Masonry cement and mixing sand are the ingredients of mortar. You can change the strength and consistency of the mortar, depending on the siding repair requirements (eg. old vs. new houses). This depends on the ratio of sand and cement. There are also ready-to-use mixtures. You just need to mix them with water. The key here is to come up with a pudding-like mixture that you can slice with your trowel. If you are working on old walls, it is best to consult handyman contractors on the right type of mortar mixture.

You begin this siding repair method by removing loose mortar from the damaged area. You also need to clean adjacent mortar areas for easier repair. You can prepare mortar joints by using a cold chisel or a power tool, like a power drill or wheel. The goal is to chisel out a depth of 0.75-1 inch from the repair area. When using a cutting wheel, simply cut the joint on the center line. If you are using a chisel, avoid striking the brick to prevent cracking.

After the preparation, the actual replacement of the bricks is the fun part. Butter the wall-bound sides of the brick. Then, push the brick with ample pressure, just enough to make the mortar ooze out a bit. Proper curing of the mortar is important to brick siding repair. It will help to spray a little water on the bricks after mounting them. You can also cover the repair area with plastic for a few days. This will aid in curing and producing a durable siding.

To do siding repair, you must first be familiar with the parts of a vinyl siding strip. Namely, these are the siding face, nail hem, top lock and buttock. Vertically, strips are connected by matching the top lock of the lower strip and the buttock of the upper strip. The meeting line of the buttock and top lock is the connecting mechanism between the strips.

The key here is to learn how to use the zip tool. It is a small hand-held tool with an especially designed oblique blade. The blade allows it to wedge into vinyl sidings to strip or remove them from the wall. Wedge the curved side of the tool against the overlapping part between two strips. You need to find a somewhat loose part between the sheets. From there, you can slide the zip tool across while exerting upward pressure. This method of siding repair will easily disassemble the lock from the buttock. After doing this for a few inches, you can already remove the entire strip with your hands.

It is also important for siding repair to give nailing allowance for new strips. Vinyl is fastened to the wall by nailing through the elongated holes on the hem. The nailing hem is just above the top lock. It is important NOT to drive the nails too tightly. You need to estimate at least 1/32’’ allowance to allow the siding to “breath.” The strips expand during hot weather and contract during winter. If there is not allowance, the vinyl may buckle or crack. DIY siding repair will save you a lot of money.

Ice Dam Removal Cost

When you schedule a ice dam removal with Revered Construction, LLC, we will go over the exact area of your roof that you would like the snow removal and ice dam removal done to.  Once this is determined our crew will let you know the amount of time to remove your snow & ice dams.  Ice dam removal cost are based on the pitch of your roof and the height, below is a base price guide.  Prices are increased based on your style of roof.

Ice Steamer Cost Per Hour Start @ $300 Per Hour

Snow Removal Cost Per Hour @ $90 Per Man/Per Hour