"We selected Hardscapes in late July 2020, and they were able to do the work in January 2021. We knew upfront they had a waiting list. They built a 70 feet long retaining wall as the existing one was railroad ties and it was failing. The new wall looks excellent. It took about a week to do, and it was rough work since it had been raining consistently. I also requested them to redo our stairs in the same area. While I should be most impressed with the wall as it is fabulous, I really love the stairs. It was excellent work. The gentlemen working were all very nice and did a great job cleaning up every day. The neighbors even complimented on how thorough they were with clean up. The owner came to the site every day staying as long as was necessary each day managing the project and reviewing work that had been done and tweaking if he thought it was needed. He was also very easy to contact and responsive if he wasn't on site. The owner appears to take pride in his work which is a very positive attribute. While he was here since we were very happy with the end product we also had him quote us on some other possible projects. In short, while there is a decent wait time, it is definitely worth it."
"Statesville masonry gave me a great price for wonderful quality work. The owner ( Joe ) was very helpful and knowledgeable about stamped concrete. Don't waste your time calling other contractors because Statesville Masonry will beat all pricing!! No money down or upfront 10 year warranty Quality work Discounts to offer as well"
"Bobby and DeMilo Bros Concrete crew did excellent work across three projects for me — one large, one medium, and one small. They were professional, showed up when they said they would, and did a great job on every one. The sites were left clean each time, and the concrete is holding up perfectly with no issues. I’d hire them again without hesitation!"
"crawlspace needed structural repairs to my wood framing and piers, an internal french drainage system to stop water intrusion, as well as installation of a 10mil floor liner to help keep moisture levels down. FD was EXTREMELY professional from my initial call and on-site appointment, to the guys doing the installation. I was kept informed throughout the entire process so there were no surprises. I HIGHLY recommend Foundation Doctor for any crawlspace work!"
"The whole experience was very professional and projects have been quality workmanship. We had a couple interruptions of the work due to family situations and they were very understanding and helped us every step of the way. All contractors were pleasant to work with and Jared's attention to detail was great!"
"They waterproofed my foundation wall, installed a French drain, installed underground drains for my downspouts , cleaned out my Crawlspace and installed a vapor barrier and dehumidifier. Excellent work on all of it! I highly recommend Dani and his crew."
"Spencer and Ethan worked very well together. They were on time and each one proceeded to take care of their tasks without much communication between them. They had knowledge of the product and process that they were using to lift my two slabs and were efficient in their execution."
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.
A traditional German schmear uses mortar, making it unsuitable for adherence to painted surfaces. Professionals recommend removing any existing paint before applying mortar. However, you can rough up the painted surface and clean it to test if the mortar will stick. Remember that the underlying paint's texture and color may affect the schmear's final appearance—so starting with a bare brick wall will ensure the ideal finish.
You should use cement for a chimney crown. The purpose of the chimney crown is to protect the mortar below from water damage and the effects of weather. For this reason, chimney crowns should only be made using cement. When repairing a crown, use caulks and sealants designed for cement repair rather than mortar repair.
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 premise for painting a brick building is fairly simple: Prime the bricks to seal the surface and apply the top coat to protect your brick home. However, it’s easy to miss a few important steps if you’re starting from a raw brick surface and don’t know the basics of how to paint brick. So be sure to reach out to a local professional painter if you have any reservations about correctly painting your brick house.
The Indian Trail, NC 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.
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.
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.
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.