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BASIC COMPANY INFORMATION:
Owner: James Allen Brown
Business location: Grants Pass, Oregon
Phone: 541-659-9622
Fax: 541-226-2573
E-mail: brownbearmason@aol.com
Contractors license # : 190422 LLC, General Contractor , Commercial and Residential
City of Grants Pass business License #: 099218
Liability Insurance: Country Insurance
Bond: Country Insurance
Business established: June, 2008
Current employees: 2
Workman's Comp Insurance # 742495
See our SERVICES PAGE for links to our suppliers.
ABOUT BROWN BEAR MASONRY LLC:
Owner Jim Brown is experienced in all aspects of masonry. Jim has lived in the Rouge Valley all his life and enjoys making our area beautiful one project at a time. He takes pride in his work and it shows in the quality of the job. Jim's favorite saying is " the truth is in the trowel" and he works hard to get every job done to the satisfaction of the customer. Brown Bear Masonry truly appreciates all of our customers , contractors, and suppliers . Thank You!
WHY BROWN BEAR?
A bear represents strength and leaves a paw print every where it's been. What we want for our company is to grow strong and leave a good long lasting impression on every job we do. We are excited to start every new job and it's our personal goal to meet every customers needs. A job worth doing, is a job worth doing well.
CCB#190422
WHAT IS MASONRY?
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar. The common materials used are brick, block and stone. Masonry is used both for building structures and cosmetic appearance.
HISTORY OF MASONRY:
Masonry is one of the worlds oldest professions. The Pyramids, The Taj Mahal, The Great Wall of China, some of the most significant architectural achievements have been built with masonry. Throughout civilization, architects and builders have chosen masonry for it's beauty, versatility, and durability. Artistic , fire proof, and resistant to weather masonry structures can withstand the normal wear and tear of centuries.
ADVANTAGES OF MASONRY:
Structurally masonry is the way to go. The advantages are, fire resistance, soundproofing from thicker walls, lower energy bills from concretes thermal mass, termites don't like to eat masonry, no wood rot worries, possible lower homeowners insurance, weather resistant, low maintenance, environmentally friendly and not to mention the wolf can't blow it down.
Cosmetically, masonry enhances and ads value to anything it's applied to. It creates sophistication and uniqueness to a home. A fireplace in a home adds tremendous value not only for heating purposes, but comfort and beauty.
GREEN MASONRY?
Is masonry green? The answer is yes, and for many reasons. The ingredients of masonry are inert, non-toxic, and promote excellent indoor air quality (Portland Cement Association). Masonry's natural textures and colors eliminate the need for painting, drywall, or other finishes reducing undesirable chemicals in the air. Masonry's thermal mass provides optimal heating and cooling efficiency. Masonry is renewable and reusable. Rock and sand are in no short supply and are easily accessible, thus renewable. Local material supplies are satisfied on the LEED checklist because masonry products are commonly extracted from and manufactured within the building site region supporting the local economy. Grants Pass has many natural resources for masonry, including real stone from our rivers and hills and manufactured stone made by Rogue River Stone.
BUILDING WITH BLOCK:
Concrete blocks known's as CMU's (concrete masonry units) are produced with a mixture of cement, sand and crushed stone, or lightweight aggregate. Blocks are larger than bricks and are much faster to lay for a wall of a given size. The water absorption rates are lower than brick and the cells are large for grouting with concrete for added strength. They come in many different sizes, colors and textures to fit your needs. Block is usually used in commercial buildings and foundations, however is is becoming more popular for residential homes, shops and garages. You can cover block with stucco, plaster, stone veneer, or concrete siding to make a block home have a more traditional look.
Using block for a foundation has some advantages. Conventional concrete stem walls are widely used and are structural. The problem is they are not so nice to look at and concrete cracks are very noticeable with potential for problems. The cost of standard 8' smooth block is close to the same price as concrete poured stem walls. A skilled mason can achieve a level solid foundation even on an uneven land grade with block. Block creates a finished look with more curb appeal and many types and colors of blocks are available to accent your home.
BUILDING WITH BRICK:
Every one benefits from building with brick. Brick has great curb appeal and as a result it commands higher selling prices. Brick homes are more popular in the Eastern United States, but are a great fit in the west because of our wet and cold climate. Brick offers a superior weather, energy, and fire barrier. Brick is practically maintenance free, with no need for paint, calking, or staining. The beauty and durability of brick stands the test of time and can save thousands of dollars over the the life of a mortgage.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH STONE?
The beauty of stone is it's character, no two stones are alike. There are lots of different types of stone throughout the word such as river rock, ledge stone, sand stone, castle rock, and marble . Stone can be used in many applications. Stone veneer is the placement of masonry materials over and existing structural surface. Solid masonry is the use of masonry materials to build a structure or wall. Not all masonry rock materials are suited for solid masonry, but most can be used for veneer. Stone can be put indoors and out, be integrated with other materials, and a natural element to any project.
REAL VERSES MANUFACTURED:
Very popular these days is manufactured stone. It offers a low cost economically friendly way to enhance a home. Manufactured stone is typically made from concrete with color and pumice added to make it light weight. Company's have replicated natural stone very well and when applied properly it is hard to tell the deference. Manufactured stone is quicker to apply and requires less structural preparation putting more money in you pocket.
Real stone is more costly, but if your after uniqueness ,character, strength, and beauty this is the way to go. The higher cost for real stone is due to the extra structural preparation such as a larger concrete footing and steel ties to hold the weight of stone. Real stone also requires more time to lay because of the odd shapes and the mortar has to "set up "between courses before building higher.
A happy medium is met with real stone veneer. This is actual real stone simply cut in half at a factory. This creates a flat surface to apply the rock with half of the weight and bulk. The cost is a slightly more than manufactured stone but less than real stone and the results are great. Where real stone is bulky and intrusive, veneer stone fits right in. Manufactures of this stone have many types of stone to choose from and they even have veneer brick for areas where you want the look of brick but not the bulk.
THE VALUE OF STONE:
Any type of stone will add value and beauty to your home. Consider all the ways and places you can put stone. One of the best places to put it is on the face of a home in lieu of siding. If you figure the costs and benefits you might be surprised. The average cost of conventional cedar siding installed is about $10.00 a square foot. A house facade of 500sf will cost $5000. and will require staining and possible replacement over time costing an average of $2000. over the life of the home for a total of $7000. Manufactured stone starts at $17. per sf depending on the stone you choose. The same square feet equals $8500. The higher cost of stone compensates for the added durability, curb appeal, hassle free maintenance, and resale value.
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