Metro Detroit’s Masonry Q&A Hub

I have a 70-year-old home and the cement windowsills are worn down and need to be replaced, but I’m told they don’t make those type anymore. What materials would you use?

Answer

That’s a pretty common situation with older homes.

We’ve done a lot of this type of work in Madison Heights. The cement sills that are available today can still be used as a replacement, but they’re not an exact match to what was originally installed, and they’re typically not as durable. They’ll do the job, but they usually don’t last as long as the originals did.

If you’re looking for something that’s going to hold up long-term, limestone is usually the better option. It costs a little more upfront, but it’s much more durable and built to last. Realistically, you’re putting something back on the house that can last another 70 years.

It really comes down to whether you want a more budget-friendly fix or something that you won’t have to think about again.

I have some bricks on the lower part of my home that have gaping holes in them and I’m getting rats inside. Can you remove the rats and plug the holes?

Answer

We handle the brick repair side of it, not the pest removal.

We’ve done a lot of brick repairs in Huntington Woods. When bricks start breaking down near the base of the home, it can create openings that rodents will take advantage of.

Before anything gets sealed up, the rats need to be properly dealt with. If the holes get closed while they’re still inside, it usually turns into a bigger problem. A pest control company should take care of removing them and making sure there’s no active issue inside.

Once that’s handled, we can come in, remove the damaged bricks, replace them, and seal everything back up properly so there are no entry points left. The goal is to fix it the right way so it doesn’t happen again.

The bricks on the front of my house don’t look smooth anymore — they’re kind of rough and beat up. Is that just cosmetic or something going on?

Answer

That’s brick breaking down from moisture. We do a lot of this type of repair in Waterford. Over time, water wears away the outer face of the brick, especially with repeated freeze-thaw exposure. Once that surface starts to go, the brick loses its protective layer and begins to chip, flake, and pit.

That process is called spalling. At first it might seem like just an appearance issue, but it usually continues to get worse if it’s not addressed. As more of the face breaks off, the brick becomes weaker and more vulnerable to further damage. Replacing the affected bricks restores both the look of the wall and its ability to hold up long-term.