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GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS

Acoustic Ceiling Tiles - Install, Concrete Driveways & Floors - Install, Concrete Flatwork - Repair & Resurface,

About us

Owner Eddie Costanzo is a unique combination of master stone mason and structural engineer. Licensed and insured and on every job. All of his employees have been with him for many years and are dedicated to keeping up the impeccable record with the Bureau of Consumer Affairs of not one complaint in all the years in business for over 25 years. Former Army Corp. of Engineers takes on the most challenging of building and structural problems as well as all stone and paver masonry that is done in a special way to have lasting beauty and no settling. Member of the BBB holding an A+ rating.

Business highlights

40 years of experience

Services we offer

All phases of and masonry - driveways, outdoor kitchens, patios, pool areas, retaining walls and fireplace specialist.Perfected waterproofing method used by Army Corp. of Engineers.Gravel and drainage specialist. Land grading and all phases of building as well as lifting and re-supporting of existing structures., stoops

Amenities

Free Estimates

Yes

Reviews
4.9174 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
98%
4
0%
3
1%
2
0%
1
2%
Showing 126-150 of 174 reviews
Garry F.
Aug 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000
Before Eddie came to look over the job and give an estimate, I was already sure he was the man for the job just from the reviews I read on Angie's List. Everything the previous customers wrote was spot on. Eddie is the most professional and knowledgable mason I have ever come accross, not to mention a true gentleman.
If all business owners, contractors and professionals conducted their business like Eddie and General Brick Designs, I am sorry to say Angie, your list would not be needed! Eddie looked over the area and made some suggestions on what he thought would be a good look that would enhance the look of the house and the grounds as well. We agreed on his suggestion as he truly has a vision and the experience with the products and what would look right for the property. We then agreeded on a price. Eddie kept in touch with me letting me know when i should expect him and how his present job was running. 
Several weeks later Eddie and his team showed up everyday at 7:00AM or shortly after and worked hard all day, Eddie was on site everyday as well. All the bluestone that was in place around the pool and patio area had to be removed as well as the concrete under it. No jackhammers here, all the bluestone and concrete pickaxed and hauled away. With care given to the pool and keeping the mess out of it. The ground was smoothed and compacked and the pavers where installed in a herringbone pattern. It was obvious that the workers cared about what they were doing and not just going through the motions for a paycheck.
These gentlemen knew their stuff as Eddie mentors them to be the best they can be, and it shows. There was extra work that had to be performed around the pool that was unseen and unexpected while the old bluestone was still down, but Eddie's leadman Oscar said there was no way to do the job properly without first installing new mortor and flashing i believe it was called around the pool edge. Eddie and his men did an excellent job of installing that before proceeding, and would not charge me for the extra work! When was the last time you heard that! 
I had asked to have some of the old bluestone placed on the side as a relative requested it, it was greeted with "no problem, whatever you need" and it was done quickly for me.   
As the job went on i asked Eddie what he thouht of a driveway apron using the same pavers, Eddie thought it would make a great statement and loved the idea, a very reasonable estimate was given and when the patio and the rest of the job was completed the driveway appron was installed the very next day and the results are outstanding!
I cannot say enough nice things about Eddie and his team, professional, caring, neat, hard working, with the end result being a beautiful job that will be enjoyed by my family for years to come.
Before the pavers were placed i had asked Eddie if we could place the remains of my pet cat "Skunky" under his favorite spot on the patio which Eddie was all for. Eddie handled the entire event with dignity and respect that had my entire family very touched.
The next day Eddie had brought along a paver his wife was kind enough to have engraved as a rememberence for my deceased cat Skunky! Talk about a caring professional, including his wife, that says it all, just a class act.
Eddie treats his work as an artist treats his canvas, the love of the job comes first, the money is secondary, if the work is not top notch, then nothing else matters.
Anyone who is in need of masonary work needs to look no further than Genral Brick Designs, everything that is promised, is delivered, and then some! I could go on and on but i trust you understand what i am saying, these guys are the best,
Thank you Eddie for the beautiful patio and driveway apron, everyone who sees it comments on your work, thank your crew as they did a wonderful job as well, and lastly thanks for being a true gentleman and humanitarian! You guys are the best!  
The only drawback is, I wish Eddie and his team did more than masonary, i would hire them for all my housing and construction needs! They are truly the best, and the experience was nothing short of spectacular!

Kathleen D.
Jul 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000
Ed's service was just amazing.  I had planned to have some shrubs removed before the work began, but had not done so when Ed called to say he would be starting the next day.  He had his workers remove three large shrubs, cut them into manageable stacks and remove the roots.  They then trenched out for cobblestone borders along the driveway, removed asphalt from the lower portion of the drive and set new pavers in place.  Their work was meticulous and they took great care to clean up at the end.  The following day they removed the broken concrete from the entryway, poured new concrete and finished up the driveway.  I cannot say enough about how professional and courteous everyone was.  I am delighted with the outcome and will definitely use Ed's company in the future and recommend him to others.  Thanks, Angie's List...I was delighted with my experience. 

Lance H.
Jul 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000
The job went extraordinarily well from our very first conversations with Eddie Costanzo to the well thought-out meticulous re-structuring and engineering of the damaged walls with new footings steel, block, concrete and water proofing to finished surfaces to the last bit of clean up. Eddie's experience with the Army Corps of Engineers and years as a master mason and his incredibly talented, hard working and courteous crew showed every day of the project. General Brick Designs exceeded every expectation. I really don't know how they could be any better. My wife and I could not have asked for more from them and will sleep well at night knowing that the foundation walls are stronger now than they were when they were built 85 years ago. From day one, every man arrived on-time, was fully prepared to work and began work immediately. Eddie was engaged and informative from his return of my first call to the last hour of clean up. He was incredibly knowledgeable and and shared every detail of the project as it progressed. At every point, he ensured that we understood, and were comfortable with, how he planned to address issues while providing concise explanations of the problems with our foundation and the causes leading to them. At no point from beginning to the final payment did he ask for or suggest any change to our contract or conditions despite there being more serious issues than any of us suspected. Finally, you could not a nicer, harder working and courteous group of men than these. The whole experience was a pleasure.

Christopher P.
Jul 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
The owner, EDWARD COSTANZO, called back promptly. He explained what needed to be done and why. Unfortunately his schedule is booked solid and I need the work done sooner. He offered to put me on standby if a spot opened up and I may very well do that. He took the time to explain what any other contractor should be doing, what I should ask and what a appropriate price range would be. Not many contractors would be that honest. Most would book you, even if they couldnt schedule you, and then play games with scheduling and completion. I have not decided on a contractor but I would definitely consider using this contractor for the job if I decide to delay the start date until he can schedule me in. Its unusual to get a contractor this honest and open who sounds like he is knowledgeable and would rather give someone good advice and guidance even if they dont get that particular job.

George R.
Jul 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$18,000

Updating review to give an A in the category of price. I noticed in reviewing the review that I made a mistake. 
Ed, Oscar and the entire crew did an excellent job on this project.  They worked fast, clean and neat and the finished product gives the front of our property beautiful curb appeal.  Ed and his crew installed beautiful pavers around our pool and replaced the old wood deck in our back yard about seven years ago and we have since received many positive comments from friends and neighbors about that job.  There was no question that we would call Ed back to do another outstanding makeover!!


William M.
Jun 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000

We recently moved into a home that needed some major remodeling to the back of our property.  I kicked off the bidding process by reaching out to Angie's list a few month's ago and called Eddie Costanza to provide a bid for work to be done.  His price was actually a bit higher than the other two bids received but my wife and I felt extremely comfortable with his approach to the job to be done as well as his mason experience which was quite evident with the meetings we had before signing a contract.  I had read through all the comments about his company on Angie's list and hoped that they were accurate about him and his crew.

Well, ALL comments about Eddie and his crew Oscar, Wilson, Tony and Omar are spot on!  This team just spent two weeks at my home and they did an incredible  job with my patio, barbq, pool walkway and garden areas.  What was great about this experience was how Eddie managed the work to be done.  Not only was he on the jobsite everyday but he and I conversed on the design throughout the process and made modifications where necessary.  The Danish brick patio with stone edging and stone barbq area could be shown in a backyard design magazine!  My wife and I couldn't be any happier! 

I also need to recognize his team.  They are a hard working crew that are professional, courteous and clearly experienced at all aspects of masonry. As I am retired and was also working in my yard a good part of the time they were at my home I got to see firsthand how effective they worked together as a team. Oscar, the lead, is a masonry artist that is also a perfectionist and takes a significant pride in the work of his guys.  Eddie and his crew actually went beyond our expectations as they rebuilt a good part of a brick patio/walkway that was attached to the old deck, laid additional bluestone to my pool area and a shed behind the pool and repaired damage to a part of our chimney.

Before I signed a contract with Eddie he had said numerous times that once the work gets underway that he and his team would have no other distractions and that all of his energy and focus would be on my home and nowhere else.  This commitment was spot on!  As other Angie's List comments have stated, he has a wealth of experience from the Army Corp of Engineers and this was evidenced by the quality of work achieved.  He actually provided additional counsel to me on other aspects of my home such as the siding, chimney and property maintenance that I will take forward with further refurbishment of my home.  His outgoing personality, team leadership and keen desire to meet client expectations are just a few of the key reasons why I would recommend him for any form of masonry work.

Overall, this was an incredible experience.  I have told Eddie to use us as a reference and if anyone wanted to come see the work done at our home to just give me a call so I could show it off.  Thanks again for a job well done. 

All the best, Bill & Maritza



Jason S.
Jun 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

Jonathan B.
Jun 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$15,500
I would like to start this review with a huge Thank you to Mr. Eddie Costanza owner of General brick design and his highly skilled crew. This experience was very different from the moment I met Eddie for an estimate. He spent time explaining his Masonary and engineering background and how proud of his crew he is. He treats his crew like family and they represent him with the same repect. If I knew what I know now not only would he have done all the mason work prior to the pool being installed but he would have been hired before I installed the pool. He is honest, kind, and a genuinely nice person. It is extremely difficult to find a contractor that even comes close to the integrity this man has. His pricing is very competitive but if ur looking for the cheapest you may wanna look somewhere else but remember you get what you pay for and I promise he is worth penny. I have no problem showing my beautiful patio and even explaining in person why general brick design and Eddie are truly above all. Once again thank you Eddie I enjoyed the whole project from beginning to end.

Terrayl E.
May 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Was contacted by Mr.costanzo from general brick. Very honest and sincere about what happened. All is well, would definitely contact general brick in the future, thanks for reaching out.

John H.
May 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$25,000
Unbelievable!!! Mr. Ed Constanzo is a blessing and a joy to work with. From the moment you meet him you will immediately know he is a man of integrity, honesty, and undeniably the nicest human being you will ever meet. His qualification as a master mason with the Army Corp of Engineers is impressive, however, not one complaint in over 25yrs, an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and countless stellar customer reviews we felt this man was too good to be true. How wonderful for us he and his crew were all that was represented and more! Ed is a sincere and passionate family man who treats his crew and the homeowners like family. His caring, kindness and desire to please is unbelievable. Your job is like a symphony, his crew the orchestra, with Ed as the leader it is truly a pleasure to experience. Oscar, Wilson, Tony, and Omar are the hardest working, polite, and conscientious men we have ever had the pleasure to have at our residence. They could not do enough to insure the job was done to perfection. Ed was there 24/7 every minute many times on his hands and knees installing pavers and enjoying the experience with his wonderful crew. ED LOVES HIS PROFESSION AND IT SHOWS IN ALL HE DOES! As you watch your masterpiece progress he is always trying to exceed your expectations, which he does with pride and unequalled enthusiasm He always included my wife and I in the entire project, he couldn't have been more responsive in sharing our ideas and choices of materials. While researching our color choices, EVERY vendor and supplier could not say enough about the kindness, integrity, wonderful personality, and work ethic of Mr. Ed Constanzo. Seriously, this man is too good to be true. Then it gets better, he gives you the peace of mind of a 10 yr. guarantee with the job, unheard of from any other contractor we've received estimates from, and if you take a look at all the sagging defective driveway paver jobs in your travels you can understand how important that guarantee is!  We, as ALL of Ed's customers are were overwhelmed with the completed job which surpassed our expectations. As many of the reviews stated when the job was completed it was sad that Ed had to leave as we thoroughly enjoyed the experience with him and his crew. He will however, be a personal friend who we will keep in touch with in the near future. As we have said throughout if you are fortunate enough to have Ed work at your residence, you will not only get the best job but be a better person for spending time with Mr. Ed Contanzo! Sincerely, John, & Chris Hoffman

R R.
Apr 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,200
I contacted GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS for an estimate, upon meeting Ed I was very impressed knowledge of masonry and engineering.Due to bad winter water and ice destroyed my front stoop brick work started to crumble, blue stone steps pulled away from stoop, needed to be redone, also wanted a garden wall built around the front of house. Ed picked out the beautiful blocks for garden wall.From beginning to end ed and his crew were professional, punctual,and meticulous. Highly recommend

Michael O.
Apr 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$14,800
I contacted General Brick Designs and left voicemail on a
Friday evening after some due diligence on Angies List reading reviews and
searching the web for design inspiration with my wife.  Ed Costanzo contacted me the next day to
discuss replacing our rotted wood retaining walls and brick and tie stepped
walk in the front of our house that had become a source of embarrassment
several years ago. We set up an appointment and Ed showed up on time and we
walked the property and showed Ed the design ideas that we had found on line.
My wife and are very busy people with strong opinions and we know what we want,
but we have learned that when your spending large sums of money on home
improvements the best decision you can make is to find the right contractor and
work with them not against them. We?ve experienced both kinds of projects and I
like to think we?re getting better at this. If you?re looking for a master
mason, Ed is that guy.
He is a talker, but that?s because he has a lot to say and
after discussing our project for an hour or so he explained why some of our
choices worked and why others didn?t. Having had a chance to talk for a while
we allowed ourselves to become persuaded and incorporated Ed?s design
suggestions, in hindsight they seem so obvious, but we?re not professional
masons and we didn?t fully understand our options and definitely didn?t find
these choices online.
General Brick Designs is a small company, Ed has a single
crew and they work one project at a time, taking great pride in the finished
product. Ed and his four man crew showed up on time and went to work swiftly,
completing the job in three days instead of four, but the thing about these
guys is that they were really calm cool and collected. That gives me the
impression that they know their business and also have a great deal of respect
for each other. The work speaks for itself.
The end product fits the property in ways we could have never
imagined, much less have been able to describe, but if you take the time to
listen to Ed I?m quite sure you will agree that he has no problem in either of
those two areas.

Rachel G.
Apr 2015
4.0
.

EILEEN B.
Apr 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$44,000
I too hired Ed when he came for the estimate.  I had some drainage issues and having them corrected was just as important as a beautiful look.  Ed came with the proper equipment  and  was able to assess the situation immediately.  He explained the problem and how to correct it.  His start date and estimated finish dates were spot on.  Ed also adapted to changes I made along the way and even offered suggestions, which were fabulous ideas.  I felt extremely at ease dealing with Ed, he was very knowledgeable,respectful and attentive as  to  my vision of the project. He  offered suggestions when I was uncertain .Ed was on the site every day and kept me updated from start to finish.  The results are fabulous.  I could not be happier.  I would definitely hire him again .

Hazel H.
Mar 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$17,000

From start to finish I can't imagine even one detail that could have been addressed better by Ed and his team of knowledgeable craftsmen.  EVERY DAY they arrived on time, worked steadily all day, and cleaned up before they left.  They were professional, courteous, and hard working.  Ed was on the job EVERY DAY, ALL DAY monitoring every phase of the work.  He kept me informed of details of the project and answered all of my questions in great detail.  Ed and his team are real masters at what they do; their work is impeccable.  My patio, walkways, and front porch were beautiful; I could not have been more pleased.

But then there was a problem--a big problem!  Shortly after Ed's work was completed, I hired a fencing company to install a stockade  fence--and they cracked an area of concrete along my brand new walkway!!!  I was devastated.  I called Ed--and literally within minutes he was at my house meeting with me and the  owner of the fencing company.  He discussed in detail what needed to be done--AND HE SAW TO IT THAT IT WAS DONE RIGHT.  (Obviously, the cracked concrete had nothing to do with the quality of Ed's work; however, his response to MY problem speaks volumes about the "quality" of his character and commitment to helping his customers.)  You see, when you hire Ed Costanzo, he gives you a 10-year guarantee--and he is anxious to make good on it!

Ed Costanzo is an honest person who also happens to be a very talented engineer (formerly with the Army Corps of Engineers) who cares about his customers.  I have total confidence in Ed and highly recommend him without reservation.  In fact, I have already discussed with him a much larger project that I want him to complete for me.




Lisa S.
Mar 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$11,500

I am very pleased with this company.  Eddie was a pleasure to work with as was his crew.  He was extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of what I needed to properly repair my leaking foundation and to add a egress window.  My foundation was fixed by another company 5 years prior who did a terrible job and it leaked within months of that repair. .  I was leary about this happening again and searched diligently for a company that would do a good job and stand by their work.  Eddie fixed my foundation by doing it the right way  footings, drilling out the crack etc. and not just a temporary expensive patch job.  I would highly recommend using this company and I will use again in the future if I need any type of mason work. 



KAREN G.
Mar 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000
Excellent!  Exceeded my expectations.  Workers were punctual, professional and meticulous.

Eileen P.
Feb 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$12,000
Ed was referred to my wife and I by my parents who had used his services the past year. We had called him to get an estimate on a new driveway and well as backyard grading and landscaping. During our initial conversation and through the use of an infrared gun (as Ed described, similar to an MRI), he discovered a pressing issue with the foundation/footing of our house and explained that this took precedence over any aesthetic changes we had hoped to do to our yard. Despite our initial reservations, Ed worked tirelessly to come up with a plan to help support our house and preserve the future of its structural integrity. After an initial estimate of $16,000, my wife and I were unsure if we had the means to take on such a large job. However, before even knowing if we were going to accept his offer (which indicates that he really wanted to do righy by us!), Ed stayed up all night, working to devise a cheaper solution. He was able to design a system to support our house' foundation for just $4,000. We then had him work on our diveway, pavers and front stoop as originally planned for the remaining $8,000. 
The work was done beautifully and on time.  In fact, Ed threw in a few extra enhancements (new bricks on stoop and matching bricks at end of driveway skirt) totally for free. He clearly takes pride in his work and will stop at nothing to make sure you get nothing but the best quality. 
We will definitely be calling Ed back in the spring to look at some other work in our back yard we want to have done. In all honestly, as a new home owner it is hard to tell when to trust someone. However, I have never met someone as genuine, honest and trustworthy as Ed. The time and pride he takes in his work is the reason for so many positive reviews here on this site. This will just add another stellar A+ job to the list.
Look no further than here!

Pat F.
Jan 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
This team lead by Mr. E Constanzo were professional, courteous, on-time. Mr. Constanzo was on site as the work was being carried out.  When additional problems showed themselves, Mr. Constanza solved them without adding additional costs on the original estimate.  It was a pleasure to have them working on our home and I highly recommend this firm.

Peter M.
Jan 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$24,500
Ed the owner/engineer/master mason was wonderful, walked us through the problems and repairs needed. His staff were all just as professional, hardworking and caring about their work. We are very satisfied with the work and the 10 yr guarantee he provides- which gives us great peace of mind. Ed stays at the site while the work is done, provided a lot of support, answered questions, demonstrates genuine concern for the quality of the work and ensures that it be to his high standard. We highly recommend him and his company and have already given him word of mouth referrals.

Beth B.
Dec 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$15,000
Eddie is fabulous. We had total confidence in his ability to diagnose, explain and repair our masonry problems. He is a consummate professional and his structural engineering background is invaluable. We were extremely happy with all 5 projects. His patio design was right on and his suggestion for paver color was perfect. His expert workmen were prompt, wonderful to deal with and very neat. We couldn't be happier and will surely call him for future work.

Karen H.
Dec 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,600

It went very well from start to finish.  Ed Costanzo is very knowledgeable and I liked the fact that besides being a master stone mason, he also has a structural engineering background.  This allowed him to identify that some of the stoop footing was badly in need of repair.  While not initially visible, when the bricks were removed it was obvious that the underlying cement was crumbling.  Anything short of repairing the underpinning would have been merely cosmetic and not lasted very long.  His work is guaranteed for ten years.  Ed was pleasant and professional and explained in detail the work that was being done throughout the entire process that lasted about three days.  He also managed to find replacement brick for the stoop, which is no longer manufactured, that matches the existing brick on the steps exactly.  I am very pleased with the finished product and would highly recommend him and his company.



Chris T.
Sep 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000
.

Alan C.
Sep 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,200
This was my first time using General Brick. I read all the comments on Angie's List, and then met with the Owner, Eddie, to get an idea of what options I had. Eddie took his time to explain different solutions, and gave us three ideas. He was fantastic! He and his men, were on time, professional, precise and did a fantastic job. Eddie, oversaw ever step of the process and worked with the crew! As good as I imagined the final result -- it was even better. I have been recommending General Brick to all my family and friends.

Lynne L.
Aug 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$48,000
Ed gave me his undivided attention as to how he recommended doing the repairs to our side porch made of concrete and block.
The porch was coming apart, the top was caving in and the sidewall was falling away. In addition, there are two piers on the porch supporting the roof which would need to be supported. There were other structural repairs necessary to this project.
He explained, very clearly, in great detail how and why he created this plan. I was prepared to hire him to make the repairs until my brother became available and offered to do the repairs himself.
Ed showed great confidence in his ability to make all the repairs necessary and told me how his crew of masons are well seasoned and qualified to do any work that he asks of them.


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Showing 126-150 of 174

Licensing

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FAQ

GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS is currently rated 4.9 overall out of 5.
Yes, GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS offers free project estimates.
No, GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS does not offer a senior discount.
No, GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS does not offer emergency services.
No, GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS does not offer warranties.

Contact Information

840 LINCOLN AVE, Bohemia, NY 11716

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