Ask The Building Experts » stone http://askthebuildingexperts.com Columbus, Ohio Area Custom Home Building and Improvement Information Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:21:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Stone Veneer Creates A Classy Presence http://askthebuildingexperts.com/stone-veneer-creates-a-classy-presence/ http://askthebuildingexperts.com/stone-veneer-creates-a-classy-presence/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:11:42 +0000 Becky Alzner http://askthebuildingexperts.com/?p=1035 Stone is much more versatile than you might think.
It provides a large number of benefits over other building materials.

It will not fade, need to be repainted or replaced every few years. Another important detail is that is it not restricted to exterior cladding. You can use it inside your home as well. Applying stone veneer to an interior wall or fireplace instantly upgrades the look of any room in which it’s used.


If you are going to use it out side, there are many option is to use it in an outdoor entertainment area. For example, adding it around a pool makes the pool area look more exotic and expensive. Something else to consider is behind a eating and grilling space. These choice locations will provide an established appearance, creating a more sophisticated environment.


From flag stone to river rock, there are many diverse styles of stone veneer to choose from. Whether your heart and home follow the style of the craftsman or if your roots are looking for something more English garden, stone veneer is a smart choice for any design plan.

]]> http://askthebuildingexperts.com/stone-veneer-creates-a-classy-presence/feed/ 1 Efflorescence… or what are those nasty white spots on my brick or stone? http://askthebuildingexperts.com/efflorescence%e2%80%a6or-what-are-those-nasty-white-spots-on-my-brick-or-stone/ http://askthebuildingexperts.com/efflorescence%e2%80%a6or-what-are-those-nasty-white-spots-on-my-brick-or-stone/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:27:22 +0000 Becky Alzner http://askthebuildingexperts.com/?p=623 Efflorescence is a white crystalline deposit of water-soluble salts that are occasionally found on the surface of brick/masonry.

Simply stated, efflorescence occurs when water containing dissolved salts is brought to the surface of masonry. The water evaporates and the salts are left on the surface of the masonry.

If I have efflorescence do I have a problem?

Efflorescence on brickwork less than one year old can often be attributed to “new building bloom” and therefore may disappear as the salts work themselves out of the masonry material.
When efflorescence occurs more than a year after construction is complete, it can generally be attributed to excessive water penetration or poor drainage and is most often associated with severe winter temperatures.

What should I do?

Most efflorescing salts are water-soluble and many will disappear on their own accord – especially true of new building bloom. Most brick manufacturer’s recommend that you DO NOT try to clean efflorescence off the surface of the brick as it is never limited to what you see on the surface. It starts from the inside of the masonry and remains inside for years, if not indefinitely. Instead, the source of the water causing the efflorescence should be found and stopped. If the efflorescence does not go away on its own in a few months, it may never go away. But “cleaning” will not make it better – only worse.

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