"I had them do a cleaning and inspection of my chimney and they found damages to the brickwork and the top of the chimney. They installed a new cap and their cost was so reasonable. All their work is guaranteed as well, which is reassuring. They were clean, efficient and courteous. I would highly recommend Handy Andy and in fact they are doing an estimate for my neighbor to whom I recommended them to."
"Resonant thinned out the trees in the woods and planted new trees and bushes around our house. They are in the process of putting in pavers to our front door with a great eye for design. Enjoyable to work with as we discuss ideas and see them brought to completion. We highly recommend them."
"Terry did a great job repairing our concrete paver walkway. He gave us a fair price and came on short notice. He and a helper showed up on time, finished the work on time, and cleaned up the work area. The quality of his work is top notch. Heâ s a real craftsman Iâ d highly recommend to anyone."
"Dan and his team of Clinton and Julie worked very hard installing a stone step to exit a room on the South side of my house. Julie also pruned a large and unwieldy Rhododendron in my front yard. Dan kept me informed as to when they would arrive and they were very polite and considerate. I am happy with the results. The new step is a wedge-shaped stone that will drain rain water and it provides a comfortable distance for stepping to the outside of the house."
"Joshua did an incredible job rebuilding and repairing our chimney during a major renovation. The work was done carefully, cleanly, and with a clear understanding of both structural integrity and safety. He explained what needed to be done, why it mattered, and made sure everything was done the right way—not rushed. Seeing the finished brickwork framed into the new space gave us a lot of confidence moving forward with the rest of the project. Professional, knowledgeable, and dependable from start to finish. Highly recommend."
"We were so pleased with the entire experience with Kevin and his crew. From the first phone call to discuss the project, to meeting in person to walk the property, to the finished product, Kevin and his team were exactly what we were looking for: personable, knowledgeable, and did a fantastic job landscaping, even on a day in the full sun with temps around 90. We would use them again and certainly would recommend them to anyone in need of their services!"
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.
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.
Use fire bricks for a brick pizza oven. These bricks are typically used for fireplaces and chimneys as they can withstand high temperatures from heat sources. If you attempt to use any other kind of bricks, it’s likely that this material will crack from such high heat exposure in the best case—and potentially explode and cause serious harm in the worst case.
Modern brick homes have a brick facade over standard framing and sheathing, so the brick offers minimal added structural stability. A home with traditional brick construction is more durable than a stick-built home, as the double-layer brick walls and rebar resist higher lateral wind loads and support heavier loads up top, as well.
Yes, as long as the cut is clean and the brick remains structurally sound, you can reuse it. Reusing brick is especially common for landscaping, edging, and small masonry repairs. Just make sure to file down any sharp edges before handling or installing it.
The Damariscotta, ME 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.
