"Foundation Systems of Michigan did a great job on my basement. Jalen, Dylan, and Sidick were professional, efficient, and friendly. They made expert suggestions for additional work they would make if it was their own home but were very understanding of my need to stay within my budget and completed the planned tasks perfectly. I would recommend this crew to anyone who needs work done."
"Erie Homes was great. Ty and Chris shared the information about roofs in a clear and precise way. I love the high quality of the roofing materials and the standards they hold their workers to when placing the roof. Mike called me each step of the way, so I was prepared when the roofing supplies showed up. I even got calls after the beautiful roof was done. Amazing job!"
"Rangel Water Proofing and Construction employees were very professional and knowledgeable. I was very happy and impressed with work performed, and would definitely use them again, in the future."
"I Cut Lawncare did a great job putting in the retaining wall. They put in so much time and effort into making sure it turned out perfect, everything looked clean and even. The crew worked hard, stayed on time, and kept the area tidy. They made sure the wall was sturdy and looked good from every angle. Now it holds rock (along with the under drain) perfectly and makes the yard look way better. You can tell it was built right and will last a long time."
"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."
"We had a very good experience, from start to finish. Very professional. good communications, workers also were very personable, very courteous, and respectful of your property."
Europe is a continent made of many individual countries with a history of city life. In these cities, dirt roads were unsanitary and often shifted. The Ancient Romans started laying cobblestone streets in the 3rd century, which became an iconic feature of European cities. The durable and practical paving material proved to be extremely weather-resistant.
The best tool for drilling into brick or mortar is a rotary hammer drill which is a large hammer drill with low rotation speed and high torque. Regular drills with a hammer function are also excellent tools for drilling into brick when the diameter of the hole is 1/2 inch or less. It might be possible to drill into brick with a standard drill if you’re only drilling a very small hole, but note that masonry work will put a lot of wear on a standard drill, and the tool may not be strong enough to get through brick.
No, it’s not recommended to attach shutters to brick without drilling. Brick is dense and built to last, so adhesives and shortcut methods don’t usually cut it. Even heavy-duty glue struggles to hold up over time—especially against wind, moisture, and temperature changes. Most no-drill options are made for materials like vinyl or wood, not solid masonry. Skipping the drill might seem easier, but it puts your shutters—and anything below them—at risk. For a secure, lasting install, drilling is the way to go. It takes more effort up front, but the result is safer and more reliable.
Some older brick material is extremely hard, making it tough to create a hole. Rather than using a typical wood drill bit, always use a masonry drill bit when drilling into brick. For extremely hard brick, using a power drill with a hammer function may give you better results. The drill bit will heat up as it goes into the extremely hard brick, so you may need to stop after a few minutes and allow the bit to cool before starting to drill again.
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 Orleans, MI 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.
