"I met with Gary in October to discuss adding a granite cap to my outdoor fire pit. The original fire pit stone and mortar had deteriorated. Gary was able to work with a stone quarry and have them create a round sold granite cap to go over the existing stone. The granite was delivered and placed on top of the pit today as he had to drive a truck across my lawn and we wanted to be sure the ground was frozen. He will return in the spring to finish the work by applying mortar under the granite and he will also do some stone wall repair at that time. While this project has been long and slow, Gary always quickly responded to my text and phone messages. The cost was more than I would like, but material costs are very high everywhere right now. I will definitely work with Gary again."
"I had them do a cleaning and inspection of my chimney and they found damages to the brickwork and the top of the chimney. They installed a new cap and their cost was so reasonable. All their work is guaranteed as well, which is reassuring. They were clean, efficient and courteous. I would highly recommend Handy Andy and in fact they are doing an estimate for my neighbor to whom I recommended them to."
"Excellent job! Replaced my whole roof and installed new gutters, the ones I won't have to get up on a ladder to Clean!! All in ONE DAY!! The crew was polite, friendly, Very hard working! They had a woman working with them she was wonderful, I was impressed! They worked from 7-6pm! They cleaned up after did a Beautiful job. It was supposed to be 2 days, but they finished it in One, Very Long day. I Highly recommend them😁 Very pleased with my new Beautiful roof!❤ Thank you!!!"
"He was very thorough job, my chimneys are in perfect working order. As well as my wood stoves. He went above and beyond to help me get them installed. Very accommodating to our needs. He also drafted plans for future projects that were thought out and very precise."
"Our chimney needed to be raised and brought up to current code, and the solution was handled the right way from start to finish. The chimney was lifted to the proper height and securely strapped to meet structural and safety requirements. Everything was measured, reinforced, and stabilized so it’s not just compliant, but solid moving forward. The work was well planned, clearly explained, and executed with attention to both function and appearance. It’s reassuring knowing the chimney now meets code and is properly supported."
"This was a complex project with a lot of moving parts. Several thousand square feet of patio, complicated pool coping and a significant amount of reconstruction. The land I gave Carl to work with was ugly and unstable. I give Carl an A for time and price because of the value he brings to the table. Not because he's the cheapest or the fastest sprinter. Some significant challenges materialized over the course of the job that added time and cost to the project. The great thing is Carl rolled with the punches, reacted fast, didn't compromise quality, and never asked for more money. This was not an easy piece of land to work with. A 40 year old pool patio on shaky foundations. His foreman/mason Eddie is the only person I trust to do anymore work on my hardscape/landscape. His ability, attention to detail and work ethic is unquestionable. Carl brings 30 years of experience to the table; great design ideas, flexibility, problem solving, vision..........value!! Additionally, Carl has a fantastic network of partners that are just as reliable. I would be happy to provide a reference to all serious buyers. "
Certain towns and homeowner associations (HOAs) ban brick mailboxes because of the risk of obstruction. They are sometimes only permitted in cases where four or more homes share a mailbox. Homeowners may need to obtain special permits in some locations. One of the top masonry contractor hiring tips is to ask a local pro if they can show you examples of recent work that meets local code regulations.
In some cases, black stains on brick are caused by organic substances like algae and mold. However, it's more likely that the black spots you're noticing on your bricks come from carbon from vehicle exhaust or soot. Black stains can usually be removed by scrubbing the brick with a brush and masonry cleaner or power washing.
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.
If you’re attempting to mix and pour your own mortar, expect to pay between $5 to $10 for an 80-pound bag of mix. The cost to repair mortar, however, can range from $300 to $500 for a 20-square-foot wall. The larger the area and the more extensive the repair, the higher the cost.
In most cases, painting your brick house is a fine idea that can open up new aesthetic possibilities. However, the paint can slightly shorten the life span of brick, especially if moisture gets trapped underneath the paint layer. Once you paint, you’ll have to keep up with maintenance to avoid flaking and blisters.
The Franconia, NH 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.