"Our chimney had a serious water leak into the fireplace, and none of the local chimney folks seemed to know how to deal with it. But Jeff came by, quickly diagnosed the problem, took apart the top of our chimney, and put it back together again. We've had several heavy rains since and ... no leaks! Jeff was responsible, friendly, and professional. He left the site clean of the debris, and with a chimney that looks better from the outside than it did before. We would definitely use him again for other masonry work."
"I had a deteriorated concrete porch replaced, and it was done perfectly. Victor and his crew are excellent and so very easy to work with. I recommend them for any project."
"Upon discovering that when our now four-year-old home was built, the support beams in our crawlspace had not been properly installed, nor had adequate ventilation been provided resulting in the stability of our home being in jeopardy. We began a search for a reputable company to address our issues. We found JES. We were fortunate to have Charles Logan as the representative to assess our needs. Charles was very thorough in determining what needed to be done. Zachary Conner and Michael Kimberlin were assigned to perform the work. They were very conscientious in taking the steps that were needed and keeping us well informed along the way. Charles, Zachary, and Michael were very professional, very pleasant, and respectful of our property. Thank you for putting our minds at ease and in making our home feel safe."
"Excellent! Jorge, Olvin, Raphael, and cement pourers/finishers worked hard and finished the work in a timely manner as promised. Driveway finished on 11/19/2020."
"Poured a slab for my garage install. Was cool when it was poured and didn't use enough calcium to help it cure . Had to stay until 4 am to do what they could. Came back next day to finish. Gave extra money to come back and remove debris. Never showed up so I rented a skid steer and cleaned up myself. Pad has low and hi spots in it. When if rains it creates a large pool on the carport and runs into my garage. They were very nice people but think they could have done a better job. Especially after I gave them a few hundred dollars extra."
"Bobby and the Fortress Techs were very professional, considerate, and thorough. The difference we feel from the crawl space insulation from before to after is amazing. Within just a day or two that musty smell in the house that was coming from the crawl space was gone! Bobby kept us informed throughout the entire process and finished the project on time. I would highly recommend Fortress Foundations Solutions to everyone; we were extremely satisfied with the outcome and the high quality customer service we received."
"The team took care of my issues that I had with my stone archway. They were efficient and very friendly and explained what they were working on. He didn't try to upsell anything and was honest and fair about the work."
"I am a retired code official. This individual has excellent judgement for a all around handyman. I would not hesitate to give him a call again. He solved many of my repair issues, involving ceiling fans, exterior wood handrails, and other projects. He is honest, was efficient and his charges were very reasonable. I differently recommend Green Pastures."
Clean regularly, check for cracks, and inspect the chimney annually for safety.
For most brick cleaning jobs, including fireplace bricks, use a masonry sponge and a gentle cleaner. A simple solution of equal parts water and vinegar, or a few drops of dish soap in a bowl of water, can effectively remove grime. For tougher stains, you can use a dedicated masonry or fireplace cleaner. It is crucial to wet the bricks thoroughly with water before applying any cleaning solution to prevent the brick from absorbing it, and to rinse the surface completely afterward. Harsher cleaners containing bleach or ammonia should only be used as a last resort, and they should never be mixed together.
Limewash can be removed from brick, but the method of removal will depend on how long the limewash has been on the brick. If the limewash has fully dried—which happens after about five days—you’ll need to use a diluted muriatic acid mixture to remove it. If there are multiple coats of limewash, you may need to apply the acid mixture several times to fully remove it from the brick.
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.
The size of your pizza oven will determine the number of bricks necessary to build it. So the bigger your pizza oven, the more fire bricks you’ll need to purchase. Keep in mind that fire bricks cost about $3each.
The Fairlawn, VA 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.
