PPatios, Walkways, Barbeques & Steps

A new patio or outside barbeque can add years of enjoyment to outdoor living at your home .  MCP offers a variety of design options for patio, walkway and step construction.  From flagstone to brick, we are able to construct a patio that meets your specifications. Our goal is to provide you with an aesthetically pleasing patio with a sturdy foundation and proper grade to last a lifetime. We can also  turn old and damaged patios, walkways, or steps to new condition by re-facing surfaces using flagstone, brick, cobble, pea gravel aggregate, and more!

BRICK 

Traditional brick patios are very durable, but because there are irregularities in the surface they are prone to chipping around the edges.  However, they are very low maintenance and last a long time.  Laying brick is a time consuming process and therefore brick work can be expensive compared to other options.  We begin the installation process by excavating the area and pouring a 4" concrete bed. The bricks are then set in a mortar bed and leveled one at a time. Then all the spaces between the bricks are filled with a mortar joint.

We also offer Interlocking brick patios which can be more economical because they are set in sand instead of in mortar over concrete.

Flagstone 

Flagstone is a generic term for thin flat rock that is used for paving flat surfaces. Flagstone is named from the location of the quarry it comes from. Arizona red is a reddish sand stone; Pennsylvania blue is a grey blue. The cost of flagstone is moderate compared to other options, requires  some maintenance (depending on what stones are set in) and is very aesthetically pleasing.

The installation process is very similar to laying brick.  However, the stones can be set directly over the soil, sand or stone-dust which will reduce the cost.  Subsequently, the stones can move and shift over time and will have to be readjusted from time to time.

Stamped Concrete 

Stamped concrete is available in a variety of colors and patterns which are aesthetically pleasing but do look somewhat artificial when looking at it at close range.  Moderately priced, It is easy to maintain and maintains a new look for a long time if it is sealed on a regular basis.  Stamped concrete patio are laid  in 4 inches of concrete with ½ inch rebar going both ways. The "stamping' happens after the concrete has been poured and just before it sets up. There are several methods of stamping. The most common is to use a rubber mat like material with the desired pattern molded into one side. The molded pattern is placed down on the concrete leaving the desired pattern in the concrete. The procedure is repeated over the area to be stamped. Control joints are placed in the concrete in the effort to have the cracks follow the joints. This does not always happen and the cracks can appear anywhere in the newly finished concrete.

Paving Stones

Paving stones are available in a wide variety of colors and finishes that can match the architectural style of your home. The paving stones is more affordable today than before. When one compares similar aspects of a stamped concrete patio done correctly costs are usually less. However when the advantages of each are compared the paving stones far outweigh the concrete.

Concrete will crack and paving stones will not; stamped concrete will fade and the exact colors can not always be predicted, whereas paving stones colors can be seen and chosen before they go in; concrete has no warranty against; cracking paving stones have a lifetime warranty; concrete cannot be repaired without noticing the repair marks; paving stones can be replaced without seeing any evidence of the repair; concrete is an artificial copy where each paving stones is a unique unit.

Concrete 

Patios built out of concrete are constructed out of 4 inches of 2000 psi concrete with ½ inch rebar placed every 24 inches on center going in both directions. The soil underneath is well compacted to limit the amount of cracking in the concrete over time..

Masonry Repairs

MCP Chimney Service's technicians are trained in to detect and repair masonry problems such as:

Spalling is when the face of the bricks actually break away, exposing the remaining softer portions of the brick to even greater deterioration. 

 Interior water damage may go undetected for years until a white chalky substance forms on the exterior brick, Efflorescence is both unsightly and damaging over time.

As the seasons change, moisture that has seeped inside your brick structure will expand and contract with the freezing and thawing temperatures. The resulting damage causes loss of insulation value and eventually structural decay.

Firebox Repairs

The  firebox is the part of the fireplace where combustion of the wood or gas takes place and is often the first part of the system to be damaged since it is exposed to heat reaching temperatures up to 800 degrees.  It is important to repair damaged bricks or mortar joints immediately to keep heat from damaging the chimney system or your home. If any of the bricks are loose or if  the mortar joints are eroded our service technicians can tuck-point the damaged or missing mortar joints or rebuild your firebox with new firebricks and high temperature refractory mortar; thereby restoring the structural integrity of this important part of your fireplace system.   Prefabricated (metal) fireboxes that are found in many homes have masonry refractory panels that need to be replaced once they have have cracks in them. 

Crown Repair/Replacement

The crown or wash is the masonry surface at the top of your chimney. Its job is to shed water away from the flue and also keep water from entering the chimney system. Cracks or missing pieces in the mortar crown can lead to extensive water damage in your chimney. Mortar crowns may be repaired with traditional masonry products or a specialized waterproofing product called CrownSeal. 

Waterproofing

There are approximately 40 million masonry chimneys in North America and the most common problems with these structures is water penetration. Water causes over 1 billion dollars in damage annually in the form of staining, loss of insulation value, freeze-thaw damage, deterioration, and ultimately structural failure. All new and existing masonry chimneys are susceptible to water damage and, even if repaired, chimneys will continue to deteriorate if they are not protected.  It is important to address this problem before serious damage occurs.  Water damage can be prevented by applying a 100% vapor permeable water repellant that keeps moisture out of the chimney system by filling all gaps up to a 1/4" but allows water vapor to escape which helps condensation from continuing to cause damage.  This is the best solution for a variety of exterior masonry applications including, patios, walkways, pool decks, and  wall systems.

Tuck-pointing

The mortar between the bricks has cracked and worn away over time.  This is a very common problem and a solution that MCP technicians employ on a daily basis.

The first step in a proper tuck-pointing job is to grind the old and worn mortar out of the joints. The joints are then thoroughly rinsed.

New mortar is then "tuck-pointed" into the newly opened joints.

The mason will then strike the joints to seal and to give the joints a clean and detailed finish.

The final step is a thorough brushing to clean up the excess and the tuck-pointing job is complete and ready to provide many years of sound structure and beauty

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