"I contracted DeGain Masonry to do a paver patio in my back yard. The finished project turned out better than I could have ever expected… very precise and meticulous. Clint was quick to return my calls, started and finished the project when promised and was more than accommodating in every way. I am a particular customer with high expectations of those I hire. That being said, I would highly recommend DeGain Masonry."
"Andersen Structural Solutions was easy to work with, professional and efficient! I had some questions along the way and they were kind, courteous and informative. Very impressed and will absolutely use them again for another project in mind come spring."
"Chris Peplinski came out and gave us a fair and honest estimate on fixing our foundation. Alex and crew arrived and installed helical piers to shore up our foundation and you couldn’t tell they were even here. Everything from the first call to the install was top notch! Highly Recommend!"
"Two years ago, we hired Adam to create a custom landscaping setup to support 5 trees and an accent rock. He took the shape we designed on paper and brought it to life with paver stones filled in with rocks. He even picked up the trees from the nursery and installed them himself to make sure it was done correctly. We could not have been happier with how nice it looked then and still today. Just recently, we hired him to install a French drain to stop standing water, fill in some additional rocks under the back deck, and trim our 15 feet + arborvitae trees. He once again did a great job all around. Adam is very responsible, professional, friendly, and an expert with his work. The prices for this work were very reasonable and I will most definitely hire him again for future work."
"Good communication, professional, courteous and clean up was thorough.
We waited a few months before doing a rating to experience a few heavy rains. We are extremely happy with having a dry usable basement. We usually don't do ratings but All Ways Dry exceeded our expectations!"
"Elon inspected my foundation to determine what walls were holding water. He took measurements and took time to share a video of the repair he was recommending. I will have four anchors installed on the problem wall at a very fair price."
"Chuck arrived with a helper and explained everything to us. He cleaned the chimney and left us with some estimates for potential work. He was knowledgeable and pleasant. I would use him again."
"Easy experience. Great salesman lol but the workers were awesome and really respectful. They messed up once on some of my city piping, but they came out the same day and fixed it with no questions or complaints. Nice to know my basement is warranted for the rest of the life of the house."
Unless you’ve worked in the masonry industry before, it is in your best interest if you hire a pro for any masonry needs. Masonry-related jobs require a high skill level and can be extremely time-consuming. If anything goes wrong, a licensed and insured masonry contractor would be able to take care of the subsequent repairs, giving you additional peace of mind.
This is largely dependent on the size and hardness of the rock, but a range of tools might work, including hammers, chisels, rock hammers, sledge hammers, and more. You'll need a jackhammer for the very biggest rock-breaking jobs.
Drilling into brick doesn’t have to be a dangerous project if you prep and approach it with the right tools and techniques, but it does come with risks if it’s not done correctly. It can lead to significant issues, such as damaging the brick or affecting the wall’s structural integrity. Applying too much force can crack or chip the brick, while incorrect placement might compromise its load-bearing strength.
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.
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 Auburn, MI 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.
