"Oliver and his partner were more than excellent. He was honest with his assessment and gave me a quote right away (not the cheapest, but it had the most value based on his experience/knowledge - HIS BID WAS VERY FAIR!!!). We talked with 4 vendors before deciding on New Age Masonry and couldn't be happier with our decision to hire them. We have been burned in the past with other contractors, so I am always on edge when dealing with them, but Oliver gives me a new reason to relax on that a bit. Please give him an opportunity, even if he isn't the lowest bid, because you will not be disappointed in his work. Very, very satisfied customer."
"Another outstanding job by Olsen. We requested and received a proposal last fall for work to be done. Proposal was easy to understand, covered all work wanted and provided on very timely basis. Early spring they delivered brick samples for our approval and began work a few days later. Work was preformed very quickly, very professionally and of the best quality. They thoroughly cleaned up each day and after completion. We strongly recommend Olsen to everyone needing masonry work. Another satisfied customer, again."
"My first few quotes showed me what the patio would look like with paver bricks and I thought that was my only option. They suggested concrete which I actually wanted originally. They started about a week after our chat and finished the job in a day. It looks really good and clean"
"My experience with 83 Masonry was EXCELLENT! We hired them to tuck-point and partially rebuild our two chimneys. They started the project on time and showed up everyday ahead of time. We have new roof and AC, so before they started any work, they have protected the roof and build protection canopy over the AC to make sure nothing would get damaged. Very professional, knowledgeable, punctual and safe. Not only were the chimneys fixed, they improved the look of the house. We are EXTREMELY happy with the craftsmanship and we would recommend them for any type of masonry work."
"Juan is a true craftsmen. He and Edwin are incredibly hard-working and meticulous, showing great attention to detail. Juan was extremely polite and made every effort to ensure our satisfaction (as did Karina from the office). The team cleaned up every night before leaving and at the end of the project. We are thrilled with the work. The stone work is beautiful! We are also amazed by the value - others wanted to charge more for hanging pre-fab stone veneer, than RK did for true masonry work. We cannot recommend RK highly enough!"
"The gentleman who repaired the brickwork on our 50 year old property went above and beyond! In addition to finding a way to match the bricks and mortar, they found and repaired other places in the brickwork and repaired them, as well. In comparison to other estimates we had for this project, G.R.B. Masonry s estimate was the most reasonable."
"I had an excellent experience working with Mission Brick on my Techo-Bloc paver patio project. They handled everything from deck removal and fence repair, site preparation and base installation to the paver patio build and final finishing details. Mark was highly communicative throughout the entire process. He had an eye for design and helped develop a layout that was within my budget. He followed through on every detail exactly as outlined from start to finish. I would absolutely recommend Mission Brick."
"The team showed up on time and worked quickly. All went smoothly with the scheduling and work. After having water in our basement on several occasions, and getting three different approaches (and costs) to remedy the water problems we chose to use Atlas restoration who had the most cost effective approach and offered the least destructive and most conservative approach to start with. We waited to repair the damage in the basement from the previous flooding and after several hard rains saw no water in the basement. We proceeded with the repairs to the basement and after all of the hard rains we've had so far this year, especially this summer, we have see no evidence of water in the basement at all."
"Miguel contacted me promptly & worked me in the same day which was greatly appreciated since the fireplace damper was stuck open. It was very cold and a storm was coming. He kept me updated on when he would be able to arrive. He was very polite, helpful in explaining how I could avoid the problem in the future. Definitely 5 star in all aspects. I would use him again for any future problems."
"I was very pleased with the outcome of my garden wall and buried pipes. Daniel was very prompt in giving me a quote and returning my phone calls. He started and completed the job in the amount of time he said it would take. Daniel was personable and very easy to work with. He would stop work to explain what he was doing when I had questions, answered any questions I had, would re-do what I wanted changed, and did a nice job of cleaning up. I highly recommend hiring Daniel to do your outdoor work."
The cost of masonry work varies widely depending on the type of masonry along with common cost factors like size, complexity, location, and season. Most exterior masonry work done in freezing temperatures tends to cost more because of the preparation and protection involved to keep the masonry from freezing before the mortar cures properly. The average price ranges per project or square foot for different types of masonry include:
Brick wall (fence, garden wall, etc.): $10–$45 per square foot
Natural stone wall: $40–$110 per square foot
Manufactured stone veneer: $20–$40 per square foot
Yes, an outdoor fireplace should use fire bricks. Fire bricks are specially designed to withstand high levels of heat and thus won’t crack as easily as regular bricks when exposed to the intense heat inside a fireplace.
Brick spalling—which refers to the crumbly, flaky, or pitted appearance that can develop over time—is caused by a few different conditions. These include:
Climates with constant freeze-thaw cycles
Use of non-breathable sealants
High-pressure water cleaning
Improper installation
While you can’t do anything about the weather, you can preserve your bricks by cleaning them with soapy water and a good old-fashioned scrubbing. Pressure washers may be satisfying to use, but they can eventually wear away the surface of your bricks. If you don’t have advanced-level DIY skills in masonry, you can hire a reputable masonry contractor in your area for your project.
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.
Europe is a continent made of many individual countries with a history of city life. In these cities, dirt roads were unsanitary and often shifted. The Ancient Romans started laying cobblestone streets in the 3rd century, which became an iconic feature of European cities. The durable and practical paving material proved to be extremely weather-resistant.
The Batavia, IL homeowners’ guide to masonry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Find out the average brick or stone fireplace installation cost in Chicago, IL. Learn what you can expect to pay for materials and local masonry labor.
Find out the average stone restoration cost in Chicago, IL. Learn what you can expect to pay for local stone repair and polishing to refresh your home.
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.
