Installation of heavy-duty vinyl tarpaulins to an unobstructed south-facing wall in Hyde Park that a previous owner had parged (i.e., skim coated) decades earlier with mortar. Unfortunately the parge coating was insufficient to prevent moisture from infiltrating the underlying 150-year-old brick wall and damaging the interior plaster work. The installation of the tarps stopped new damaged from occurring and allowed the brick and plaster work to dry out.
Although it is still technically winter, one would be hard pressed to believe it by looking at the outdoor thermometer.
Daytime temperatures have been hovering comfortably in the 50s for a few days now and, more importantly, the nighttime temperatures have been above freezing with consistency. (As masonry restorationists, we care most about nighttime temperatures because mortar that freezes at night will neither cure correctly nor perform properly.)
During the winter months when it is too cold for mortar to cure correctly, the masons at AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing spend many days affixing heavy-duty vinyl tarps to masonry walls as a means of stopping wind-driven snow and sleet and rain from infiltrating masonry walls and causing all kinds of grief for building occupants.
Our tarps are 18 ounce heavy-duty vinyl, made in America, and will not rip or shred for decades. (We know this to be true because we have had tarps installed on some buildings for 20 years with no issues whatsoever.)
Heavy-duty vinyl tarps prevent wet weather events from wreaking havoc on your bricks, split-face blocks and other masonry substrates by providing a physical barrier between Mother Nature weather and your walls.
Occasionally owners and property managers need time to build up capital reserves in order to tackle a larger masonry project. Vinyl tarps stop the clock and allow for the build up of reserves without the masonry incurring additional damage. Typically, the cost of affixing a heavy-duty vinyl tarp to a defective masonry wall is a small fraction of the cost of performing the actual masonry repairs.
If you think your property could benefit from the installation of American made heavy-duty vinyl tarpaulins by our team of licensed masons, please reach out to us for a free quote.
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service!
-Rob
Post: The Seasonality of the Masonry Restoration Trades
Friday December 20, 2019
During the fall months, the number of requests for work increases significantly. Here office assistant extraordinaire, Xochitl, holds 23 work proposals ready to be mailed to eager customers.
There is a distinct rhythm to the demand for our masonry restoration work.
During the cold winter months, the demand for masonry repairs is relatively low because the daytime and nighttime temperatures sit well below freezing. That means water that would normally infiltrate masonry walls and create all kinds of grief is locked up in the form of ice.
But as soon as the mercury rises above freezing for a day or two, all of that ice begins to melt and customers begin to observe water damage in their ceilings and walls. That’s when our office phones start to ring with more frequency.
During the spring and summer months, frequent heavy rains also create intense and predictable spikes in the demand for our masonry restoration services.
We typically experience our greatest surge in demand starting in early September (usually coinciding with the end of the Labor Day holiday) and continuing until cold nighttime temperatures put the kibosh on the work season (usually in mid-December). During this period of time, the office phones never stop ringing. This is the time of the year when building owners realize that winter is not too far off and the masonry issues they have been thinking about tackling all year need to be addressed.
From early September until snow fly, the number of work proposals mailed out of our office is measured by the dozen. The exponential increase in the demand for end-of-the-season work often creates an extensive backlog that cannot be fulfilled before winter temperatures drop the curtain on the work season, so many projects must be rescheduled for the following spring.
If you are considering restoration of your masonry structure for next year, now is the time to call or e-mail the office to set up a time to meet one of our licensed estimators who can assess your masonry issues.
Understanding the seasonality of the masonry restoration trade can assist you in the timely completion of your next project.
We are extremely grateful for your positive reviews and comments.
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.
-Rob
Post: AAA-1 Masonry In A Nutshell
Wednesday November 20, 2019
AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing, Inc.
- 65 years in continuous operation.
- No short cuts, no monkey business.
- Singularly focused on masonry restoration.
- Office: 773.622.7300 / 847.491.9700
- Web: www.AAA1Masonry.com
Post: No Project Too Big or Too Small
Friday November 8, 2019
Foreman Mirek contemplates the safest means of rebuilding this Canal Street structure’s elevator penthouse (large enough to house 8 elevators).
Lately you may have seen our experienced masons working on a number of larger projects in the downtown Chicago area. These buildings on Canal Street, Randolph Street and Clark Street require customized swingstage configurations, extensive safety protocols and a great deal of experience to execute correctly. These structures vary in age from 40 years to over 100 years, and from 16 stories to 45 stories in height. They are definitely high profile jobs and we really enjoy working on challenging structures like these!
However, we also enjoy rebuilding parapet walls, repairing chimneys and replacing lintels belonging to single family homes, 2-flats and 6-flats in less congested locales.
No matter how large or how small your next masonry project, we hope you will allow us the opportunity to meet with you and suggest sensible ways to preserve your building.
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service!
-Rob
Post: What Sets Us Apart
Saturday October 19, 2019
From left to right: Adam, Mark and Lucas are just three of the more than 80 masons, project managers and office staff committed to providing you with an exceptional experience.
AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing has been in continuous operation since 1954. That’s over 65 years of experience restoring brick, terra cotta, stone, mortar and cinder block (yes, cinder block was around in 1954, although not as widely used as today). Over the decades we grew a little bigger, continued to hone our craft, developed safety protocols and training programs, and demanded the very best from ourselves.
The result? Today AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing's licensed masons are the most trusted in the Chicagoland area for quality restoration work. From the moment you call the office or click on our website, you will be interfacing with an organization that operates at the highest levels of efficiency, proficiency, and professionalism and with people who really enjoy what they do.
We look forward to working with you on your next masonry restoration project!
Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.
-Rob