"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 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."
"Very professional from start to finish. We have an older home that has partial cinder block foundation. They were able to seal the problem areas and with recent heavy rainfalls, all dry! They sent me a video prior to the job to show us exactly how the process worked. Very happy and satisfied would definitely recommend Real Seal!"
"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."
"Initially I was looking to get some masonry fixed. Rob came by and pointed out the chimney was in very bad shape. There were cracks in the crown and deteriorated mortar. He provided a quote and a thorough explanation of what work would be done, and followed up with pictures once complete. He was accommodating with my scheduling. He was very easy to work with and it turned out great! Thank you!"
"it went very well, technician call 30 minutes before their arrival, once they arrived they introduced themselves and got right to work. The inspection went well and the technician made sure to show me what they were seeing. After the inspection there was some work that needed to be done and was suggested. After seeing photographs and discussing with the technician, I choose to have some of the proposed work done. There was no pressure or hard sales pitch, just practical safety and maintenance issues. The work was able to be accomplished during the visit, and in addition an additional discount was provided. The technicians were knowledgeable, professional and did a nice job cleaning up after themselves. I will have them back to do a more thorough masonry inspection in the spring when there is not snow on the roof."
"Our natural stone retaining wall was failing due to improper initial installation by the original contractor several years ago. Brian and Luis came in and totally rebuilt the wall properly with the correct base and drainage to insure a long lasting product. The team arrived as scheduled and completed the work within the timeframe given. We couldn't be happier with the result!"
We take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality, and customer service that we provide to meet the consumers needs. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. In order to understand the needs and expectations of our customers, we take great care to work and communicate with every customer in a professional manner. Our reputation is based on service, safety, and quality, regardless of how large or small the job. Call us today.\n
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.
Brick houses can last at least 100 years with minimal maintenance. With regular care and attention, including mortar repointing, brick houses can last 500 years or more.
Yes, it is normal to see some minor hairline cracks in brick or mortar over time, often due to natural foundation settling. However, not all cracks are harmless. You should be concerned and contact a masonry professional for an inspection if you notice cracks that are getting wider or longer, or if new ones keep appearing. Other serious warning signs that can indicate significant structural or foundation damage include large vertical cracks (especially those that widen as they go up), stair-step cracks, L-shaped cracks, and deep horizontal cracks. Factors like temperature changes, moisture, and structural loading can also cause cracks to form or worsen.
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.
If your old bricks are in decent condition and you have the space to store them where they’ll be protected from the elements, keeping old bricks is often worthwhile. You’d spend anywhere from $70 to a few hundred dollars to have them removed from your property, in which case you won’t be able to use them for future projects. Holding on to old bricks in good condition means you can use them later for other DIY projects, potentially saving yourself some money on disposal and new materials down the road.
The Elburn, IL 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.