"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."
"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"
"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"
"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."
The white stains you see on your bricks are likely efflorescence, which is salt and lime buildup. To remove efflorescence stains, simply brush them away with a stiff brush. For larger, more stubborn stains, scrub the stains with a water-detergent solution.
Always work with licensed and certified masons in your area when installing a stone wall or even a stone veneer. Just like all home designers, they should provide an impressive portfolio and offer a free estimate for the project. Pick the pro who fits your budget and schedule and, most importantly, helps you realize your landscape vision.
While painting can certainly change the look of a chimney, you should think twice about giving your brick chimney the old landlord special.
Painting brick is porous, meaning it’s full of tiny holes that can soak up moisture. Those holes also allow it to dry, though. So, when you paint it, you trap any moisture inside, providing an opportunity for mold, mildew, and water damage.
Paint also shows wear faster than naked brick. This means that once you paint a brick surface, you’ll have to keep painting it to maintain a clean look. A paint job is also harder to undo on brick because of its porous nature. Once you paint it, it’s hard to go back without some serious power washing—another added cost.
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.
You can use normal bricks as cladding for a concrete or clay pizza oven or as a base underneath one. Fire bricks or solid clay bricks are necessary for an outdoor pizza oven’s floor, and you can use clay bricks for the rest of the oven.
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.
