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| September 22, 2006 Barnstable Patriot |  |
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By David Curran
news@barnstablepatriot.com
7^ all has arrived. Leaves turned
J_^ brilliant red and gold on the trees
are floating to the ground , fading to a
dull brown and crumbling beneath
your feet. Are your front steps doing
the same thing?
Now is the time to check , and if there 's a problem ,
you need to do something about it before another
freeze-and-thaw cycle exacerbates the problem.
Gary Blondin of G.F. Blondin Masonry in Marstons
Mills recommends performing a visual check of your
steps , porches , walkways , terraces , chimneys and any
other brickwork every fall.
"The fall would be a good time to be sure the grout-
ing is secure so you don't get the freezing damage
water brings in the winter," Blondin said. If you find
cracks , he said, it' s "really important to waterproof" to
keep the
prob-
lem from
getting
worse.
"The best
time (of
year) to
do it is
now," he
said.
If the
mortar is
crumbling
or miss-
ing, you already have a bigger job on your hands.
"The damage has pretty much been done," Blondin
said.
Get things under control
If the mortar in your steps is showing signs of ad-
vanced decay, you can apply a patch - and waterproof
it - but don't expect it to hold over the long term. It
may help in the short term , he said, serving as a band-
aid if, say, you can't afford to have the job done this
season.
'Just trying to pack up the brick isn't going to change
the fact that the step is going to have to be rebuilt
again," said Blondin, who works on everything from
high-end new construction to smaller repair and main-
tenance jobs.
If you need waterproofing, you may want to think
twice about doing the job yourself , cautioned the 35-
year stonework veteran. Blondin recommends against
spending a Saturday applying waterproofing you picked
up at the hardware store.
Simply put, most consumer-grade waterproofing just
doesn't do a very good job , he said - it "repels mois-
ture , but also holds it in."
Blondin said he uses a commercial-grade sealer he
gets off-Cape. If you're hiring a mason to do water-
proofing, he said, you should ask whether the prospec-
tive contractor is aware of the differences between con-
sumer-grade and commercial-grade sealers , and which
will be used for your job.
Another good idea to test the mettle of a contractor
you're consider-
ing hiring is to
make sure the
proper recipe will
be used in making
your mortar.
"I see a lot of
mistakes out
there," Blondin
said.
Some less-than-
reputable masons
put more sand in
the mix to cut their
costs , he said. "I
find that not only
unacceptable but embarrassing to the field," he said.
If you don't know the ratio, he advised asking what
supplier will be used, then calling the supplier to ask
about the contractor 's track record and reputation. Sup-
ply houses don't want to be linked with someone who 's
going to do a substandard job.
"They'll be more than happy to help you out," said
Blondin.
Blanket insurance
Waterproofing isn't the only job you might hire a ma-
son for in the fall , but the deeper into the fall you go,
the more careful you need to be, especially with big
jobs. If there's any chance of the temperature falling be-
low freezing, precautions must be taken to be sure the
mortar won't freeze before it's cured. That can mean
covering the project overnight with thermal blankets and
applying heat. Be sure the mason you hire is prepared
to do what it takes to ensure his work stands the test of
time.
And don't forget waterproofing, he added. "That is
your insurance for longevity for the work. "
*§
/£
Blondin said. J
tr
If the mortar in your
steps is showing signs o
f
advanced decay, y ou can
app ly a p atch — and
waterp roof it - but don t
exp ect it to hold over
the long term.
Good waterp roo
f ing
help s masonry last