"I have never had to have anything like this done before. We are putting new flooring down and over the years the house had settled. We called in a local structural engineer, Bill Wingate, he assessed the project and said he worked well with Falcone. I called them and they came down and confirmed Mr. Wingate's opinion and e-mailed me an estimate. It was very close to what I expected considering the work that was to be done. They scheduled me and I paid them the deposit. They came in (Tom and Dan) and got right to work. They were very kind and answered all of my questions and their politeness was only outdone by their focus on doing an excellent job. They overcame any structural imperfections in the home's original design. When Mr. Wingate came in for a final walk through with Tom and I he said everything was correct and that they had done a great job. You can bet that I will recommend, without hesitation, to my neighbors. Thank you is not enough for Tom and Dan. They put their best foot forward. I am very pleased."
"My home has a chimney that was unsafe to use (cracked masonry liner). I dreaded the time and cost of a tear down and replacement. I contacted "Shamrock Chimney" and scheduled an appointment with their lead technician "Tony". He suggested a less costly and safer alternative (steel liner and a resealing of the outer brickwork. The work was performed over a two-day period. I am fully satisfied with the results. One thing I really apricate is the communication during the project. The "front office" would let me know by either phone or email when the project would start, and then Tony and would give me updates. All and all the whole process went smoothly. Also, this was my first time with "Angi", I hope to use their services again in the future."
"Fantastic experience from beginning to end. I'm very happy I went with Joe's company. They are absolute professionals and I could see everyday watching their progress, that they are concerned with quality. Joe had great communication with me throughout the whole process, and they were able to finish on time despite all the rain we were getting. I will definitely hire him again in the future for any masonry."
"Lou Sullivan was an absolute pleasure to work with. He showed up on time to do the estimate, walked me through the stamping/colorization process, and gathered required info from me to help him ascertain how to achieve the finished look I desired (including layout, colors, and expansion joint locations). Once done he provided me with an estimate as well as his availability. At no point did I feel pressured, and Lou's professionalism made it feel like I was working with a partner who was genuinely invested in helping me achieve my objective. After agreeing on both a price and timing, Lou returned with his crew to do the work, as scheduled. Again he was punctual, and his crew did a fantastic job of getting the pour down, spread, stamped, colored, and cut (expansion joints) in a timely fashion. A week later (to allow curing) Lou returned to seal the finished product. I'm writing this review more than 18 months after completion of the project -- and waited this long to see how the finished product held up. When clean (as opposed to covered in pollen), my patio looks as good as it did the day after it was sealed. I'm very pleased with the result and would/will engage Carolina Decorative Concrete again should I have a need for more work of this type. Lou is a true professional and a master at his craft. Important: It should be noted that I already had a 4" base of level, tamped crush & run in place for the patio … as well forms in place to hold the concrete pour. Thus, the pricing I received was strictly for the decorative concrete work, as all required prep work had already been performed prior to engaging Lou. Those in need of prep work should factor its cost in, of course."
"The job was done in a very professional manner paying attention to detail and quality of the supplies provided and used for the fencing. The job was done efficiently and exactly to the specifications that I required. He made sure that I was satisfied with the job at different stages of the construction. I had one or two specific things that I wanted done and he made sure that they were installed properly as they were being done. He worked very neatly and cleaned up all of the property of any cut or waste materials. His men were very proficient at performing their individual tasks paying attention once more to quality and to my satisfaction. "
"Very happy with the level of service provided. Would have been 5stars across the board, the only negative is my house and back door had cement splashed from the pouring of the cement pad. Although they tried to clean it up, my house and door still has stains and unfortunately the glass door has scratches from the removal of the cement. The team that worked on my project was very good and professional. I would recommend this company, for sure. I would also recommend putting a protective tarp up before pouring the cement pad."
"We had a section of concrete slab in our walkway that had settled about 4 inches where it met the stairs to our front door. This was very visible and also caused water to puddle at that location. We were planning to stain and seal the walkway and driveway, but this situation had to be corrected before we could do that. This was a small project relative to what contractors who do this specialized work generally do.
Southeast Foundation Repair was one of three bids we got for the project. Their initial bid actually matched the highest bid we'd received at the point. They said, however, that if I could wait until Nov 16, they had another larger job in my area and they could "tag this on in the afternoon" and avoid some of the normal costs associated with travel to the job site and set up. This resulted in a substantial savings.
They called me a few days before the scheduled date to reconfirm. They called again on the day of service to let me know when they would be arriving. They got here when they said they would and quickly got things set up and performed the work.
The raising and leveling of the concrete slab was done nicely and you cannot tell where the "settling" had been and they made sure that water would now drain away from the stairs. It looks great... and I subsequently had the concrete stained and sealed and you would never know there had been a problem.
Southeast Foundation Repairs did and excellent job and I would recommend them to others without hesitation."
"He was a real character. He talked a lot and said that he couldn't do it because I think he said the chimney needed to be aligned or something. He just cleaned a little bit right around the fireplace and the immediate opening. He didn't do the entire chimney. He wasn't going to charge me anything so I gave him a tip for what he did do."
Brick is the closest choice when seeking to capture the timeless look of stone with a more practical and budget-friendly option. When comparing stone versus brick siding, the price range of $200,000 to $400,000 for average brick home construction is dramatically lower compared to the cost of building a stone home. If you'd like to keep the stone aesthetic without the cost, stone veneer and manufactured stone are both less expensive than real stone.
Yes, brick should be clean before staining to ensure the best results. Dirt, dust, mold, mildew, and other substances on the brick can prevent the stain from properly adhering to it. Thoroughly cleaning the brick allows the stain to penetrate and bond to the surface more effectively. Cleaning typically involves using a pressure washer or a stiff brush with mild detergent. However, stubborn residue may require a specialized masonry cleaner.
To stain brick, you should use a product specifically formulated for brick, concrete, or other masonry surfaces. These stains are designed to penetrate the porous surface of the brick and bond with it. This is different from paint, which sits on the surface and is prone to peeling, flaking, and trapping moisture that can cause damage. Water-based brick stains are often recommended because they are easy to apply, even for DIYers, and they allow the brick to breathe. Avoid using regular paint on brick, as it will not adhere properly and can lead to future maintenance problems.
No, you shouldn’t lay bricks directly on dirt. While it might seem like a shortcut, it leads to a patio that shifts, sinks, and becomes a maintenance headache. Dirt expands, contracts, and erodes—none of which mix well with long-term stability. To build something that lasts, excavate the topsoil, compact a layer of crushed gravel, and add a coarse sand-setting bed. This layered base gives your bricks proper support, allows drainage, and helps block weeds from creeping through. Cutting corners here just means you’ll spend more time—and money—repairing your brick patio later.
Brick stain doesn’t peel or chip and is much more durable than painting. That’s because the staining is absorbed into the brick instead of lingering on the surface as paint does. The color retains even under extreme weather conditions. Therefore, brick stain will save you a lot of time and cost on maintenance in the long run.
The Ocracoke, 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.
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.
