"The owner stopped out to provide me a quote for the work to be done, he was very knowledgable and professional. While looking at the retaining wall and stairs, he did notice that my foundation wall was starting to buckle in. The crew that he had assigned to the job were very polite and professional. They answered all my questions while they were working. The crew did a good job cleaning up after the work was completed and walked me through on what they did. I am very happy with the work that was done. I would use this company for future projects."
"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."
"I had cement crumbling away from some of the brickwork on house. I had What The Brick Masonry come. They repaired all the cracks. Also checked my chimney and repaired areas there with new cement also. It was a very small job, but it wasn’t something I could do myself. I was very satisfied with the work done. Impressed me that they got back to me the same day I requested them. Also impressed they came the next day to get work done. If I need any more work done I would definitely hire them again!!!!! Cheryl Resch"
"Well it has been many years since we hired a professional such as Romeo. Honest, efficient with strong work ethics. Great respect to our property and our neighbors. An absolute pleasure. Made our dreams of a sound patio a reality. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Alma & Laura"
"They did a great job but when I would not spend 13,000 to do drain tile on top of the sub-pump they would not return my call to finish repairing two more cracks."
"Sean and his crew removed a poorly constructed retaining wall and installed a new retaining wall in our backyard. The challenge for Sunrise was that the wall was approximately 3ft from our in-ground pool. He and his crew completed the entire project in 4 days. Several other companies told us that the wall was too close to the pool to risk completing for us. Once done, they cleaned as if they hadnâ t been there! He and his crew were prompt, courteous, reasonably priced and more importantly did great competent work. They additionally installed ambient LED lighting on the wall. I highly recommend Sunrise Proscapes for Retaining Wall construction, flagstone patios and landscaping. They were awesome!ð Jim Sabuda, Orchard Park NY"
"We are very happy to have found this service as we needed to find someone to snowplow our driveway and sidewalk. G &T have been very timely and I was very impressed since they came when there wasn't too much snow the other day. They are very efficient and also friendly and polite! Very recommended!"
"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"
There are many things to look for when buying a brick house. Here are some of the key things you should pay close attention to.
Lintels: Look for cracks, holes, displacement, or corrosion
Mortar: Check to see if the mortar is old and crumbling, in need of repointing, or new. Also check to see if the mortar has a professional finish.
Walls: Check along each side of the house. If a wall is bowing outward, this indicates a severe issue such as foundation damage or that the walls are ready to fall.
Cracks: If there are stair step cracks in the brickwork, this indicates an unstable foundation.
A mason lays brick or stone together, sometimes with mortar in between the bricks and stones, and sometimes without mortar, also called a dry-stack or surface bonding. Examples of work masons do include:
Brick, stone, or cement block houses and buildings
Yes, you can paint stone on the exterior of a house. It’s important to properly prep the stone by cleaning off dirt and debris. You’ll want to apply at least two coats of paint to get the most even and complete coverage. Any pinholes or missed spots, however small, can allow moisture to get into the masonry and potentially cause the paint to blister and peel from the stone.
Brick spalling—which refers to the crumbly, flaky, or pitted appearance that can develop over time—is caused by a few different conditions. These include:
Climates with constant freeze-thaw cycles
Use of non-breathable sealants
High-pressure water cleaning
Improper installation
While you can’t do anything about the weather, you can preserve your bricks by cleaning them with soapy water and a good old-fashioned scrubbing. Pressure washers may be satisfying to use, but they can eventually wear away the surface of your bricks. If you don’t have advanced-level DIY skills in masonry, you can hire a reputable masonry contractor in your area for your project.
Initially, brick staining is not cheaper than painting. However, while it has a higher up-front cost, it may be more cost-effective in the long run. Brick stain can last for 20 years or longer, compared to paint, which usually starts to peel away in three to five years.
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.