"I want to tell everyone about New Age Masonry. I found them on Home Advisor. I had 5 estimates given to me for tuckpointing. New Age was the last one. He was not the highest and he was not the lowest but I felt the genuine honesty and passion for the job. Oliver is a very hard worker and a perfectionist of his craft. His assistant Memo is also a very hard worker and they both provide great attention to detail. After they did the tuckpointing which included repairing my crumbling chimney, I decided to have Oliver install accent brick on the front of my home. It was something I always wanted- the quote was reasonable and the craftsmanship and valuing of my input was superior! Well, I could not be happier- It is BEAUTIFUL!!!! People and neighbors come by and want to know who did such beautiful work! I highly recommend New Age Masonry! It was a joy to work with Oliver and Memo. Thank you Home Advisor!"
"They found that their were cracks in the foundation. The first bid they gave me was for a permanent fix to completely restructure the foundation to rid the foundation of all cracks. It was an extremely high price and out of the range I was looking for. The person that came out for the inspection then assured me that it is very common to have cracks in the foundation and gave me a far less expensive alternative to repair the cracks and to stabilize the area. The estimate for that was fair."
"We are totally satisfied with the professionalism, skill, work ethic and overall attention to detail provided by Hector Martinez and his extremely capable crew. This is a contractor you can trust. They completed the job timely once they had started. Prices are fair. Our emphasis was on the quality of the materials and workmanship rather than the cheapest contractor we could find, as value is important to us. We feel this concrete will endure for many years to come. We plan to hire Hector again for additional masonry projects."
"We used Perma Seal for several big projects—waterproofing our basement and replacing our concrete back yard and sidewalks. We had drain tiles, sump pumps and a dehumidifier installed, along with extensive concrete work outside. We dealt with a variety of crews and found everyone to be very communicative, professional, and knowledgeable. They did great work and kept us informed at every step of the process. When we had a questions, they were very responsive. All in all, we'd recommend and use them again."
"My husband and I had a wonderful experience with The Real Seal in July 2024. They fixed a bowing foundation and waterproofed the basement for future finishing. Their team was prompt, respectful, organized and thoroughly educated us on the drainage tile system, installation process and prevention. Thank you, Real Seal for being the flawless first step to our dream basement/family space!"
"IPR Masonry ( Ismael ) replaced our concrete entrance and small sidewalk to the driveway. He did it right and well and was very considerate of both us and our property. I would certainly recommend him to others."
"J&P did a great job. The brick edging around the landscaping had been a mess of sinking and uneven bricks - now they look like new. Very responsive and nice people to work with. We'll use them again in the future."
"Chimney destroyed by lightening strike! Rob and crew removed all debris, built new chimney, inspected 30 yr. old chimney shaft and suggested liner(for safety and code compliance) .installed new damper, cleaned up entire area inside and out. great work, very courteous, fair price. I would recommend them for any type of brick/chimney service!"
"It went excellently. The masonry team worked quickly, were professional, worked very safely and cleaned up very nicely. I will definitely be use this company when the time comes."
"Anthony and his team were very professional. They did a perfect job, gave us an estimate of the work that should be done to maintain the chimney and the masonry. Work was done in about 45 minutes and they cleaned the area of operation. Anthony took the time to explain what has to be done and why, as well as what would happen if we don't do the recommended work. Overall I can recommend this company."
Cutting stone comes with a number of safety hazards. First and foremost, if you’re not comfortable with the equipment required to cut stone, including blades and grinders, you could easily injure yourself. The heavy machinery also poses a risk to your ears if you don’t wear proper ear protection; similarly, you need to wear eye protection to keep debris from irritating your eyes.
However, the biggest risk from cutting stone comes from the stone dust. When breathed in, stone dust can be a huge hazard to your lungs. Always wear a face mask when cutting stone to prevent inhaling stone dust, and thoroughly clean the work area when you are finished.
To avoid injury, we recommend hiring a stone-cutting professional, rather than attempting this job yourself.
Masonry uses units like bricks, cement blocks, and stone with mortar between them. Mortar is generally made of sand and a type of cement. Examples of masonry include the brick or stone on a house, chimney, or freestanding wall. Concrete is a mixture of water, sand, stone aggregate, and other materials, and is poured into forms or moldings. Types of concrete applications include driveways, garage and basement floors, and poured concrete walls in basements and crawl spaces.
Professionally done brick repointing can last 20 to 30 years, sometimes longer. However, the exact lifespan depends on several factors, including the quality of the mortar, the skill of the mason, and exposure to weather. If you live in an area with harsh weather or frequent freeze-thaw cycles, you may need to repoint more often. Repointing that is done as a DIY project may only last 10 to 15 years. It's time to repoint when you notice signs of mortar failure, such as crumbling or missing mortar, holes, or vines growing between the bricks. Regular inspections can help you catch these issues early.
Cobblestone fell out of favor with the advent of motor vehicles. Asphalt and concrete are both much smoother surfaces allowing for a smoother ride. Asphalt is also much cheaper, especially for driveways. However, we didn’t stop using cobblestone altogether, and you can still see it as a decorative option in both homes, in parks, and in pedestrianized areas of cities.
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
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.
