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'AGE 16, WIIIY F£EE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5,ý 991 Ail aout rick This article is prouided. by local realtors, and the Ontario Real Estate Association (OR14)for the benefit of conaumewrs -in th real estate market. With us since ancient Urnes, bricks are one of the moot popular building' materials used in Canada, ospecially in Ontetrio.' iàke other products of the masonry family' -- stone, block tile and'concrete -- brick ie madeo f natural- materials that combine beauty wiïth utility and durability Not ol are masonry products like brick permanent, but thoy are bgl resistant ta natural doterioration by wind, water, tre sun and peste., Ini fct, Mo suiving ancient structures are of masonry and the deterioration they show is more manls doing than naturee., , 1Made of varions cdaymitrs bricks once were moldod by hand. Today, the clay ie forced through a die, then cut tosize with wires. Aller drying, the bricks are fired or "'burned' in a kilh.n. Theresui je a very bard, permanent product with many advantages: it nover bas to be painted, it je virtua]ly self.washing with a good ramn or hosing, it ages weil, and gonerally requires very litle maintenance. Although eomewhaât exponsive, dlay bricks are well worth thoir coet. Thoy corne in an array of coloure, sizes and- textures. Colours range frorn white to black with buifs, tans, browns, yeilows and rede. Almoot any earth tone can be incorported and norne bricks can even be custorn- coloured. Textures range fr-or srnooth to rock face, bark-like te, vertical scoring. Bricks can also be made ë,f materiale* other than dlay. Concrete brick je made of cernent, graded aggregates and water. It,. available. in many shapes, sizes, textures and colours for prcicay any purpose. Wbile e mvo and lighter, t is generally flot as coorast or water- resistant as genuine dlay brick. SoZ, be sure to check the kind of bik you're getting before buying. Brick choices The wide varioty of bricks available break down- into four basic types: building brick, face brick, rirebrick and paving brick. Buildiffg bricks corne in 'a variety of colours and shpes, but are primarily red 'and reétan- gular. Bocause thoy account for the maqjority of ail bricks used, tbey are generaily -losse expensive. Tbree main grades are availabie: non-weathoring brick for intorior use, moderato weathoring brick for outdoor use in' warmer clirates, and severe weathering brick for use anywhere. Face bricks are used for more decorative purposes. They corne ini a wide variety of colours, textures and dimensions. Because they are made with more care and are usually rated for severe weathering, they tend te be the moot expensive type of brick. Ffretricks are used te line firoplacos and furnaces or any location where protection frorn heat is required. Because they are made of special clays and flred te 'higher temperatures, they can withstand intense heat. Paving bricks are harder and more durable than building bricks and- are usually sizod for use without mortar. Theyare typically ueed in drivoways, parking areas and sidewalks. MStar Most brickwork muet be mortared. Made of cernent, lime, sand and water, mortar ie the bonding agent or Ilglue? that sticks masonry units together. It also "eas out wind and water, Com estes for variations in brick s"e anchors metal ties and reinforcemets and provides various dcraieeffects. Mortar can be coloured or applied in certain ways -tocroate a special deéorative offect. For instance, the weeping mortar look bas the mortar coming out frorn in between the bricks. Cbe.ning rcw k Over time, brickwork ,can coilect a variety of unattractivo stains and mronefrern dirt, chemnicale mneaiand salt depo«iteý, plant growth, cilsý, painte andemoke. 1 The appearance of brickwork can be onhancod. with a good cleaning, but « this requires ptience and the right inaterials. Imroperý cleaning methode can irreparably daniage brickwork. Be sure te consuit a brick specialiet. before using any chemnical. And always test a small area firet. Sone stains can be rernoved by sirnply scrubbing the surface with a Iitchen cleansor or treating thern with household bloach. Othora can bo romovod by using a poutice -- apaste madeout of a solvont and inort matorial - appropriate> for the type of stain. Poultices work by pulling the stain out of the pores of the brick. Water blasting and sandblasting can sornotirnos be used ta rejuvenate brickwork. Water blasting relies on the force of water rather than abrasives. But it should only be usod on fully-cured masonry surfaces and left to, dry for' at loast two weeks before applying Sandblasting drives an abrasive SEE PAGE 17 JOHN RANKIN For Ail Your Heatinc ~ & Cooling Needs 6oo-use Sales.e Service %q Installation Muflethat noise!. (SOP) Whon ternporatures push upwardls of -30 degrees C and sty there, air conditioning je often the only relief. But while you cool off, your neighbours may- be hot under the collar about the noise your air concitioner je generating. There are no soundles air conditioning systeme, but there are ways to minimize the noise. That can load te a more poaceful summer in more ways than one. Wbile people's concern over noise pollution may be overtaken by environinontal worries like toxic waste and ozone-layer depietion, some municipalities do have noise control codes that not C:er et r 1 Air npd ln f rc>g m$ 00 inistaiIed Hurry! Limited time offer! all air conditioning systeme meet. The key te, controlling noise ftorn a window unit-'or a central systern je specfiùig that ,you want the quieteet unit in the shop, and making sure it is properly installed and tested for noise. But what of noisy, systeme that a tenant niigh4t flnd already in place? ' In central air conditioning, the source of most bothersorne noise je in the condensig unit itsolfý which is always outaido. The noise cornes as airpas. through the. fan and the comrnressor, and, an 'air conSonerthat je not sitting perfectly balanoed je a Véry likely noisernaker. The oquipmont varies frorn manufacturer te, manufacturer. In some units, cooled air is vented horizontaily by the, condensig unit. Other. models vent the air -frorn the top of the unit. Top-venting je usually quioteet. Location je another factor. The equipment is bulky, seo horneowners tend te place it; as inconspicutously as they can. Where dwellings are close te, one another, air conditioners are often poorly placed in narrow- spaces between buildings. Another noise-magnifier je a roof ovorhang. Tho best place, of course, would be as far frorn the. houe and the proerty line as Ioseible. Vor often, it isn't possible If the unit is on a rooý sorne experte recommend'sorne kind of Vibration-rostricter like -a heavýy plate under tho condensing unit. As or ce~lirconditionng iyStorn thatia1 already in place, nanufaàturorércommend chek ngiti méinýenanc. The eider he system ', the more likely the nise. Other options rnight be natural or man-made outdoor berrnera or mifoers. LB1~AnTO§ AIR CONDMIONING & HEAING Qualit& Value. r