SOUTH ATLANTIC MASONRY & CONCRETE

viernes, 26 de enero de 2018

8 Tips for Maintaining and Cleaning your Stone Fireplace

A stone fireplace is one of the best improvements in the house. To keep things safe, clean the fireplace regularly and know that it is well built.

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you some tips that you can keep in mind to maintain and clean your fireplace:

- Before cleaning the fireplace, first verify the key areas of the chimney.

- The lintel, which is the steel bar that supports the top of the opening up to the first combustible, should be at least 12 inches high.

- The bricks need to be inspected. Regular bricks can't tolerate the higher temperatures that firebricks are able to tolerate. The regular brick will begin to crack and the mortar will crumble.

- If you clean your own fireplace, the ashes and creosote can be sprinkled on flower beds, since they are a source of calcium and other nutrients.

- During cleaning, the damper should be checked for correct positioning, ensuring energy conservation and fireplace safety.

- With the vacuum running, a stiff brush is used to clean the fireplace walls. The damper ledge should always be cleaned, since creosote dust builds up there also.

- Trees that overhang the chimney should be trimmed back; falling branches could cause damage to the chimney.

- The outside of the chimney should be checked for obstructions and wear.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

sábado, 20 de enero de 2018

How to protect your Stone Patio during Winter

Stone patios, driveways and walkways have to stand up to a lot of abuse over the winter. Frost heave, errant snow shovels, and corrosive deicing products can all damage these hard surfaces. However, with careful installation and regular maintenance, you can avoid problems and keep your landscape looking good for years to come.

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you five tips to help you maintain your stone patio in good shape:

1. Fill cracks or holes:

Water can get into cracks or holes and break apart your pathway when it expands during a frost. You can use asphalt to seal cracks in the driveway.

2. Keep it level:

Each year, check to make sure your pavers, stone and concrete are still level and don't have any edges sticking up that could catch on a snow shovel or plow, or worse, create a safety hazard.

3. Consider a sealant with grit:

A sealant containing grit creates a non-slip surface that is safer to walk on in inclement weather.

4. Use the right deicing products:

We recommend potassium chloride, magic salt, or straight sand as less-corrosive alternatives. Avoid rock salt in concrete or bluestone products as they are very aggressive and may deteriorate your materials quickly.

5. Don't use metal snow shovels:

The sharp edges of a metal snow shovel can scratch or ding pavers or decorative concrete. Instead, choose a shovel with a rubber blade edge, or use a mechanical broom which has soft bristles.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

viernes, 12 de enero de 2018

5 Tips to prepare your Fireplace for the cold season

Fireplaces are a great way to heat your home without spending too much on electricity. However, before you take your fireplace out of retirement for the winter, you have to make sure it is safe and ready to go.

Before it gets too cold out, At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you 5 tips to prepare your Fireplace for Winter:

1. Sweep the Fireplace:

You should hire a chimney sweep before you start using your fireplace at the beginning of winter. The National Fire Protection Association suggests that you have your chimney swept once a year to remove dangerous soot and debris.

2. Check for damages:

You need to check the chimney structure and lining for cracks, loose bricks, deterioration or missing mortar. You also want to take this time to make sure that your chimney is properly and securely attached to your house. Also, check for water damage, which can be harmful to the entire house.

3. Inspect gasket material:

Make sure to take care of the gasket sealing the door, the glass door itself, and the ash dump. It is important to inspect these pieces and replace them as necessary. If these aren’t working properly, your fire can get too much oxygen, which can create an over-fire condition.

4. Cap the Fireplace:

Your chimney should be properly capped in order to keep birds, rain, squirrels, leaves and other debris from entering. Make sure you replace or repair a damaged or missing cap.

5. Check the alarms:

It is very important that you make sure you replace the batteries of any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. Be sure to test your alarms to make sure they are working properly.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

sábado, 6 de enero de 2018

2018 Stone walls Trends

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you four popular stone walls trends to add value to your home without spending a fortune:

1. Natural Stone

Natural stone is a popular and very multi-faceted material, which convinces from the Roman period with its excellent properties. It gives simple elegance and well-being and also ensures a practical use. Thanks to the possibilities of its creative diversity, natural stones are used both outdoors and in the living space.

2. Industrial Concrete

The industrial trend has never been more popular. It's all about introducing industrial elements into a room to create a factorial look. Think brick walls, pendant lights, metal-framed furniture and, perhaps most iconically, concrete flooring. A concrete floor isn't openly available to everyone. Before you wheel in the cement mixer, consider using Concrete Effect Tiles to create the base for your industrial scheme.

3. Texture

Nobody wants to stare at a plain, smooth surface in 2018. So if you have a prominent wall or floor space in your room, why not inject interest by adding some texture? Textured surfaces are growing in popularity month by month. When it comes to textured tiles, slate split face tiles are king. Made from natural slate, they consist of strips of different widths and depths that have been bonded together to create a staggered, multi-levelled surface. Use them to create a textured feature wall in your kitchen, living area, bedroom, dining area or bathroom.

4. Marvellous Marble

The natural look will continue to strive through 2018. Why is the idea of 'bringing the outdoors in' so popular? Because it helps us feel closer to nature - and, thus, more relaxed and at ease in our homes. That's why natural stones are most frequently used in the bathroom, which is the space where we like to unwind after a hard day at work. Out of all the stone types to choose from, marble is the most sought after; probably for its characterful veining. Again, whilst natural marble can be costly and requires ongoing treatment and maintenance, marble effect tiles offer a hands-off and affordable alternative.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

miércoles, 20 de diciembre de 2017

Fireplace cleaning

The warm glow of a fireplace is one of nature's simple gifts. To keep things simple and safe, clean the fireplace regularly and know that it is well built. It's also a good idea to have a professional initially inspect the fireplace and chimney even if you plan to clean and maintain it yourself.

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you this information to ensure fireplace and chimney cleaning:

1. How often should you get your fireplace cleaned?

This depends a lot on how much you use your fireplace or stove. The National Fire Protection Association says, “Chimneys, fireplaces, and vents shall be inspected at least once a year for soundness, freedom from deposits, and correct clearances. Cleaning, maintenance, and repairs shall be done if necessary.” So, even if you don’t use your chimney a whole lot – birds, squirrels, raccoons and other critters may have been using your chimney making it unsafe to use without clearing out the accumulated debris from nesting activity.

Any time an appreciable accumulation of soot and creosote occurs it can be enough to fuel a chimney fire that may damage the chimney and even spread to the roof and home. Furnace flue systems also require cleaning, so don’t neglect regular cleaning of those venting systems.

2. What is the best time to clean your fireplace?

Ideally, before the start of the burning season during the spring, summer or early fall is a great time to get your chimney inspection and / or chimney cleaning. Before you think about building a fire or starting up your furnace because the weather has changed, is the time to call us.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

sábado, 16 de diciembre de 2017

When to do Fireplace Inspection

The job of the fireplace sweep is to remove soot, blockages and built-up creosote from your chimney liner, firebox, smoke chamber and damper. This cleaning will help create a safer operation of your system during the heating system.

At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you some tips that help you know when do you need to clean your fireplace:

1. To be sure that all of your systems are in working order and operating as they should, it is recommended that homeowners get an annual fireplace inspection.

2. Other venting systems connected to furnaces and stoves should also be cleaned on a regular basis to maintain safer operation.

3. If you only have minimal use of your fireplace or stove, an inspection is still advised annually to look at all heating venting systems, chimneys, stove systems and furnace flues. During these inspections any defects or issues that may be found that require action even if cleaning is not needed.

4. If you haven’t had your chimney inspected in a year or more, if you are having any performance issues with your chimney, fireplace or heating system or if you have recently purchased the home you should schedule an inspection.

5. If you have not used your fireplace in a long time, pests may have built nests that could clog your flue or chimney chamber. The longer the defects go without being addressed, the more expensive the repairs are likely to be.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com

viernes, 8 de diciembre de 2017

How to keep your home warm during Winter

A traditional fireplace creates comforting ambiance on a cold winter day, it’s an exacting science, moving hot air from one space into all of the others, and there are several solutions to explore. Heating your house using your fireplace is pretty simple. Depending on what kind of house you have, at At South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia, we give you some tips to keep your home warm during Winter:

1. The best set up would be having your fireplace/stove/insert located on the main floor or main living area with a centralized location, or in an open concept space.

2. If you have a ranch style house (long and sprawling), opt for a unit in the middle so you have two smaller wings to heat. Many people, for cleanliness reasons, prefer a basement installation of their fireplace/stove/insert especially if they are using a pellet or wood-burning model.

3. If you have a forced air heating and cooling system, turn on the fan and just use it to circulate the air that is created by your fireplace. This works best in more open spaces and smaller homes where heat loss to the vents won’t be noticeable.

4. If you have ceiling fans, reversing them so that the air is being pulled up is another way to circulate that heat. The moving air is pulled up, thrown against the ceiling and then comes down the walls and is sucked back up again, much like a convection oven, only cozy with less cooking. This also works well if the fireplace is in a common and social area.

5. Install a fireplace insert. To get one that fits, measure the length and width of your fireplace with a tape measure. For maximum efficiency, install a double-wall unit with a built-in circulating fan. The warm air circulates between the two walls and the fan blows the warmth into the room. You may not need a fan if you are heating a small room.

Please contact us today to find out how South Atlantic Masonry and Concrete Contractor located in Peachtree City, Atlanta Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia can help you renovate or create the best place for your home.

For more information in Peachtree City, Atlanta, Newnan, Sharpsburg, and Senoia call us: (678) 628-9987

Please visit us: www.southatlanticmasonry.com