"Awesome company, amazing job from the crew that worked on the brick walls of our home. My husband and I were aware of everything that was going on at all times, and Tony has been wonderful, along with the crew who was very respectful and friendly. The work is outstanding and exceeds our expectations. We will definitely keep them in mind for future projects and highly recommend G.I. Masonry."
"The best contractor ever. Very professional with an upbeat friendly personality. He did everything he said he would and more. His crew was the same. I highly recommend Andrew Cotter of Cotter Concrete."
"They were amazing and very quick to get done. My lawn looks amazing! It’s so pretty that it looks like a beautiful picture from a book. All my sprinklers are all working again and my valves are not leaking anymore. I’m very happy with the results."
"I recently hired Just Stamping Concrete for a landscaping project, and I must say that I was blown away by their work. Their team is highly skilled and knowledgeable, and they truly transformed my outdoor space into a beautiful oasis."
"Great experience! Very professional and project looks great! Would recommend!! Actually I did recommend them to other family! Very happy with finish. Repaired areas match finish perfectly."
"José was extremely helpfully. I needed concrete for the foundation of our ADU and he was very quick to get estimates for everyone over to me and got us our pour date and time without any issues."
Yes, it is normal to see some minor hairline cracks in brick or mortar over time, often due to natural foundation settling. However, not all cracks are harmless. You should be concerned and contact a masonry professional for an inspection if you notice cracks that are getting wider or longer, or if new ones keep appearing. Other serious warning signs that can indicate significant structural or foundation damage include large vertical cracks (especially those that widen as they go up), stair-step cracks, L-shaped cracks, and deep horizontal cracks. Factors like temperature changes, moisture, and structural loading can also cause cracks to form or worsen.
According to the Earthquake Country Alliance—a public and private alliance in California that works to improve earthquake and tsunami readiness—reports that unreinforced masonry, such as stone, bricks, and hollow clay tiles, is more susceptible to earthquake damage. The mortar between bricks isn’t as stable as other building materials and methods.
Landscape boulders, especially porous stones like sandstone or granite, can crack or break over time. Cracks occur when water seeps into the surface of the stone and freezes. The risk is highest when it rains during the day and temperatures freeze overnight since the moisture has time to penetrate deeper into the rock before expanding.
Yes, you can limewash surfaces other than brick. Plaster, stone, stucco, and concrete can all also be limewashed. Any porous surface that will absorb the wash is a good candidate for limewash, although it won’t help much with waterproofing. If you choose to limewash over paint, you’ll need to prep before applying it to avoid a powdery, chalky finish. Shiny surfaces like metal or glass can’t absorb limewash, so it’s not suited for these.
Not all cracks in brick indicate foundation problems. For instance, small hairline cracks can occur as a new construction settles. However, larger cracks are often a sign of a more severe issue. Indicators of a potential foundation problem include long horizontal cracks, "stair-step" cracks, vertical cracks that appear indoors, or any crack that widens at the top. Other signs of structural damage to look for are uneven floors and doors or windows that stick. These issues could be caused by problems with the soil beneath the home or an overgrown tree.
The Quail Valley, CA 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.
