JES Foundation Repair (JES), A Groundworks Company, specializes in helping homeowners with their foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and concrete needs. Our top priority is providing high-quality home repair solutions and personalized service across Virginia and Maryland. With fully trained technicians, industry-leading products, and nationally backed warranties, JES is here to restore your foundation or crawlspace.
\nFor state licenses visit Groundworks.com/licensing
"We recently hired Shamrock Chimney to repoint the brick walls on both of our bay windows and our front steps. We also had them perform a safety inspection and cleaning of our gas fireplace. Mr. Juan Ortiz was the company representative, and we found him to be extremely knowledgeable, professional, and courteous. The repointing took approximately 7½ hours, and the results were exceptional. They carefully removed the old mortar, and the new mortar was matched perfectly to the existing brickwork. The bay window walls look like new again! They also completed a thorough safety inspection of our gas fireplace and did an excellent job cleaning the glass and fireplace. We were very pleased with the quality of the work and the professionalism of the crew. I would definitely recommend Shamrock Chimney to anyone needing chimney, masonry, or fireplace services."
"It is with deep satisfaction that I recommend Grady?s Painting and Plastering & Construction. Mr. George Grady is a skilled craftsman. He was hired to correct long neglected and extensive masonry and window issues on a large, beautiful Presbyterian Church built in the Civil War era in Philadelphia. The property was neglected with only minimal maintenance performed over the last 40+ years. The building was in severe decline and in need of stabilization and restoration on many fronts. Cracked ledge plates were chipped out and reestablished, internal walls damaged by leakage were broken out and repaired, brickwork was repointed and in severe cases reestablished to original strength and beauty. Leaks around the base of the building were addressed to stabilize deterioration of the foundation. Large rotted window sills under beautiful stained glass windows were restored after significant masonry reestablishment due to water damage under the rotted out sills. Broken and missing stained glass windows are in the process of repair and replacement. The process started with new metal frames cast by Mr. Grady. The new frames will hold clear painted replications of the original stained glass, also crafted by Mr. Grady. Regular windows all around the church and manse were also repaired and restored. Roof leaks were accurately identified and repaired. A sagging plaster ceiling has been torn out and restored. All this work was done by Mr. Grady alone or with an occasional helper. He worked with care, expertise and respect for the original structure. The results far exceeded our expectations and have injected new life into a building on the brink. This building, owned by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, now houses a new urban ministry in a newly gentrifying area of the city. We are happy to have had the good fortune to be connected to Grady's Painting and Plastering & Construction"
"Fernando was on time, professional, careful, and clean. Before starting the masonry repair, he and his assistant taped heavy paper to the floor to minimize, dust, dirt and damage to any surrounding areas. Fernando worked straight through the job until it was completed in one day. The job was done well and at a price well below other bids I received. Fernando brought his son, who is fluent in English, to help answer any questions I had about the job while it was going on. After the job was complete, I checked the work and the new wall section was straight and matched up with the old existing section of the retaining wall. I spent about 1/3 of the price of my highest bid I received. His bid was comparable with my lowest bid from another contractor."
"Fantastic experience from beginning to end. I'm very happy I went with Joe's company. They are absolute professionals and I could see everyday watching their progress, that they are concerned with quality. Joe had great communication with me throughout the whole process, and they were able to finish on time despite all the rain we were getting. I will definitely hire him again in the future for any masonry."
Colonial Chimney & HVAC have been servicing Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia since 1990. We are a family owned and operated service company. Our highly trained and skilled professionals provide the highest quality service at the most affordable price. At Colonial Chimney & HVAC, we have skilled technicians that can determine the best course of action to repairing your chimney etc.. Hear we are dedicated to offering our clients the highest- quality in chimney and HVAC services.
When you’re looking for a waterproof expert or a waterproofing contractor, there are certain qualities that you just have to have – water-tight sealing, expert waterproofing, and affordable prices.\n \nA-1 Eastern Shore Waterproofing possesses all of these qualities and more!\n \nWe even perform light excavating and excavation work.\n \nYour satisfaction is our top priority.\n \nGet to Know A-1 Eastern Shore Waterproofing:\n• Waterproofing Services - Basement waterproofing, foundation waterproofing, and \ncrawlspace waterproofing\n• Excavation Services - Outside wall excavation, basement excavating, and foundation \nexcavation work\n \nWe are licensed, bonded, and insured for your protection. Emergency service is available. References are available upon request.
Rock-River Engineering is a design company Professional Engineering for your building or remodeling project. We provide solid structural solutions and creative designs modeled with 3D CAD software. We treat our clients and your building site with respect, always striving for an outstanding project.
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’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.
Unfortunately, there are many disadvantages to stone houses. They are slow to build and the materials are pricey, both of which balloon the total cost. Stone walls require a more robust foundation, which costs more to install. Running plumbing, electrical, and HVAC through a stone house is much more difficult too, so homeowners need to seriously consider if the aesthetic benefit is worth the cost of building with stone. One of the questions to ask a masonry contractor is if a similar aesthetic can be achieved with another material.
If your old bricks are in decent condition and you have the space to store them where they’ll be protected from the elements, keeping old bricks is often worthwhile. You’d spend anywhere from $70 to a few hundred dollars to have them removed from your property, in which case you won’t be able to use them for future projects. Holding on to old bricks in good condition means you can use them later for other DIY projects, potentially saving yourself some money on disposal and new materials down the road.
Yes, but used or reclaimed bricks can be more brittle, cracked, or uneven than new bricks, so they’re harder to cut cleanly by hand. For that reason, you should take extra care when scoring and striking, and expect a higher chance of breakage. If a brick feels especially fragile, score deeper before attempting to split it.
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.
The Horntown, VA homeowners’ guide to masonry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
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.
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.
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.
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.