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JR Construction
5.0(
2
)
Concrete Foundation - Install

Serving Bluford, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2011

Small jobs welcome

Offers commercial services

Justin Ratts Construction, is committed to excellence in every aspect of our business. We uphold a standard of integrity bound by fairness, honesty and personal responsibility. Our distinction is the quality of service we bring to our customers. Accurate knowledge of our trade combined with ability is what makes us true professionals. Above all, we are watchful of our customers interests, and make their concerns the basis of our business. At Justin Ratts Construction we specialize in concrete block, brick, and stone installation and know that you as a homeowner can take pride in the quality and beauty that our work will contribute to your project.

Response time3 days
Recommended by100%of homeowners
Avatar for Shamrock Maintenance Corp.
Shamrock Maintenance Corp.
3.4(
701
)
Brick or Stone - Tuck-pointingBrick, Stone or Block Wall - Repair

Serving Bluford, IL and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2015

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"We couldnâ t find anyone local to install a chimney, so went with Shamrock, who had a crew working locally, although they were based 2 hrs away. They came sooner than expected, did the job beautifully, and have been easy to contact with any questions we had. Very pleased with the whole project."
Chimney service
Crown and caps
Chimney Repair
Chimney Repair
Chimney Repair

+33

15 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by85%of homeowners
Avatar for Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solution
Crawlspace / Basement Waterproofing Solution
4.4(
256
)
Basement Drainage Channels - InstallBasement Drainage Channels - RepairBrick or Stone - Tuck-pointing+10 more

Serving Bluford, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 1998

Free estimates

Credit card accepted

"We removed the wood paneling in the basement shortly after moving in.  That's when we noticed 13 cracks in the foundation.  None of them structural issues.  They came in and repaired all of them in one day.  A couple of them were difficult to get to due to stairs and piping, but they did a great job on all of them.
"
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos
Additional Photos

+13

Recommended by90%of homeowners
Avatar for RW Construction
RW Construction
4.7(
21
)
Basement Drainage Channels - InstallFoundation Drainage - Install or Replace

Serving Bluford, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Roger was very helpful at a frustrating time in our lives. Everything was going wrong on the new property. His company came in and cleaned off the land and leveled it after digging to find clay and packing new clay on top, so we could set our new home up. He found the water line, electric line, and sewer line. He replace the water and sewer and set the electric pole up for Ameren to connect to. He was amazing, efficient, and capable. I highly recommend him."
Response time1 day
Response rate92%
Recommended by95%of homeowners
A-1 Tuckpointing
4.5(
14
)
Brick or Stone - Tuck-pointingBrick or Stone - Tuckpointing - For Business

Serving Bluford, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Offers commercial services

"Highly recommend Craig I am so done w the annual patch jobs by a supposed masonry contractor who no longer advertises (Don't care much for the related services done by chimney sweeps either) You can expect to pay more for a quality job that lasts and won't need done over every year or two."
Response time8 hrs
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by92%of homeowners
Avatar for AOM Remodeling and Restoration
AOM Remodeling and Restoration
4.6(
52
)
Basement Drainage Channels - InstallBasement Drainage Channels - RepairFoundation Drainage - Install or Replace+1 more

Serving Bluford, IL and surrounding areas

In business since 2012

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"Very professional...both the owner and crew. Careful and meticulous work. Replaced some wood trim that was damaged; moved the heavy furniture...painted a 2-story stairway. Good clean-up each day. And good follow-up on punch list items. Halfway through the project we decided we wanted some additional items painted (powder room and 2 closets...and they fit it into the schedule and the added charge was very reasonable.

What impressed me most was the owner caught some issues that I had missed in punch list items. Increased my confidence in his ability to do a good job. He cares about the quality of his and his crew's work.
"
Kitchen accent
picture 1
picture 2
tan and white trim room
blue and white trim room

+5

Recommended by90%of homeowners
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Masonry questions, answered by experts

There are many things to look for when buying a brick house. Here are some of the key things you should pay close attention to.

  • Lintels: Look for cracks, holes, displacement, or corrosion

  • Mortar: Check to see if the mortar is old and crumbling, in need of repointing, or new. Also check to see if the mortar has a professional finish.

  • Walls: Check along each side of the house. If a wall is bowing outward, this indicates a severe issue such as foundation damage or that the walls are ready to fall.

  • Cracks: If there are stair step cracks in the brickwork, this indicates an unstable foundation.

The best tool for drilling into brick or mortar is a rotary hammer drill which is a large hammer drill with low rotation speed and high torque. Regular drills with a hammer function are also excellent tools for drilling into brick when the diameter of the hole is 1/2 inch or less. It might be possible to drill into brick with a standard drill if you’re only drilling a very small hole, but note that masonry work will put a lot of wear on a standard drill, and the tool may not be strong enough to get through brick.

It is possible, albeit a lot slower, to break up a rock using water. You would do this by freezing and thawing the water. You could create some initial holes or cracks in the rock, then pour water into the cracks or holes and allow them to freeze (so it's best to do this in winter or in colder climates). Since water expands when it freezes, this puts pressure on the inside of the rock and causes it to crack. You could continue to pour more water in and let it freeze to continue to break up the rock.

For most brick cleaning jobs, including fireplace bricks, use a masonry sponge and a gentle cleaner. A simple solution of equal parts water and vinegar, or a few drops of dish soap in a bowl of water, can effectively remove grime. For tougher stains, you can use a dedicated masonry or fireplace cleaner. It is crucial to wet the bricks thoroughly with water before applying any cleaning solution to prevent the brick from absorbing it, and to rinse the surface completely afterward. Harsher cleaners containing bleach or ammonia should only be used as a last resort, and they should never be mixed together.

Use fire bricks for a brick pizza oven. These bricks are typically used for fireplaces and chimneys as they can withstand high temperatures from heat sources. If you attempt to use any other kind of bricks, it’s likely that this material will crack from such high heat exposure in the best case—and potentially explode and cause serious harm in the worst case.

The Bluford, IL homeowners’ guide to masonry services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.