"This was one of my best home improvement experiences. G.I. masonry give a fair quote, stuck to a timeline, and the job looks way better than I could ve imagined."
"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."
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.
Stone houses used to be much more practical, but with the advent of stronger and cheaper materials like concrete, they aren’t seen as much anymore. There are some parts of the world where it makes sense to build with stone, and they are usually next to a stone quarry. Stone is, however, very weather-resistant, which is why many homes near the sea and on mountains are still built with local stone.
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.
Yes, concrete is significantly stronger than masonry, especially if the concrete pour includes reinforcements, like steel rebar. Concrete is a uniform material that can withstand compression, sheer force, and tensile force as long as it’s reinforced. Masonry involves the use of mortar or grout to connect individual building materials, like brick, stone, or tile. Mortar and grout are also reasonably strong and resist compression well, but they don’t come close to the strength of poured concrete.
Clean regularly, check for cracks, and inspect the chimney annually for safety.
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.
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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.