Masonry work on natural stone homes Montreal

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Preserve the beauty of your home with our masonry work for natural stone homes!

A natural stone home is a symbol of durability, elegance and timeless charm. However, like all homes, the passage of time and the elements may require repairs to preserve the integrity of the structure. Restaure-Action is proud to put its masonry expertise at your service to perform a full range of masonry work on your natural stone home to prevent more serious problems.

What masonry work can be done on a natural stone home?

The type of masonry work that can be carried out on a natural stone home can vary according to the specific needs of the house, its general condition, its age, and the owner’s objectives. Here’s a list of the different types of work commonly carried out on natural stone homes:

• Repairing / repointing mortar joints: This involves removing damaged or worn mortar joints between stones and replacing them with fresh mortar. This step is designed to improve the structural integrity and watertightness of the masonry.
• Replacing damaged stones: If individual stones are broken, cracked or severely damaged, they can be removed and replaced with stones of similar size to restore the house’s original appearance.
• Consolidating and securing masonry with structural anchors: Consolidating and securing structural anchors for a natural stone house usually involves strengthening fixings, replacing damaged or rusted anchors, and ensuring their stability to guarantee the structure’s durability and resistance to structural loads.
• Foundation repair: Repairing natural stone foundations may be necessary if they show signs of cracking, deterioration or instability. This may involve reinforcing existing foundations or replacing damaged sections.
• Repairing stone chimneys: Over time, natural stone chimneys may require repair work to repair cracks, mortar joints, heat damage, or to restore their structural integrity.
• Moisture treatment: Repairing water infiltration or moisture problems is essential to protect stone masonry. This can include the installation of moisture barriers (such as water or air barriers), drainage or waterproofing membranes.
• Thermal insulation: Adding thermal insulation can improve a home’s energy efficiency while preserving its stone exterior. We can advise you on the best type of insulation for your natural stone home.
• Frost boil repair: Frost boil repair on a natural stone home typically involves removing affected stones, correcting underlying structural problems, repositioning stones, and repointing to restore the integrity and overall appearance of the stone wall.
• Adding intra-wall flashings: Repairing intra-wall flashings in natural stone homes generally involves replacing or repairing damaged elements, restoring waterproofing to prevent water infiltration, and repointing masonry joints to ensure protection against moisture.
• Replacing spandrels, lintels and angle irons: Replacing spandrels, lintels and angle irons on a natural stone house involves removing damaged elements, fabricating new custom-made elements in natural stone, then installing them to ensure the stability and structural integrity of the stone wall.

What are the components of a natural stone house wall?

• Stones: Natural stones are the main component of stone masonry. They may vary in size, shape and type of stone, but they are selected for their durability and aesthetic appearance. The stones are stacked or laid side by side to form the wall.
• Mortar joints: Mortar joints are fillers used to fix stones in place. Mortar is generally composed of cement, lime and sand. It fills the spaces between the stones and ensures the wall’s stability.
• Foundations: The foundation is the base on which the stone wall rests. They are often made of concrete or stone as well, and serve to spread the wall’s load evenly over the ground to prevent subsidence. 
• Lintels and sills: Stone lintels are horizontal elements that support the masonry above openings such as doors and windows. Stone thresholds are placed at the bottom of openings to ensure a smooth transition between inside and outside.
• Corner stones: Corner stones are special stones placed at the corners of the wall to provide stability and reinforce the structure. They are often larger or cut differently for a distinctive appearance.
• Water drainage: Fieldstone walls can be fitted with drainage systems or gutters to prevent water from accumulating on the masonry and thus preventing moisture damage.
• Insulation (where applicable): In some modern renovations, thermal insulation can be added to the inside or outside of the fieldstone wall to improve the home’s energy efficiency.
• Parging (where applicable): In certain situations, a finishing parging may be applied to the exterior surface of the stone wall for aesthetic reasons or additional protection.

What are the main types of stone used for masonry work on fieldstone houses?

Natural houses are built with a variety of natural stone types, each with its own aesthetic and structural characteristics. 

The most common types of stone used for natural stone homes include :

• Granite: Granite is a highly durable and resistant natural stone. It is often used for its ability to resist weathering, cracking and fading, making it a popular choice for fieldstone homes. 
• Schist: Schist is a sedimentary stone that splits easily into thin layers. It is often used for fieldstone walls because of its distinctive flaky texture.
• Limestone: Limestone is a soft stone that can be cut with ease. It is often used to create intricate architectural details on fieldstone homes, such as cornices and decorative elements. The limestone we use most is Saint-Marc limestone, which comes from a limestone quarry of the same name, located in the Quebec City region
• Sandstone: Sandstone is a hard, durable stone commonly used in the construction of fieldstone walls. 
• Gneiss: Gneiss is a metamorphic stone with a granular texture. It is prized for its strength and durability, as well as for its variations in color and pattern. 
• Slate schist: This type of schist is often used for its ability to divide into thin, flat layers. It is commonly used to create slate roofs in regions where this roofing technique is traditional.
• Marble: Although less common than other types of stone, marble is sometimes used for specific decorative or architectural elements in fieldstone homes because of its beauty and elegance.

Why choose Restaure-Action for masonry work on natural stone homes?

Our team of qualified professionals is dedicated to specialized masonry work and has more than 60 years’ combined experience. We have all the qualifications and skills needed to carry out masonry work on natural stone homes. We can carry out these repairs in both the residential sector (houses, apartment buildings, townhouses, duplexes and triplexes) and the commercial sector (commercial spaces, warehouses, historic buildings, etc.). 

**Please note that we do not specialize in the restoration of heritage / patrimonial buildings. However, if your home is considered heritage, it’s important to let us know. As far as possible, we’ll try to use materials that will preserve the building’s character**.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about masonry work on natural stone homes, our other masonry services or to request a free estimate, we invite you to contact us. Our team will get back to you as soon as possible. We travel to many parts of Montreal to provide residential and commercial masonry services.