provide AMR products and services nationally. We
have leased our website for local masonry repair in the Dallas Fort Worth area to a young promising business that seems to put forth the effort
to providing high quality masonry repair services and competitive pricing.
For masonry repair services in the Dallas Fort Worth area, visit:
http://dfwbrickrepair.com and request an estimate.
We provide testing and matching masonry repair services across the U.S.
call:
(817) 366-8376
*AMR Labs*
1525 Corona Dr.
Granbury, TX 76048
Or email us:
mortarlab@gmail.com
Tuck Pointing
Tuck pointing (also
called pointing or repointing) is a growing
industry. It has been around for thousands of years, but has become much more
popular in the past ten years. This has spawned a number of innovations.
Originally, brick/stone masons would hammer and chisel out the mortar as needed. Then rinse away their dust allowing the new mortar to stick. After preparing the cracks for re-pointing, these masons would mix up new mortar to replace the old cracked mortar. At this point, they used a hopper or a trowel to hold their mortar, and a pointing trowel or a tuck-pointing trowel to push the mortar into the chiseled mortar-joint. After allowing the mortar to dry to a proper texture, these mortar-joints are tooled and brushed clean.
In today’s market, tuck pointing is considerably different. We no longer have to hammer and chisel the mortar-joints to open the cracks up for repair. Most companies use an angle grinder fitted with a diamond-carbide blade prepared for the purpose of removal of the mortar. This innovation allows us to cut the mortar-joints out deeper and faster than had typically been done prior. This depth is about ½ to ¾ of an inch deep, and allows for a better bond into the wall. This still requires the dust to be rinsed away to improve the ability to stick or bond in. In recent years, the new mortars are blended to match the original mortar of the masonry work. Note that not all companies are offering “Custom Color Matched Mortars”. (For companies that offer the “Custom Color Matched Mortar System” copy and paste this in your search bar). We also no longer need to use the pointing-trowel or tuck pointer to install the new mortar. This industry has adopted a tool used for grouting tile. It is called a grout bag, and it allows for more speed and accuracy when injecting the new mortars/grout into the mortar-joints. The mortar is still allowed to dry to a desired texture, then tooled and brushed clean.
Each of these new tools and processes has made this service faster, stronger, and more desirable.
AMR provides brick repair services in Dallas and Ft. Worth using many of these brick repair methods and sells a variety of Brick Repair Products to help the DIY brick repair people perform professional brick repairs.
Copyright © 2007 James R. Nech/Alamo Masonry. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED