For over 30 years, EDMAR Corporation – masonry contractor Chicago, has specialized in correcting City of Chicago building violations for commercial, residential, and industrial properties.

EDMAR Corporation is a full service Chicago masonry contractor that solves masonry building violations and porch violations from start to finish. Our team of licensed professionals pull the necessary permits, produce drawings and calculations, complete necessary repairs, to ensure that everything complies with the City of Chicago building code.

Our experience and astounding reputation (check our Yelp reviews & Google reviews) speak volumes about our Chicago masonry services. As fully licensed, bonded, and insured masonry contractors in Chicago, you can rest assured that any repairs performed on your property will be completed in a thorough, safe, and efficient manner.

For a FREE estimate, please contact our offices at 1-847-724-5600 or email us to schedule an appointment. An experienced specialist will walk you through the necessary repairs, provide you with a recommendation, and get you on the way to a violation-free building as fast as possible.

• What is a Chicago Masonry Parapet Wall?

Masonry structure parapet walls are vertical extensions of the building wall system above the roof line, balcony, or walkway. They can serve function of a fall-protective barrier, act as a firewall between two buildings, or have purely aesthetic purpose.

Parapet wall terminates with copings or caps, which are made from various materials. The most common types used in Chicago are metal, stone, clay tile, or precast concrete.

• How often and when the Parapet Wall should be evaluated?

Just like every other masonry structure parapet wall should be inspected by qualified contractors on regular basis. Taking our Chicago climate into consideration, the ideal time to call masonry contractor Chicago, and ask for masonry parapet wall evaluation would be twice a year: in the fall and in the spring.

• What are the signs of Parapet Wall deterioration? The most common signs of moisture damage and freeze-thaw penetration on parapet walls are:

Cracked / open mortar joints, loose / missing mortar | Spalled faces of bricks, CMU’s, stone, or loose masonry units | Efflorescense | Loose, cracked, chipped coping units | Cracks in seams between coping units | Cracks / gaps in roof flashing | Parapet wall buckling

Any of the masonry parapet wall deterioration signs listed above shouldn’t be ignored and corrected as early as possible.

You can perform basic chimney evaluation on your own, but, DON’T EVER lean a ladder against your chimney section extending above the roof!

Observe and evaluate chimney’s condition from the ground, by using binoculars, or call a professional Chicago chimney repair specialist. Any of the CMU or brick chimney problems described below should be serviced as soon as possible.

• The most common masonry chimney problem you’ll be able to notice from the ground is crumbling / missing mortar between the bricks or cinder block units. This can also be a sign of even more significant deterioration inside the chimney walls.
• Spalling is another problem that can be easily spotted on a brick chimney surface. If you notice cracks and peeling sections of bricks, it means that they retain moisture and chimney condition requires further investigation by a masonry contractor or qualified chimney expert.
• Masonry chimney crown is what seals the top of a chimney and prevents rain water from running inside of it. Usually it’s a slab of concrete, sandstone block, or sometimes just a mortar sealed layer of bricks. It might be difficult to determine its condition from the ground level but, if you notice any displacement or cracks along the edges, have it further evaluated by a professional.
• Masonry chimney flashing may not be always visible from the ground level. If you can get a glimpse of it, maybe using a pair of binoculars, look for separation from chimney walls and deformation.
• One last thing that you should be able to determine while standing on the ground is if your chimney is straight or leaning in any direction. Any deviation from perfectly vertical line could be a sign of critical and dangerous condition requiring immediate servicing.

Depending on circumstances, this first stage might require earth moving equipment, in order to remove greenery and existing surfaces, create space that will accommodate sub-base. The granular sub-base is compacted to form sufficient support for the new concrete.

The concrete forms are set along the perimeter, held with wooden or metal stakes in place.

Once the area has been outlined with the forms, it’s time to pour ready mix, distribute it evenly and level it to create positives drainage / direct water away from the property.

Most of the concrete cracks, some sooner, some later, sometimes just a hairline crack here and there, which usually has not structure significance. To minimize, and sometimes completely eliminate possibility of concrete surface cracking caused by restrained shrinkage, loads and other stresses, contraction / construction / isolation joints are created.  

Finishing process involves creating uniform edges, and screeding the concrete surface to ensure proper grade and smoothness. Once this is done, the concrete is left alone for curing which takes 28 days, where the first week is the most critical.

Technically you can walk on a concrete after 24 hours, but, be gentle, don’t drag or twist your feet, keep dogs from walking on it as well since they can scuff the surface. If you can, stretch that initial time frame as much as possible. Also, avoid using any ice melting products for at least one year after the new concrete installation. Some of those chemicals are described as safe for new concrete installations, but we recommend using sand or kat litter for traction instead.