"John at Cornerstone Masonry did an outstanding job of replacing missing bricks and tuck pointing a very large area on my Polk Blvd all brick home. The work was top notch and makes this century old two story look like new. The quality of the work was excellent with attention to the smallest details. Punctuality and communication were excellent. The job was done on time and for the quoted amount. I am very satisfied with the finished product and I have hired them for another project."
"I would recommend this company to EVERYONE. They were professional, hardworking, and respectful to me and my property. They got right to the job at hand, and kept everything tidy during the entire project. The finished job looks FANTASTIC, and the price was a DEAL! I will definitely use this company again for any masonry repair I may need. GREAT JOB GUYS!!! :)"
"Andres discussed several options with me for a raised deck or patio to the backdoor. He set a reasonable price for all the work he did: raised concrete patio with stairs, door installation, wood railings plus he and his crew were extremely helpful with small jobs I asked for. In the small community I live in it is very hard to find responsive, reliable, reasonable contractors who do the job RIGHT! So glad I found him."
"Jose was pleasant to work with. He made sure I was happy with how things were done. He and his crew were mindful of our property and they brought heavy equipment in to do the work. They cleaned up the area including the street. The patio turned out great and our neighbors are now interested in doing the same thing. We would hire him again!"
"We had an attached screened-in porch that was sinking.Acculevel came in and detailed every aspect of the repair project and then followed thru to the most minuet detail. Excellent work and very detail oriented. Friendly and cooperative service team that completed the work. This seemed like what was going to be a complicated job, using augered jacks, concrete removal, and replacing trex floor. ...In a nutshell, they made what seemed hard..very manageableand 100% solved.Excellent service, excellant price......Terry M."
"Tanner was excellent to work with in explaining the problem and proposing solutions. Heâ  s a great representative of your companyâ  knowledgeable and a good communicator."
"Paul was So Great!!! He had time to fit in my project, during his estimate he looked everything over and showed me what needed to be done. I was really worried about my plumbing because I have an old home. He took care of the problems and did everything right! His estimate was fair and reasonable. He was very kind and respectful. His work was great, his personality is great, and I am referring him to all of my peeps! He's extremely honest, competent and reliable and - I Hate working with contractors! I highly recommend!!!!!"
Brick stain doesn’t peel or chip and is much more durable than painting. That’s because the staining is absorbed into the brick instead of lingering on the surface as paint does. The color retains even under extreme weather conditions. Therefore, brick stain will save you a lot of time and cost on maintenance in the long run.
Depending on the amount of soot present, you can vacuum some of it using a brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Then, remove the leftovers with a mild cleaner, such as dish soap or vinegar mixed with water. Before applying a cleaning solution, saturate the bricks with clean water to prevent the cleaner from penetrating beyond the surface and causing structural damage to the bricks.
Rock salt and ice melts contain sodium chloride, aka salt, and are corrosive to metal and concrete. If used frequently over time, it can cause corrosion, discoloration, chipping, and cracking to patios, walkways, and driveways. You can try a rock salt alternative or hire a professional snow removal company instead.
The best way to clean creosote from brick is to hire a professional chimney sweep. However, you can use a creosote log to remove excess buildup between cleanings. You can also clean minor creosote buildup using dish soap or vinegar mixed with water.
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.
The Mitchellville, IA 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.