Homes near the downtown core of Toronto are generally reaching that age where if no major maintenance has been done in the past 10-15 years, it's beginning to become critical to do it now. Even things as durable as brick siding is reaching the end of it's useful life, and you have homes where the brick is now crumbling or falling off completely. Tuck point is always an option, but leaves the wall looking patched and is a temporary solution - other parts of it will begin to degrade in just a few years.
One option is to re-clad the walls with a product known as Exterior Insulation Finish Systems (EIFS, sometimes mistakenly called "Stucco"). EIFS begins with a cementitious layer directly over the brick cladding that will seal in mortar and brick that is starting to crumble or come apart. On top of that layer, insulation is added, which is then coated with a fibreglass mesh, another cementitious base coat and an attractive acrylic finish coat.
Aside from modernizing the look of the home, the insulation that is part of the EIF system helps home owners to lower their heating bills, actually turning this project into an investment. While it takes upwards of a dozen years sometimes, you will get a return on your money. Toronto Stucco Contractors are a great starting point to get more information on how renovating with EIFS might help your home. Government programs are typically available that will pay for a portion of the renovation as well, as an incentive to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
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