"Martinez Construction and Masonry is fantastic to work with. They came out the same day for the estimate and answered all of our questions. When we decided to move forward with them, they came out the following week and completed the job within a day and a half. Additionally, they were respectful of our home and cleaned up the job site well. I highly recommend working with them and plan to return as a customer for future projects."
"Frontier honored its warranty for stabilizing my driveway concrete after it continued to sink 1 year after they were hired to stabilize. They sent out Jovon to complete the warranty work. Jovon was exceptional in his workmanship and professionalism. He looked at the prior work and walked through his solution for correcting the issue. He was actually able to correct the problem ( lift concrete ) better than the original tech did. Frontier is lucky to have Jovon on staff. And they are definitely trustworthy to honor their warranty."
"great experience. The owner was exceptional to work with in getting the job done. He made special arrangements to work with me to schedule and complete the work. I highly recommend Outdoor Elegance, Inc for your outdoor paver project."
"West Construction Services quickly responded and accurately identified the problem I was having with moisture. Taylor West demonstrated both skill and integrity. Excellent! I would call them again."
"I hired frontier foundation systems to repair my foundation and their sister company Klaus for my new roof. Great group of guys who are as professional as the work they stand by, couldn't ask for better service."
"While expensive unfortunately it had to be done. Not that they are any more costly than other companies but it did seem like quite a hefty price for about 3 hours worth of work at over $1,000+ dollars per hour. Well aware of the type of cost that goes into equipment, materials, etc. but still seems a bit overpriced. All that being said, everyone from Steve that explained everything & set it up to Spencer, Oscar & Phillip that performed the job with great care & expertise to Adam with a follow-up visit on the same afternoon to make sure all was good, the team did exactly what I asked that had to be done bring our concrete aggregate front porch steps back to their original position from having settled about 5-6 inches and unlevel!! Would use them again if I had other issues that needed repair with regards to foundation/structural repair."
Here at Bama Specialists, we are a locally owned and operated company that values honesty and integrity and treats your home as if it were our own. We offer a variety of quality home improvement services. You will find us to be competitively priced with close attention to the details of each and every project that we are involved with. We look forward to building lasting relationships and guarantee your satisfaction!
"Butler and Associates Construction did a wonderful job on our new driveway. They tore out the old cracked driveway and replaced it with a new smooth and solid surface for our family to enjoy. They were efficient, professional and treated our property with respect leaving a clean worksite each day. We get compliments on our new driveway almost every day from neighbors walking past. Can’t recommend Jonathan and his crew enough!"
Drilling into brick or mortar requires the use of a masonry drill bit. Masonry drill bits appear similar to standard drill bits except for the leading tip of the bit. The tip has a bulky carbide arrow-shaped end slightly larger than the rest of the bit shaft. Standard or high-speed drill bits designed for making holes in wood or metal don’t have the ruggedness or design shape you need to drill into brick. They may not go through the brick at all, and if they do, they’re more likely to overheat, crack, or dull before you finish drilling.
Yes. Black stains are more than an eyesore. Some black stains can pose health concerns, especially for those with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions. Some stains can also damage the brick’s structural integrity, harming the mortar and resulting in more expensive repairs.
Cobblestone is not a type of rock but a term for a mosaic or rock laid down as a surface. It used to be made from the closest available stone but now can be made from nearly any hard rock, as machining has made shaping the stone much easier and cheaper.
You should generally drill into the mortar joints when installing shutters on brick. Mortar is softer, which makes drilling easier and puts less strain on your tools. It also lowers the risk of cracking a brick—something that’s a lot harder to fix. Mortar holds fasteners well enough for standard shutters, and if you ever need to patch the holes later, it’s a much simpler job than dealing with damaged brick. Just keep in mind that if your mortar joints are too thin or the hardware calls for brick anchoring, you'll need to check the manufacturer’s recommendations and adjust accordingly.
No, it’s not recommended to attach shutters to brick without drilling. Brick is dense and built to last, so adhesives and shortcut methods don’t usually cut it. Even heavy-duty glue struggles to hold up over time—especially against wind, moisture, and temperature changes. Most no-drill options are made for materials like vinyl or wood, not solid masonry. Skipping the drill might seem easier, but it puts your shutters—and anything below them—at risk. For a secure, lasting install, drilling is the way to go. It takes more effort up front, but the result is safer and more reliable.
The Gurley, AL homeowners’ guide to masonry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Door or window lintel replacement costs $400 on average, but there are ways you can save. On the other hand, complicated work will increase costs considerably.
This guide features information on the costs to repair a brick wall, whether or not you need a brick mason to complete spalling, tuckpointing, or a full restoration.
Need to repoint brick in your home to make your home look fresh and new? Use this guide to repointing brick cost to price out your project before starting.
Discover the wide variety of masonry materials for your next home upgrade project. Our guide covers the different types of materials to choose from and more.
When it comes to masonry versus concrete, it can be easy to confuse the two. Use this guide to learn about the differences in appearance, strength, and more.
