"Henry from Republic Masonry was excellent we hired him for the remainder of the winter season He was very respectful and even cleared the slush off the front walkway at no charge so we could safely get our mail 5 stars"
"I am new to the area and needed a new chimney and to have work done on my roof. Ken Moreau came and gave me an estiment that I thought was very fair. He and his men were very professional and did the work in one day. They cleaned up the area that they used and left the yard in great shape. I highly recommend that if you are having and masonry or roof work done that you contact Ken and see what he has to say before you hire someone else.."
"New England Foundation Crack Repair responded very quickly to my call. Will came out to look at the project and explained thoroughly what needed to be done. On the day of the scheduled work, Tony and Ian arrived to take on the project. Both of these gentlemen were knowledgeable, competent and courteous professionals. Upon completion of their work, the outside grass and stone area looked like it had been undisturbed and the interior basement area was spotless. Tony and Ian are a definite asset to this company and I would highly recommend New England Foundation Crack Repair."
"A . Jon provided a quote and answered our questions within two days of reaching out through Home Advisor. Team completed the work in the morning before a nor’easter hit. Highly recommended."
"We hired this company for heavy yard work large weeds, grass vines etc and Noel's Landscaping went above and beyond. He not only did everything we wanted but also did extras to make sure the job was done right and property looked 100 times better will definitely recommend. We also hired him for every 2 weeks to come back for up keep. 100 percent satisfied customer."
"Guiles Hall and Jason Lewis came to repair pool deck. Had major cracks and settling. They raised slabs and filled cracks. They were punctual, professional and did a great job."
There are many things to look for when buying a brick house. Here are some of the key things you should pay close attention to.
Lintels: Look for cracks, holes, displacement, or corrosion
Mortar: Check to see if the mortar is old and crumbling, in need of repointing, or new. Also check to see if the mortar has a professional finish.
Walls: Check along each side of the house. If a wall is bowing outward, this indicates a severe issue such as foundation damage or that the walls are ready to fall.
Cracks: If there are stair step cracks in the brickwork, this indicates an unstable foundation.
You can purchase from many brick manufacturers and distributors via their websites, where you can also get estimates based on the quantity you need. You’ll find bricks at your local home improvement stores as well, though they won’t have as much of a variety to choose from. As for antique bricks, secondary selling websites like eBay can be a great resource.
Painted exterior brick does not usually need sealing. Brick is a porous material, so you don’t want to apply a sealant that could trap moisture inside the bricks and cause erosion and structural damage. The risk of moisture-induced damage after sealing is higher in colder climates where trapped moisture can expand if it freezes. On the other hand, it makes sense to seal really old brick or kitchen backsplashes, where moisture from cooking can weaken the brick.
Unfortunately, there are many disadvantages to stone houses. They are slow to build and the materials are pricey, both of which balloon the total cost. Stone walls require a more robust foundation, which costs more to install. Running plumbing, electrical, and HVAC through a stone house is much more difficult too, so homeowners need to seriously consider if the aesthetic benefit is worth the cost of building with stone. One of the questions to ask a masonry contractor is if a similar aesthetic can be achieved with another material.
The best color to paint a brick fireplace comes down to personal taste. However, neutral colors—like white or gray—will open the space and create a bright modern look, making them popular options. However, choosing a bold color can turn your fireplace into a feature piece that will be the talk of all family gatherings.
The Southwick, MA homeowners’ guide to masonry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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.
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.
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.
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.
