"It went well. The crew (which included the owner) worked hard to contain and remove as much debris as they could. Their craftsmanship was remarkable; the new chimney looks clean and sleek. Further, Kaied and office staff were professional, very responsive and friendly."
"Lucas was outstanding - quoting, price, service, quality work, etc. The entire experience was tremendous. Truly cannot recommend this person enough! You will not regret it."
"Great job cleaning out my chimney but piled the ivy they removed in my neighbor's yard on top of his leaves instead of putting them in my yard at the curb and he called me mad and I had to go out and remove them to my yard or the village wouldn't collect his leaves."
"We've used Romeo for several projects and have always been very satisfied with his work. His latest project was extending the concrete pad around our pool. Excellent work, as always. He's professional, prompt, polite and an exceptional worker. Without question we will be calling him for our next project."
"Outstanding. On time, professional, friendly, knowledgeable. We have worked with many different contractors/companies over many years, this has to be the very best overall. Highly recommend"
"Sean & his son & crew did a great job with the landscaping in our backyard after we had a hot tub installed. He came up with suggestions on putting in pavers next to the hot tub and concrete pads in the back. He went above and beyond as we added things to the project and he came through with economical ways to complete the additions that we asked for. He even suggested using the extra pavers to make an area for the garbage can. They were professional, courteous and took care to clean up after themselves. I would recommend using him for your landscaping project. Thanks Sean!"
"I wanted a raised garden that wrapped the front of my house but didnt have the 10-12 grand to pay to have it all done. They were flexible with me and I took on the task of building the wall myself. They dug out the original mess of garden there before, set a strong base for my wall, and delt with the drainage that would later be directed through my wall. I built the wall and they came back and filled it in for me to finish it up. The flexibility and communication back and forth was phenomenal and just talking back and forth and learning new things was awesome. Finaly product came out great!!! (Unfortunately Won't let me upload photos)"
"Excellent company!! Tony, the owner, came out to do the estimate himself, and his professionalism and thoroughness in describing the work to be done (backyard drainage), and the benefits of using his company, ultimately won me over. The price was more than fair and his crew was top notch and completed the work on schedule. I highly recommend!!!"
"Workers showed up on time. Big job installing tiles to waterproof our 110 year old house. We are very happy with the results. It was an expensive project but well worth the money"
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.
Depending on the amount of soot present, you can vacuum some of it using a brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Then, remove the leftovers with a mild cleaner, such as dish soap or vinegar mixed with water. Before applying a cleaning solution, saturate the bricks with clean water to prevent the cleaner from penetrating beyond the surface and causing structural damage to the bricks.
Stone houses used to be much more practical, but with the advent of stronger and cheaper materials like concrete, they aren’t seen as much anymore. There are some parts of the world where it makes sense to build with stone, and they are usually next to a stone quarry. Stone is, however, very weather-resistant, which is why many homes near the sea and on mountains are still built with local 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.
Masonry work tends to be more expensive because the materials can be costly, such as natural stone and brick. Masonry is also very labor intensive, typically making up 50% or more of the final project cost. In addition, quality masonry work requires years of training and experience, as with any skilled trade.
The Amherst, NY 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.