"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!"
"They did a rock wall down our driveway and stone landscaping in our front yard. I cannot believe the great job. Great workers and so easy to work with."
"This is a great company to use in making a 141 year old basement waterproof. I look foreward to having a waterproo basemant. Craig was pleasant and went the extra mile to make the experience great."
"The fellow I worked with his name was James. His work was excellent, he was accommodating and extremely thorough, and his price was well below the other bids I got. I would recommend him to anyone."
"I had several quotes for a fairly extensive leak in my poured basement wall resulting from poor workmanship during the original construction. Several contractors told me the foundation would have to be dug up to do a proper repair. I was hoping for another solution so I called this company. They came out to look and I was immediately impressed with their professionalism and candor. The first rep did not try to pressure sell me and even expressed skepticism that they could fix the problem. He called in other resources from the company to inspect it and offer their assessments. After careful examination and consultation with each other they determined that sealing the wall from the inside was feasible. I waited until now to write this review so I could be honest about how it turned out. Well, it hasn't leaked a drop! I would recommend this company to anybody. They earned my trust and they saved me a lot of money and grief."
"I was impressed with Chuck from Shamrock Chimney. He was realistic in his discussion and went thru various options from converting to a gas fireplace to wood inserts. He discussed the issues with the existing field stone face and converting to a two way fireplace. He certainly made me comfortable to consider Shamrock should the project move forward."
"They were very professional from the day one when I met Tom Cox and through the completed installlation of my "WaterGuard" system. I look forward to seeing how the system works."
"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."
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
Yes, it is essential to prime or seal a brick fireplace before painting. Brick is a porous and highly absorbent material, so without a primer, paint can seep into the surface, resulting in uneven coverage and allowing the natural brick color to show through. To avoid this, apply one or two coats of a masonry primer. The primer will seal the brick and provide a smooth, uniform layer for the paint to adhere to. Ensure the primer is completely dry before applying the topcoat of paint.
You can hang holiday lights on brick without drilling by using hot glue, outdoor tape, or brick clips for your project. There are plenty of alternatives to consider, so consult a professional Christmas light installer to discuss the best options to preserve your brick exterior.
While painting can certainly change the look of a chimney, you should think twice about giving your brick chimney the old landlord special.
Painting brick is porous, meaning it’s full of tiny holes that can soak up moisture. Those holes also allow it to dry, though. So, when you paint it, you trap any moisture inside, providing an opportunity for mold, mildew, and water damage.
Paint also shows wear faster than naked brick. This means that once you paint a brick surface, you’ll have to keep painting it to maintain a clean look. A paint job is also harder to undo on brick because of its porous nature. Once you paint it, it’s hard to go back without some serious power washing—another added cost.
It is possible, albeit a lot slower, to break up a rock using water. You would do this by freezing and thawing the water. You could create some initial holes or cracks in the rock, then pour water into the cracks or holes and allow them to freeze (so it's best to do this in winter or in colder climates). Since water expands when it freezes, this puts pressure on the inside of the rock and causes it to crack. You could continue to pour more water in and let it freeze to continue to break up the rock.
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.
