"I hired Alex Masonry to remove and rebuild a retaining wall that was leaning. After some discussion, I decided to expand the project to include new bluestone caps and to re-do my cracked concrete walkway with pavers. Alex and his crew did an outstanding job. Alex is extremely knowledgeable, personable and a pleasure to work with. His pricing is very reasonable. He and his team did a great job. Hard workers, with great attention to detail. I would highly recommend Alex Masonry!"
"They did a great job, the only minuses would be that our project was a small one, they did it as a side job. So we had to wait a little longer than we wanted and pay cash as we don't have checks and they didn't take cards. Other than that if we have any additional hardscaping or masonry needed, they will be our first call."
"Leonard quickly responded to my request and provided a quote. He was always on time as promised. His craftsmanship was outstanding and very detail oriented. Leonard is a true professional. My daughter is having a masonry project done also and I quickly recommended Leonard to her."
"Cela masonry is top notch! They have done my front walkway and now a rear patio, both of which we are extremely pleased. The team does amazing work, is professional, timely & reasonable in every way."
"I got the pleasure of speaking with James who responded in a timely manner came and actually was honest and gave many suggestions. He was very knowledgeable. I would recommend East Coast roofing and masonry for any job."
"sorry this is late - thought i reviewed them already. Nick and his crew (family) are the BEST! Old world professional masonry at its best! Could not have hired better people. Highly highly recommend him and his company. His work is so good that several people, neighbors have asked for his card. One woman stopped me to say she hired him from seeing my work. they replaced a dilapidated wood retaining wall with stone retaining wall and steps."
"Dennis was great to work with. Had a property in Danbury with a huge retaining wall that the previous homeowner built and failed (not to code). Dennis came in and was honest about having to redo the entire thing (which was the right call).. He taught me about the type of block to use, geogrid spacing, how important the base prep was, as well as drainage, picked the colors of the blocks and caps to match my rental, sent me photo updates along the way, was extremely professional. My father oversaw the job steps and has around 40 years of experience in commercial real estate in midtown Manhattan. He has seen just about everything from failing foundations on a 40 story building, entire high rise floods, and buildings being brought out of the ground. He doesnâ t settle for anything but perfection, done once and done right. He gave the project a stamp of approval which was great. Said Dennis was professional and would recommend we use him on any hardscape masonry work on our new constructions in Western and central CT. Take this comment for what itâ s worth. Youâ ll get a good guy, at a fair amount price to do great work."
"I had an excellent experience with CT Basements starting with the Basement Waterproofing division and eventually discovering a more significant issue with my foundation. This company worked with me over a year as I flushed out the problems and was able to prioritize their necessity and costs. All of their representatives were not only knowledgeable, but patient and caring. They never hesitated to stop what they were doing to answer my questions thoroughly, ensuring I understood all aspects of the work being completed. I would gladly recommend this company again, and do so now regularly to friends and acquaintances. Well worth the money spent, and especially peace of mind. I will certainly give them business again in the future. "
Encore Landscaping, LLC cares for our clients' landscaping and gardens. We design, install & maintain gardens, shrubs, patios, and other hardscape jobs. \nOur clients' properties come in all sizes, and our work is tailored to everyone's individual needs; maintenance of existing conditions, removing everything and starting fresh, or Master Planning for a new house.\nWe all care about the quality of our work and it shows in many ways. From planting shrubs and perennials to border edging, mulch, and final cleanup. We hand prune fine specimens, as well as hedge trim overgrown shrubs. We can also enhance your yard with a beautiful patio, fire pit, or patio wall with low voltage lighting to complete the project. \n\nOur design background and practical experience gives you the best of both worlds. We are creative and cost conscious at the same time. If you would like to see what we can do for you, please call us at (860) 306-4709.
No, you don’t need to soak the brick before cutting it by hand. In fact, cutting a wet brick can make it harder to see your score lines and may cause the chisel to slip. Soaking is sometimes used with power tools to reduce dust, but for hand-cutting, it’s best to work with dry bricks for better control and visibility.
Solid brick structures can last a century or more, potentially 100 to 150 years with proper maintenance like tuckpointing. Without major repairs, classic red bricks may last 20 to 40 years. Brick veneer siding is also a long-lasting material, with a lifespan ranging from 50 to 100 years, provided it is properly installed and maintained. To maintain brick veneer, you should scrub it annually with a special detergent and a soft-bristled broom. It's also important to inspect the bricks and mortar regularly and hire a masonry contractor for any necessary repairs, such as fixing worn mortar or bowing bricks.
A traditional German schmear uses mortar, making it unsuitable for adherence to painted surfaces. Professionals recommend removing any existing paint before applying mortar. However, you can rough up the painted surface and clean it to test if the mortar will stick. Remember that the underlying paint's texture and color may affect the schmear's final appearance—so starting with a bare brick wall will ensure the ideal finish.
Chimney mortar typically lasts 20 to 30 years, depending on its quality, local weather conditions, and maintenance. Over time, exposure to moisture, freezing, and thawing cycles can cause mortar to deteriorate, leading to cracks and gaps. Regular inspections and timely repairs, such as repointing or tuckpointing, can extend the lifespan of chimney mortar by ensuring the structure's integrity.
If you want to make your home eco-friendly, enjoy low maintenance, and love the fact that its looks will take people’s breath away (and not because they were trying to blow your house down), then a modern brick home is right for you. You can hire a mason to get the building process started for your brick home.
But if you’re not fond of the color and don’t want to deal with the process of repointing or other repairs, consider going with vinyl or wood. These materials offer a lower cost. While they tend to require more maintenance, they don’t cost nearly the same as exterior brick house repair.
The West Suffield, CT 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.
