Whether you’re hiring a masonry contractor as an individual, such as for building your own home, or are a general contractor seeking a masonry contractor to help them complete a residential or commercial project, it’s so important to take the time to find one who is experienced, skilled, and most importantly, doesn’t cut corners.
Masonry involves so much more than just bricks, stone, mortar and grout, and for a building to be structurally sound, a great masonry contractor is essential.
Here are some corners inexperienced or under qualified masonry contractors may cut in order to reduce costs, or labor:
Making a site look ready for inspection
With inspections taking place regularly on commercial building sites, masonry contractors become accustomed to what it is that inspectors are looking for during them, and much of the time, know when they’re going to take place, too. As such, they may make the site look perfect for the visit, while going on to skip certain crucial steps as soon as the inspector has gone, or on days when they know an inspection isn’t due to take place.
A trusted masonry contractor would never do this, since their actions (or lack of actions) could compromise the very structure of a building, and their reputation would be in ruins.
Omitting the steel drip edge when installing flashing
Flashing systems make sure that moisture entering a wall is able to safely exit the wall either at the base, or over openings, and because it can become brittle from UV ray exposure and the like, reputable masonry contractors will install a stainless steel drip edge over the exposed flashing. While not all flashing systems are the same, this step shouldn’t be skipped as the steel in the drip edge prevents the flashing from being exposed to sunlight. Not installing the drip edge is often one of the first places for a masonry contractor to cut corners on a project.
Failing to apply mortar cleanly and efficiently
Just because you can’t see what’s going on behind a wall, doesn’t mean that the mortar application shouldn’t be carried out tidily and efficiently, as failure to do so can result in compromised structural integrity. For example, should blobs of mortar become stuck where they shouldn’t within the wall cavity, they can have an impact on water drainage.
Using wall ties with a single screw
Helping to keep a structure safe and stable, wall ties are essential in masonry construction, and there are a wide variety of these wire or sheet metal devices used to connect masonry wythes or veneers to a structural system. While different wall ties can be used for different circumstances, one-piece wall ties with a single screw should be avoided at all costs, as the veneer may then be able to move as conditions change.
Masonry work is about so much more than what you see from the outside of a structure; their work is detailed and often complex, and corners should never be cut, no matter the structure being built. Avoid these potential problems by only ever hiring experienced masonry contractors who are prepared to maintain their integrity, and that of the structure they’re building.