"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."
"Northern basements was able to fit us in quickly, pulled our crooked cement wall back in-place and sealed the wall to prevent future leaks. The work was timely, communication was friendly and detailed, and price was as to be expected for the large amount of work that needed to be done. We are very pleased with the whole process as well as the results. "
"These guys did such a fantastic work with sealcoating our driveway. The level of attention to details these guys put in is unmatched! Highly recommended."
"This experience was excellent from start to finish. Al was very helpful, kind, professional and friendly. The price was fair and the work quality was outstanding. The crown on our chimney looks great and will protect our property for years to come. We would definitely use Expert Chimney again."
"The work Ideal Solutions did for me was done professionally and on time. They have an unbelievable attention to detail. They never took the easy way out and made sure I was 100% satisfied. In my experience ideal Solutions are not just carpenters they are craftsmen. Their communication was great and the project was done on budget and on time."
"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."
"This company is fantastic. They went above and beyond what was required for a small project that I didn't have the time to do myself. It's so difficult to find good people to do these jobs, so I was really grateful for the fast, reliable, and high quality service. I would hire them again in a heart beat. They got right back to me when I initially made the request for service, and even though they said they were busy, they went out of their way to accommodate my request in a short span of time. They also communicated consistently and reliably when I messaged them about the project. This company gets my highest endorsement."
Inspect your foundation type, as older Keene homes feature rubble stone or unreinforced brick that require specialized repair techniques. Note your property's landscape; hillside ledge rock makes excavation difficult, while high water tables near local brooks complicate below-grade projects. You must also check for structural quirks like balloon-frame construction or shared party walls. Finally, verify historic register restrictions before starting your masonry work to ensure full compliance.
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Start by checking with local authorities for required building permits and verifying historic district guidelines. Schedule your masonry work between May and October, as New Hampshire winters disrupt mortar curing and cause frost heave. Assess your soil conditions, especially near the Ashuelot River, to account for high water tables. Finally, ensure all footings extend below the 48-inch frost depth to keep your new structure stable and secure.
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Piling snow against your foundation and leaving roof ice dams untouched forces moisture into joints, accelerating freeze-thaw damage during harsh NH winters. Applying deicing salts to patios or walkways causes rapid surface deterioration. Allowing vines to grow on brickwork or directing downspouts toward your home also destroys mortar over time. You must avoid pressure washing surfaces in late fall, as trapped water destroys masonry work when temperatures drop.
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Combining masonry work with other exterior upgrades streamlines your timeline and minimizes disruptions. Pair foundation repairs with drainage improvements to protect your basement from Keene’s heavy spring runoff. Coordinate chimney rebuilds with roof replacements to prevent damaging a brand-new roof later. Bundling these projects during the short New Hampshire building season reduces contractor visits and ensures your home stays protected against severe weather all year long.
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Homeowners routinely skip necessary permits or ignore local historic district guidelines, leading to major compliance issues. Another major error involves starting masonry work too early in the spring, exposing fresh mortar to frost heave. Using modern, hard cement on older Keene homes destroys historic soft brick. Always address the root cause of the damage, like poor drainage or ice dams, before repairing the surface to prevent repeat failures.
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The Keene, NH 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.