"I have a house with circa 1890's brick and mortar that once had seashells in it. David Ricard gave me a fair estimate to fill in mortar where a house brick was party broken by a telecom company and where some mortar fell out from an area a larger masonry company had repointed a few years before. David and his brother showed up on time, did the work in a reasonable amount of time, and cleaned up after. He showed that he understands different kinds of brick and the mortar required. I wish I had known about David before I hired that other company a few years before because the larger company didn't do a particularly good repointing job. I have upcoming mortar work needed on my front walkway and will be calling David for that repair. I would definitely hire him again and recommend him to others."
"Outstanding workmanship. Attention to detail. I would highly recommend this contractor for any masonry work. Excellent communication. Prompt response. Clean work site. Very professional."
"The cement on our slate patio was cracking and in need of attention. Mr. Sanchez and his crew did a great job of grinding out the old cement, stabilizing the stones where necessary and putting in new cement. The crew was efficient and polite. The job was finished on time and for a fair price, IMO. Before and after photos (of one small area) attached. [One note: The grinding out of the old cement created a signigicant amount of dust. much of which went into the adjacent garden. My wife was/is concerned this will affect the chemistry of the soil, thereby affecting the health of her plants. Just be aware.] Highly recommend."
"If you need any driveway, concrete, or masonry work, MJ Paving and Masonry should be your go-to people! They did an amazing job on my new driveway, at a great price, and Miley was even willing to fix some loose bricks from my front path as well as fill in some missing concrete at no extra cost. The communication was top notch and I felt like I was genuinely cared for as a customer, especially at the intial consultation. You won't regret it!"
"The masonry on our front porch was crumbling, and the stones in our back-yard patio were becoming uneven. Horizon Landscaping Designs made both look brand new again! They were prompt, professional, and stuck with the original estimate. I'd definitely hire them again!"
"Of all the things they did with excellence, value for the money was best! They exceeded my expectations and provided an excellent construction at a competitive or lower price than the three other bids I got. Construction roadblocks were met with consultations and excellent solutions, without complaint or comment by Ricardo, the project manager, and Alfonso and the crew just kept on working until the job was done. I had been dreading this project for years, but Deck Envy were quick, courteous, and professional, making the process totally without hassle. They helped with planning and the HOA, took care of county inspections, and registered the materials warranty for me. I couldn't be happier!"
"Kenny repaired my Front door threshold. He was very easy to work with. He was always easy to reach by phone or text. He provided excellent service at a reasonable price. I will use K Hill Masonry in the future. I would recommend K Hill Masonry."
"MCI Construction Company has done a fantastic job rebuilding the retaining walls for two trees in front of my house. Max, the owner not only provided a great estimate but also able to put together a team to complete the job the very next day. The workmanship on the retaining wall was top-notch, better than expected. I should also note that upon learning one of his crew accidentally took my shovel after the cleaning up, Max immediately took action by sending me a brand new shovel even though I told him it was unnecessary."
""I recently hired J & F Construction to install a new flagstone walkway, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. From the start, Jesus provided a detailed plan and offered great suggestions that improved the overall design. The crew was incredibly hardworking, arriving on time every day and maintaining a clean workspace. The craftsmanship is top-notch—the way they trimmed and set each piece of stone is a true 'masterpiece'. If you want a contractor who is professional, communicative, and delivers high-quality masonry, I highly recommend J & F.""
"CM Hardscapes was communicative, reasonably priced and did a great job on our wall in a timely manner. I would use them again for future masonry work!"
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. Black stains are more than an eyesore. Some black stains can pose health concerns, especially for those with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions. Some stains can also damage the brick’s structural integrity, harming the mortar and resulting in more expensive repairs.
Fireclay is a type of clay but it is a type of clay that, because of its chemical composition, can be fired at a much higher temperature than other clays. This results in a denser and more heat-resistant final material. Because of the high percentage of a mineral called kaolin, fireclay sinks are smoother and more durable than other clay types.
Yes, you can do German schmear on stone. You can account for the more textured and rough surface of stone by using a large paintbrush instead of a putty knife. A brush allows you to drag mortar across the stone to get it into all the cracks and crevices. However, a brush will cover more of the surface, so you may need a wet sponge to scrub excess mortar and expose more of your stone.
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.
The Dunn Loring, VA homeowners’ guide to masonry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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