RL Sanborn Masonry

Fireplace Estimate Request Form

2011-12-07T19:46:00.001-08:00

Maine fireplace estimates are available by visiting the folowing link:
http://rlsanborn.com/masonry_fireplace_estimates_Maine.html

RL Sanborn Masonry, Chimney Restoration Contractor, Portland Maine

2011-12-02T09:37:00.001-08:00

RL Sanborn Masonry, Chimney Restoration Contractor, Portland Maine.
http://rlsanborn.com/Brick_chimney_restoration.html

2011-11-11T06:06:00.001-08:00

concrete sidewalk with granite curbing installation

2011-11-08T11:50:00.000-08:00

A Glass Block Shower Is Re-Built In Cumberland, Maine

This glass block shower looked great when it was first installed. The fact that the original installer used glue instead of mortar to set the glass block most likely lead to the mold that had infiltrated the joints. The gluing method had not been discovered until we attempted to remove the bottom coarse alternately as to remove the mold. The structural integrity was compromised due to the lack of mortar. When reinstalling the glass block, proper measures were taken to eliminate the mold issue, such as using mortar as opposed to glue.It may cost a little more to do things properly but it will save you in the long run from having to rebuild.

learn more about glass block installation in Maine.

A Stone Retaining Wall Is Replaced In Portland Maine

2011-10-26T11:18:00.000-07:00

A stone retaining wall at 51 Hammond Street, in Portland, Maine, Has failed and is in need of replacement. First, the existing wall is removed, a footing installed and a new stone retaining wall is installed. Are you in need of a retaining wall replacement? Are you ready for a stone retaining wall estimate? Request an estimate now by clicking here.
Learn more about retaining wall construction by clicking here.

Brick Steps Replaced On Belfort Street Portland Maine

2011-10-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

Granite Chimney Cap Installation

2011-10-03T12:42:00.000-07:00

Chimney Estimates, RL Sanborn Masonry, Maine Chimney Contractor

2011-08-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

Chimney Estimates, RL Sanborn Masonry, Maine Chimney Contractor

RL Sanborn Masonry, Maine Masonry Contractor, Estimate Request

2011-08-11T12:43:00.000-07:00

Request Maine Masonry Contractor Estimates by RL Sanborn Masonry

Solid granite steps installation with cobblestone landing in South Portland, Maine.

2011-08-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

Four solid granite steps and a cobblestone landing are installed in South Portland, Maine.
The original failed concrete steps are demolished. The debris is removed. The site is excavated. Two steel reinforced concrete pads are formed and poured. The first steel reinforced concrete pad acts as a base for the cobblestone landing as well as a retaining wall that abuts the back of the solid granite steps. The retaining wall section of the pad will prevent the steps from being moved by the frost as well as a solid structure for the back of the steps to meet. The second pad will be a base for the steps. Next the granite steps are delivered and set on the ground to be cut to match the dimension of the original steps. The solid granite steps are then carefully set in place along with solid granite risers. A stone dust base is installed upon the landing’s concrete base. The dust will act as drainage for the landing as well as proper grading. It will also serve as buffer so that the landing properly meets both the top granite step and the bottom of the existing wooden steps. The cobblestones are first laid out to determine the best symmetrical pattern. Measurements and marking of the cobblestones is done before the stones are cut to the appropriate size. The cobblestones are then set upon the landing. Next the joints are filled with stone dust. There are quite a few other tasks involved. This is not a simple task by any means and should only be left to qualified professionals.

A Blue Stone Patio Is Installed In Portland, Maine.

2011-07-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

A Blue Stone Patio Is Installed In Portland, Maine,by expert craftsmen.

The proper installation of a blue stone patio requires skill and experience. The work itself is very difficult and requires knowledge that is not possibly to express, in a few photos.

First the site is carefully excavated, as not to disrupt surrounding structures and landscaping. The debris is carefully removed and disposed of. A stone sub base, consisting of inch and a half crushed stone, is installed. The stone sub base provides proper drainage as well as a substructure to prevent frost damage. A stone dust base is then installed and graded for proper water displacement. This will prevent water from pooling that would form ice patches in the winter. The stone dust base insures that the stones have a solid and smooth surface to be set upon. The stone dust base prevents stone fractures, resulting when a flat stone resting upon blunt objects has the force of weight applied upon it.
Next each stone is surveyed to determine optimal placement for esthetics. One by one the stones are set and checked for proper grade. A proper patio is never level with the horizon, to allow for runoff, and must follow the lay of the landscaping to match existing elements. A great deal of mastery is involved to install a patio properly. The final step is to fill in the joints with stone dust.
If you are considering having a blue stone patio installed, there are many local stone supply centers right here in Portland. It is a good idea to decide on a stone preference and be educated on the costs of varying stone.
It is important to note that the labor costs will exceed the cost of materials. It is crucial to seek the services of a reputable contractor. A reputable patio contractor will not leave you searching for a competent contractor, a few months down the road. When you notice that your patio has buckled, has turned into an ice rink or the stones are all cracked, you will wish you had hired a reputable patio contractor.
When you decide that you are ready to have your new blue stone patio installed, call the blue stone patio experts, call RL Sanborn Masonry in Portland Maine (207) 619-7473. Feel free to visit their website and request a patio estimate.

stone wall in cape elizabeth restored.3g2

2011-06-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Stone wall restoration in Cape Elizabeth Maine.3g2

2011-06-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

How Often Should A Chimney Be Inspected?

2011-06-13T11:02:00.000-07:00

How Often Should A Chimney Be Inspected?
Answered by RL Sanborn Masonry, Portland, Maine Masonry contractor
RL Sanborn Masonry 2011
http://rlsanborn.com
Chimney inspection frequency depends upon the purpose of the chimney. We recommend annual inspections for chimneys that are in use, especially when the use of the chimney is seasonal. A chimney can become hazardous and should be observed and inspected periodically. An example of a seasonal chimney would be a chimney in a home that is used only for heating. When the chimney is not in use there is a chance that birds or other animals will build nests. If you have an electric hot water heater, there is a chance that your chimney is not in constant use.
Obstructions in a chimney flue are extremely hazardous. The primary purpose of a chimney flue is to exhaust noxious gases away from the home. Flues should also be inspected to determine if they are intact. When clay flue tiles are not properly installed they will generally crack and or collapse at some point. A collapsed flue would cause an obstruction and allow emissions to infiltrate into living spaces. A cracked flue would do a little of the same and may not be noticed without close inspection. We recommend the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in all occupied spaces. Carbon monoxide is not detectable by human senses.
Other areas of concern would be the chimney crown, chimney cap, top courses of brick and the flashing. If deterioration has reached the point where restoration is required, it would be prudent to act without haste. Falling brick is something to be considered, not to mention the damage that can result, when water infiltrates the interior of the chimney via failed crown, mortar joints or flashing. If your chimney is no longer in use, it should be inspected every five years or removed. We recommend maintaining chimneys that are not in use. The option of future restoration and use, as well as the value masonry adds to any structure, is a good reason not to remove a chimney.
If the mortar joints crack and are replaced every season then chances are that the issue is related to an improper footing.
Chimney Inspections Are Important!

Brick Steps Replacement University Of Southern Maine May 30, 2011

2011-05-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

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Why Are Chimney Inspections Important?

2011-05-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Why Are Chimney Inspections Important?

There are many reasons why it is Important to have periodic chimney inspections. There are many hazards that can interrupt the safe operation of a chimney system.

One chimney often services multiple heating systems in the home such as furnaces, fireplaces and fossil fuel stoves. Any system, that comprises the use of fossil fuels, requires adequate exhaust to remove emissions.
This is possible due to the fact that most chimneys contain multiple flues. If a chimney has only one flue, it should only service one system. There are cases where two or more systems use a single flue. This is considered hazardous and a serious code violation.

If you believe your chimney has only one flue, yet you have more than one system exhausting to that chimney, there exists a hazard that needs correction.

A chimney is designed to remove noxious exhaust from household heating systems. It is akin to the exhaust pipe on a tractor trailer truck. The stack is elevated beyond the cab enclosure of a tractor trailer, in an effort to exhaust the emissions into the atmosphere above the occupants. Without a properly operating chimney, the occupants of the structure are exposed to dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is undetectable by the natural senses. Any home that contains a system that is powered by fossil fuel combustion should also contain carbon monoxide detectors. If your carbon monoxide detector detects carbon monoxide, the structure should be vacated at once.

Due to the harsh weather in Maine and the high concentrations of salt in the atmosphere near the coast, chimneys take a lot of abuse. Chimney enemy number one is a damp salty atmosphere. Salt in the air is corrosive to the brick and mortar of a chimney. Though a chimney may appear stable from the ground, at higher levels the mortar is generally softer. The crown and final courses will take the brunt of the abuse and are the most likely to show failures. When the mortar joints take on water they eventually reach a point of saturation. When the joints have failed and are saturated, water begins to infiltrate the structure. This leads to interior damage to the building as well as accelerated decay of adjacent mortar joints.

The best preventative measure is to periodically apply masonry sealant to exposed masonry as well as scheduling of periodic chimney inspection. For Cumberland County Maine, There is RL Sanborn Masonry, a Chimney Inspection Contractor.

A Brief History Of Brick And Stone Construction

2011-04-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

The use of masonry dates back over 5000 years. Stonehenge provides insight into the history of stone work as a form of construction.
The use of clay to form brick dates back to PPNB period(Pre-Pottery Neolithic B).

Tell Aswad , a Neolithic oval shaped Tell is 540,000 sq ft in size. Carbon dating back to between 8700BC and 8200BC, Tell Aswad provides a glimpse into the origin of the use of formed clay as a building material to construct massive structures. With clay the ancient cultures constructed buildings, using formed beds of reeds to mold the bricks into shape. This was followed by a drying process before the bricks were ready for use.

Masonry structures are built with the intention of outlasting the builder. A trained mason, who has devoted the majority of their life to the trade, has the knowledge to provide sound and lasting work.
Brick and stone structures not only provide practicality, they are of great historical value.

In Portland Maine there are stone masons and bricklayers who devote their lives to the art of stone and brick masonry.

2010-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

RL Sanborn Masonry provides expert masonry building restoration services to Cumberland County, Maine residents and businesses. Whether your building is a brick structure or a stone home, we are prepared to earn your business with outstanding service at reasonable rates. We are equipped and possess the knowledge to take on any building restoration, big or small.

Our services vary from spot pointing for maintenance to complete brick and mortar restoration.

Mortar joint replacement is a messy job. We take the utmost precautions to keep your property safe and tidy, during the procedure. If your building has crumbling mortar and or cracked, loose or missing bricks, you know the name you can trust for your 100% satisfaction. Please call the masonry building restoration pros, at RL Sanborn Masonry, Today!

We promise that the results will elate you!

Times Are Tough

2008-12-06T07:26:00.001-08:00

Times are tough for all of us in these days.

You can count on the Professional, affordable & courteous Masonry Services offered
by RL Sanborn Masonry.

Our rates remain affordable to help our customers continue to maintain existing masonry for safety and durability through these hard times.

With 25 years experience and the highest quality products and services RL Sanborn Masonry will save you money without compromising quality

Avoid sticker shock and call us today (207)619-7473

You will love the quality and the comfort of affordable rates.

We out bid the competition to earn your business.
http://rlsanborn.com

Offset heating fuel costs with a fireplace

2008-08-06T04:37:00.001-07:00

It is a good time to think about alternative energy.

This artical attemps to describe the efficient workings of the Rumford fireplace, which was designed around the time the Franklin woodstove was invented.
The Woodstove led to the oil or gas furnaces we rely on today.

The Rumford fireplace was designed to emit radiant heat. The firebox dimensions and angles provide a means for the heat to be reflected into the room while the smoke shelf and throat provided a strong enough draft to pull the smoke up and away from the ground.

Prior to the invention of the Rumford fireplace, streets in London England were plagued by smoke that was drafting downward.

With todays energy problems it seems reasonable to look back in the past to revisit how our current systems have thwarted alternative means of day to day living.

Before internal combustion engines became the rage, many alternatives were available and ready to be developed.

The steam propelled automobile, though cost effective, proved to be a bit slow warming up. Society was hungry for the instant gratification that the internal combustion engine offered.

Electricity was another overruled source because it required more effort than just filling a tank. Where it takes five minutes to fill a tank with gas it could take hours to recharge a battery. This was an inconvenience for an economy at it's industrial peak.

Now that oil prices have pushed the envelope, we are left to ponder about possible solutions.

As far as home heating goes, a Rumford fireplace is an attractive alternate heat source that is not effected by power outages or gas prices.

The Rumford ads style to any room and makes a house feel like a home.

There is nothing like a roaring fire to chase the bitter cold away.

RL Sanborn Masonry has been building, restoring and repairing Rumford fireplaces for a quarter century.
The Rumford fireplaces built by RL Sanborn are built to the exacting original standards and work like no other fireplace ever built.

Modern Fireplaces today lack the intricate mechanical substructure of the Rumford.
They are generally designed for people who will never use them. When the need or urge arrises it is met by a smoke filled house.

Call RL Sanborn Masonry Today (207)619-7473
visit our website http://rlsanborn.com
Cut your oil or Gas heating costs with an authentic Rumford Fireplace.

MASONRY Fireplace builder, stone work, brick work & more

2008-08-06T04:35:00.000-07:00

MASONRY Fireplace builder, stone work, brick work & more

Masonry, Understanding The Trade And The Artisans

2007-03-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Masonry, Understanding The Trade And The Artisans
23rd, March 2007
Masonry as a trade is an often misunderstood Trade.It is not meant to be confused with Free Masonry. Though the two are related in a certain degree, they are not one in the same. Freemasonry is a Fraternal organization and is not one in the same with the trade.

Although the latter is an interesting topic our purpose here is to discuss masonry as a trade. In The earliest transgressions of masonry, Humans and other Primates used stones as tools according to the earliest records and research available, the recorded stone etchings themselves masonry.
A true Mason is a practicing Artisan. Masons may dabble in hobbies, yet are known as Masons.
Any man, woman or child can create a simple stone structure. A small pile of stones for instance. The Trade itself however requires drive, motivation, trained eyes,
high intelligence ,artistic ability, strength and most importantly years as a Masons Tender. The Tender stage is where many would be Masons opt out. To survive the rigors of brutal work in the harshest climates ,often unprotected from the elements, is in itself a challenge.
Masons do not only think from the ground up, as they know what lies below the surface can support or destroy the Work above.
If the work is destroyed by the normal conditions of it’s environment, so too is the Mason.
His work is his lifeblood. It is a presentation of his skill level. His sandcastles are the best and they stay the longest. He takes the time to understand the chemistry of his mortar which will seal his work and bond it together for centuries. He is immortal and survives long past his natural life. He lives in the Artistry of his work never faltering to the abuse it takes from Man and Mother nature.
Masonry is responsible for the oldest existing structures on earth, that were expertly crafted and have lasted millennium after millennium. That is what a true Mason hopes for. His greatest desire and primary focus is to secure his work for many life times to be enjoyed by masses.
R.L. Sanborn Masonry 2007
J.E. Sanborn Author