"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."
"The work was done as promised. Care was taken to use the correct products for the decorated surfaces and standard surfaces of the driveway. The power washing and sealing were carefully done, and a worker came back the next day to check the work and touch up any small spots that may have been missed. The completed work looks good, and we are pleased with the result."
"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."
"The wall cracks were repaired from both the outside and inside. This took one day. The drain tile work was amazing in that it also took only one day. For the drain tile, a five man crew did all the work in one day. For both jobs, the crews were professional, prompt, polite, hard-working and as clean as such jobs are possible. One thing I liked is that they worked directly for Locktight under the direction of a very knowledgeable crew chief. Each member of the crew had a specialty that he concentrated on but also worked well in the group when needed. The area was cleaned up well and my stuff was returned to the original locations. The work done by Locktight solved the water problems. If anything else in the basement has a water issue, I would definitely rely on this company. "
"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"
"Franks basement systems came in estimated and did the work. The whole process was great, honest, and the work itself was flawless. Would highly recommend them to anyone needing this type of work"
"Miguel and Adam came on October 7 to reseal the outside wall under our deck. It was done years ago and needed to be redone. The work was difficult because they needed to crawl underneath the deck, but they did what needed to be done. The wall was neatly covered and stones were carefully laid. They set up a backup pump and were careful to do a good job. Miguel explained to me how to set up the “Purple Pump Spy” and was patient and genuinely concerned that I understand how it worked. He did not rush me as I tried to understand the main pump and backup and I even touched underneath the pump. I very much appreciated the care and understanding."
"Mike was very attentive to our specific needs. Vinyl work was excellent and they also installed 4 entrance screen doors. However, his workers installed the door handles wrong. Mike said they would take care of redoing the handles but it has been two months and they have not been fixed. We had to put signs on our doors so people will push the handles upward instead of down. This is embarrassing to have to do."
Modern brick homes have a brick facade over standard framing and sheathing, so the brick offers minimal added structural stability. A home with traditional brick construction is more durable than a stick-built home, as the double-layer brick walls and rebar resist higher lateral wind loads and support heavier loads up top, as well.
Spalling brick is not uncommon, but it does indicate a serious issue. It can be caused by water damage, an intense freeze-thaw cycle, or something else. Painted bricks can be susceptible to spalling, as the paint doesn’t allow the porous material of the brick to breathe, which can trap moisture. Spalling should always be addressed immediately before more serious structural damage occurs.
Yes, but used or reclaimed bricks can be more brittle, cracked, or uneven than new bricks, so they’re harder to cut cleanly by hand. For that reason, you should take extra care when scoring and striking, and expect a higher chance of breakage. If a brick feels especially fragile, score deeper before attempting to split it.
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.
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.
The Kenmore, 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.
