What do I look for when buying a brick house?

• <div><p>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.</p><ul><li><p><b>Lintels:</b> Look for cracks, holes, displacement, or corrosion</p></li><li><p><b>Mortar:</b> 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.</p></li><li><p><b>Walls:</b> 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.</p></li><li><p><b>Cracks:</b> If there are stair step cracks in the brickwork, this indicates an unstable foundation.</p></li></ul><p></p></div>

Can I attach shutters to brick without drilling?

• <div><p>No, it’s not recommended to attach shutters to brick without drilling. Brick is dense and built to last, so adhesives and shortcut methods don’t usually cut it. Even heavy-duty glue struggles to hold up over time—especially against wind, moisture, and temperature changes. Most <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-attach-shutters-to-vinyl-siding.htm">no-drill options are made for materials like vinyl</a> or wood, not solid masonry. Skipping the drill might seem easier, but it puts your shutters—and anything below them—at risk. For a secure, lasting install, drilling is the way to go. It takes more effort up front, but the result is safer and more reliable. </p></div>

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Q: Are brick mailboxes allowed everywhere?

• <div><p>Certain towns and homeowner associations (HOAs) ban brick mailboxes because of the risk of obstruction. They are sometimes only permitted in cases where four or more homes share a mailbox. Homeowners may need to obtain special permits in some locations. One of the top <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/masonry-contractor-hiring-tips.htm">masonry contractor hiring tips</a> is to ask a local pro if they can show you examples of recent work that meets local code regulations.</p></div>

Q: Is masonry more expensive than concrete?

• <div><p>Yes, masonry is more expensive than concrete because the labor is much more involved. With masonry, your expert will build your project from the ground up, one piece at a time, ensuring they use the proper amount of mortar or grout during construction and keeping the project level or plumb. Pouring concrete can also be labor-intensive, but it&rsquo;s a bit less involved. It requires building a mold, pouring the concrete, and letting it cure. The less intensive labor makes concrete a more affordable option in most cases.</p></div>

Q: Can I attach shutters to brick without drilling?

• <div><p>No, it&rsquo;s not recommended to attach shutters to brick without drilling. Brick is dense and built to last, so adhesives and shortcut methods don&rsquo;t usually cut it. Even heavy-duty glue struggles to hold up over time&mdash;especially against wind, moisture, and temperature changes. Most <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-to-attach-shutters-to-vinyl-siding.htm">no-drill options are made for materials like vinyl</a> or wood, not solid masonry. Skipping the drill might seem easier, but it puts your shutters&mdash;and anything below them&mdash;at risk. For a secure, lasting install, drilling is the way to go. It takes more effort up front, but the result is safer and more reliable. </p></div>

Q: What does mortar do?

• <div><p><a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/what-are-most-common-masonry-materials.htm">Mortar is a mixture of sand and cement</a> that binds materials, such as bricks, stones, and concrete blocks, together. Think of it as the glue that fills in the gaps between bricks and stones, then seals them in place to prevent damage or deterioration. Mortar also helps spread the load across a wall or structure, keeping cracks and shifting at bay. </p></div>

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Last update on December 03, 2025

Reviewed in June 2023
I've hired NCJ Construction on two separate job. One putting in a French Drain and large stone wall, and building a pad for my new barn. Nick completed both jobs in a timely manner and i was completely satisfied with his work. His knowledge and experience helped tremendously with the...
NCJ Construction Concepts
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Reviewed in May 2021
JL Stoneworks is an excellent choice. I hired them to rebuild my patio using existing stone and I am thrilled with the results. Joe is professional, prompt, and very talented. This company goes above and beyond to ensure your satisfaction. I have another project In mind and I plan to hire them...
JL Stone Works
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Reviewed in April 2019
Roger Stevens and his crew at Loyal Landscaping did an awesome job in my backyard. Cleaned out the entire yard, brought in and spread a couple of yards of black dirt and installed sod from Pine Island, and all natural cedar mulch for the flower beds. They also picked up a beautiful, native pink...
Loyal Landscaping, LLC
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Reviewed in July 2017
It went very well. I put off a repair of my lawn and seeding until mid-summer before giving in to the fact I couldn't physically do it myself. I called Joe for an estimate. As we talked, I expanded the job to include some stone border and mulch. I had a green lawn much sooner than I expected....
Modern Scapes and Hydroseeding
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Reviewed in September 2016
This is the second wall we've had bell brothers build. This one turned out to be more complicated than it appeared at first glance. They did a great job,and the new block wall looks fantastic . Our neighbors had them repair a stone wall. They also did a great job with that
Bell Brothers Landscaping
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Reviewed in October 2015
We found Great Choice randomly after calling a bunch of local places, and we are so glad we did. We had started a stone step and retaining wall project on our own, and after dozens of hours of work and digging we realized we were out of our league and needed professional help. We also needed it...
A Great Choice Lawn Care & Landscaping LLC
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Reviewed in August 2015
About two weeks ago my little Pug/mix (6.5yoa) was demonstrating an issue of frequent urination. It started with squatting too many times to urinate. I took her to my vet, that I have dealt with for several years and they said she had an infection and gave me some meds. Several days passed with...
Vestal Veterinary Hospital
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Reviewed in January 2015
We had Justin and his crew replace a 20 ft by 16 ft irregularly shaped brick patio, concrete steps, a 6 ft by 30 ft concrete breezeway, and 2 concrete sidewalks totaling approximately 150 square feet with stained and stamped decorative concrete. In addition, they installed a drainage system to...
J. Hulslander Custom Concrete
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Landscape Soil, Sand, Mulch and Rock Delivery

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Southern Tier Solutions

Southern Tier Solutions

Kappler and Son's

Kappler and Son's

Precision earth works llc

Precision earth works llc

Giammarino Paving & Sealcoating LLC

Giammarino Paving & Sealcoating LLC

Cherry Atlas Construction

Cherry Atlas Construction

BSM General Contracting, Inc.

BSM General Contracting, Inc.

Piedmont Equipment Inc

Piedmont Equipment Inc

Couple of Repairs

Couple of Repairs

Patchen Property Contracting

Patchen Property Contracting

JCF Property Management Services

JCF Property Management Services

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