"Great job. Guys were professional and friendly. I was lucky enough to get same day service. They explained all that was done and why. Clean up, best they could when working with concrete. I would hire this company again without hesitation."
"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"
"Romeo just poured a concrete driveway replacing a beat up asphalt mess. He was meticulous and patient. Friendly and professional. The new driveway is great and we look forward to years of use. We are not concrete experts and he took good care of us, he cares about his work. I would recommend Romeo to anyone needing home improvements"
"This company was fantastic. During one of the worst rain and melting snow situations we've had in years in WNY I couldn't believe how prompt they were during a crazy time. Kyle came and did an estimate within an hour of my speaking to him and had his guys there the next day to complete the project. Super professional, I would recommend these guys to anyone. I'll be using them in the future."
"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"
"It was fantastic. This crew work so hard all day long. Each crew member knew his job and they seemed like a finely tuned military unit. The work was completed in one day and the property looked as though they weren't even there. It has been two and a half years since this work was done and there hasn't been so much as a drop of water in our basement. Could not be happoer with the work. "
"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"
".They replaced my roof and gutters , removed 1 chimney abd sealed the other one. Crew was professional and on time.The clean up crew was amazing. Will definitely hire them again. Great job MP Roofing."
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.
Some older brick material is extremely hard, making it tough to create a hole. Rather than using a typical wood drill bit, always use a masonry drill bit when drilling into brick. For extremely hard brick, using a power drill with a hammer function may give you better results. The drill bit will heat up as it goes into the extremely hard brick, so you may need to stop after a few minutes and allow the bit to cool before starting to drill again.
It is possible, albeit a lot slower, to break up a rock using water. You would do this by freezing and thawing the water. You could create some initial holes or cracks in the rock, then pour water into the cracks or holes and allow them to freeze (so it's best to do this in winter or in colder climates). Since water expands when it freezes, this puts pressure on the inside of the rock and causes it to crack. You could continue to pour more water in and let it freeze to continue to break up the rock.
No, you don’t need to soak the brick before cutting it by hand. In fact, cutting a wet brick can make it harder to see your score lines and may cause the chisel to slip. Soaking is sometimes used with power tools to reduce dust, but for hand-cutting, it’s best to work with dry bricks for better control and visibility.
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.
The Tonawanda, 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.
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.
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.
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.
