"I recently purchased a home in bad need of tuckpointing. When calling for quotes, Pat was the only one of four masons that I called who came out promptly for a quote. His quote was reasonable, though not the lowest. Because of the rainy spring, Pat was delayed from working on my home past his original estimated start date. When he was able to start the work, however, the job turned out to be worse than he expected. He had quoted me with the belief that about 10 -15 bricks would need to be removed. It turned out to be about 40 bricks were removed. However, he repaired it correctly, and only asked if I could reimburse him for the extra materials - no extra labor charge, even though the scope of the repair had about tripled. He also made suggestions of things I could do to help maintain chimney so problem did not reoccur. He and his helper were polite and neat. I would easily hire him again if I needed more masonry work."
"Byler’s masonry is a group that was very reasonable with their price, punctual, great customer service, helpful, cleaned up after the job, and made me feel like I could trust them to work on my home. Great team!"
"Yates Masonry is the best! Don, his son Zach, and the entire team were the utmost professional, knowledgeable, polite, and skilled people in business!! Don and his team were punctual, thorough, and the price was very fair. I would hire them back for any job and highly recommend them to anyone who needs masonry work. Thank you Don and Zach - I appreciate you and wish you the best!"
"Went great. We asked for some changes to patio shape and Dan did just as we asked. He used wall pavers that he removed from previous retaining walls to repair and add to a retaining wall behind the garage. The patio travertine is gorgeous and the granite edging was well done. His work was done well, quickly and neatly. Repairs were made to lawn from heavy equipment used and it came in beautifully. He gave us great instructions which we followed 😀. He included plans for an adjacent deck which we will be using in the spring. He and his crew worked really hard. Thanks, Dan!"
"Excellent! Dan and his crew did great work in each phase of the project. Dan came up with a very creative design that fit the space wonderfully, then he & his crew installed a flat sandstone patio & walkway that perfectly compliments the sandstone block foundation of our century home."
"Had Betts Structural Engineering come and look at the foundation of a house we were in contract on. Josh came out and was professional and informative. He informed us the foundation was failing and explained what needed to be done. He throughly explained everything and told us how we could do it ourselves for much cheaper than a contractor could do it. In the end he saved us from a long and expensive process if we proceeded with the house."
"They said they will be here between 11am and 1pm. I was not here when they completed the task. But when I got home after work it was done. Left holes all over the yard. I think they may have overseed some areas but not all."
Masonry work tends to be more expensive because the materials can be costly, such as natural stone and brick. Masonry is also very labor intensive, typically making up 50% or more of the final project cost. In addition, quality masonry work requires years of training and experience, as with any skilled trade.
Real stone is exactly what it sounds like: It’s real stone sourced from the earth without additives. It is durable and unique, but it’s difficult to work with because of its weight, challenge in sourcing, and high cost. Stone veneer mimics the look of real stone but is actually engineered with a mixture of Portland cement, natural minerals, and a colorant. While it’s more affordable and easier to work with, it’s less durable and may appear manufactured to the trained eye.
Solid brick structures can last a century or more, potentially 100 to 150 years with proper maintenance like tuckpointing. Without major repairs, classic red bricks may last 20 to 40 years. Brick veneer siding is also a long-lasting material, with a lifespan ranging from 50 to 100 years, provided it is properly installed and maintained. To maintain brick veneer, you should scrub it annually with a special detergent and a soft-bristled broom. It's also important to inspect the bricks and mortar regularly and hire a masonry contractor for any necessary repairs, such as fixing worn mortar or bowing bricks.
Brick can increase the value of your home depending on the type of masonry materials used. Homes generally have a higher resale value when they have brick siding, and brick is also easier to maintain (and lasts longer) than other types of siding, which can motivate buyers to make an offer.
Just keep in mind, however, that although brick can up the asking price when you sell your house, the cost to brick a house is also more expensive than other typical siding costs—so you’ll invest more in the project.
When it comes to how to paint a brick chimney, consider that standard paint can seal in moisture and cause serious chimney problems. Instead, use a vapor-permeable sealant. You’ll first scrub and sand the chimney; then, you can patch any gaps with caulk and apply the sealant. We recommend hiring a pro for this job since it entails working on the roof, which comes with a lot of necessary safety precautions.
The Novelty, OH 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.