.

MASONRY REPAIR PORTFOLIO

Thawing and freezing is the main culprit behind brick damage. When the damage becomes severe, the bricks begin to crumble and offer no structural support.  We’ve seen this in many locations around our Stickney, IL headquarters – from Oak Brook to La Grange to Cicero.

Masonry repair stops water damage and prevents the problem from spreading to other bricks. Sometimes resetting bricks can solve the problem. Oftentimes damaged bricks have to be replaced.  Finding new bricks that closely match the existing is essential and is one more of our specialties at Riteway Brick.  We have sources for many types of replacement brick and the masonry skills to rebuild damaged structures from foundation to chimney.

Repair or replacement of stone and brick lintels or cinder blocks can restore the beauty of an older building as well as ensuring its safety and longevity.  Securing your investment in your property is essential.

Stone and brick masonry repair and construction are are our main focus.  Call today and make sure your home or business is protected against the ravages of another Chicago Winter – and we can save you money in the long run, too!

Cicero Lintel (I-Beam) Replacement Project

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER
Lintel replacement is our most dangerous, and perhaps challenging, work. To say this building was a challenge is an understatement. It was neglected for years and the steel I-beam (or lintel) had rusted. The old limestone sills were lost, too, creating a dangerous situation. We started by carefully shoring up the building from inside and out. Then we removed the I-beam, leveled it, and placed stones with drip wicks to remove trapped moisture. The customer was so impressed with our work that they contracted us to grind and tuckpoint the front and sides—and to rebuild the chimney, too..

Westering Springs Restoration

BEFORE

DURING

DURING

AFTER
On this job, the pillars supporting the garage had begun to crack the brick and mortar joints. We removed and replaced the cracked brick and ground out the entire front brick pillar—tuckpointing it in a closely matching mortar color. Yet another satisfied customer.

Brookfield Masonry Restoration – Remove and Replace

view of angle 1 before job

BEFORE

view of angle 2 before repair

BEFORE

view of wall work in progress

DURING

masonry contractors at work

DURING

first view is complete

AFTER

masonry repair job is complete

AFTER
Plastering over bad brick is never a good idea. It doesn’t look good and is dangerous. On this job, we carefully removed the outer layer of old common brick and replaced it with a new close-matching face brick. Face brick is unique in that it has holes in the middle that lock the mortar in between the bricks, making for a tighter, longer-lasting bond. This work will last!

Expert Masonry Contractors Save the Day with this Restoration (Lubrizol)

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER
A truck driver at this dock backed into the cinder block wall and caused extensive damage—not to mention a very dangerous situation. We were called on a Monday and advised the customer that the wall needed to be shored up immediately. By the end of the following day we had successfully braced the I-beam and the wall to prevent a total collapse. The insurance company then approved the repair, and we went to work. It was a complex and potentially dangerous job, ideal for expert masonry contractors. The wall was rebuilt and now looks like it was never damaged.

Stickney Masonry Restoration

BEFORE

AFTER
On this particular job, cracks formed in the concrete stairs. Over time, water seeped through the cracks. The moisture then was trapped between the brick and the inside cinder block wall. This led the faces of the brick to start to pop off, a process known as “spaulding.” We visited several brickyards to find the closest match. We then cut out the bad brick, replaced it with the new, and ground out the remainder of the brick sidewalls. We also sealed up the cracks in the concrete stairs with a polyurethane caulk to prevent further damage. The bricks and mortar matched perfectly. Future problems have been avoided. Another completely satisfied customer!

Ron’s Autobody Brick Restoration and Tuckpointing

BEFORE

AFTER

DURING

AFTER
This customer had a glass storefront running across his building. We framed the front, installed the overhead door and found a match for the brick on top of the building. We installed that brick, and tuckpointed it to match the existing mortar color. A limestone address panel was our finishing touch!

Berwyn Masonry Restoration

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER
A vehicle struck this brick pillar, and the old terra cotta was extremely scarce and costly. We discussed options with the customer, who decided it would be best to install glass block in place of the terra cotta. We then found a close matching brick for the pillar and cleaned what hadn’t been damaged to create a uniform appearance. The customer was extremely pleased with the final product.

Stair Brick and Mortar Restoration

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER
This restored property was on a Berwyn bungalow historical society’s list. The brick is no longer available, so we did as much cleaning as possible—as well as grinding and tuckpointing. We also coordinated with the concrete company that was replacing the stairs to ensure a uniform look. The close matching mortar color shows the job turned out exceptionally well. This project also is an example of how we not only repair and restore, but also help customers solve problems. We determined the brick and mortar were damaged because of a lack of drain holes on the front porch. That drainage was repaired before the restoration work began, helping to prevent future problems.

STONE VENEER PORTFOLIO

Stone can wear and become discolored over time, or more quickly when facing certain adverse conditions. Repairing stone facades typically consists of cleaning, patching and resetting. In some cases replacement is required. Our professionals know how to clean and repair—and what precautions will help prevent future problems.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

INTERIOR

EXTERIOR

BEFORE

AFTER

Quality means treating every restoration or cleaning as if we were working on our own home or business. As masonry contractors, quality is about having a commitment to our craft—a combination of the right tools, experience, training and passion. And the details matter, too. That’s why we’re so vigilant about matching the bricks and mortar to create a uniform look.

In many ways, honesty and quality are simply caring about what we do. We put the same effort into projects that are big and small, simple and complex.

Give us a call at 708.354.2501 to ensure your project includes a commitment to honesty and quality.