"I had an incredible experience working with Palencia Masonry. They offered a great quote, started my project within a few days, and finished quickly. They built me a new step with a herringbone pattern that looks absolutely incredible. The rest of the repointing work also looks wonderful. 10/10 would recommend and hire again."
"After moving into our new home the only thing lacking was a back patio that was adequate to sit and bar-b-que on. The original patio had a sun room addition built over the patio which only left a patio of 3' by 11'. Out of all the estimates we received, American Custom Hardscapes was the most reasonable. And what really stood out was the estimators ideas on how the patio could be constructed to blend in with the existing patio. Once the construction commenced everything fell into place perfectly. As the lead workers stated for all of them, "I want you to be very proud of this patio and I'm making it as though it was my own." I can not say enough about how happy we are with the completed project and would not hesitate to highly recommend American Custom Hardscapes. Michael and Terry Akridge"
"Eric responded quickly to my posting. In short order he came out to my house to see the area and provided me with a proposal that I fund to be fair and a good bit lower than another quote that I had. He and the crew did an excellent job and I'm very happy with the work. I highly recommend them."
"I couldn’t be more pleased with their work! JES workers: Johnathan Dominique Ricardo were the best. They worked so hard and were very professional. They were pleasant to talk with and patiently answered all of my questions. They were very clear about what they were doing and why they were doing it. They put a drainage system in my basement and sealed the walls. I wish everyone I had to do work for me had their work ethics. It was a pleasure to watch them work and to see how they all worked together so easily! I am actually going to miss seeing them. They were here 4 days and I really got attached to them. You just don’t see workers like them anymore. I would highly recommend them!!! They were a blessing to me!"
"Coastal Landscape Construction is such a great company! They came out to my house, gave me an estimate on a patio I wanted done and completed it in a week! The patio turned out amazing and they are such kind and hardworking individuals that take pride in their work!"
"They did an excellent job replacing our old front steps with new beautiful concrete. It looks wonderful and we are so happy with how it turned out. They were efficient and polite, as well as very good at communicating to set up the date and time. I would recommend them to anyone looking for concrete help!"
"All the down spouts were aimed and the front yard and the water was washing the dirt wash away and making gullies. They buried all the downspouts. Then the made a cute stone rain garden. We've only had 2 small rains, but it seems to be working well. The workers were careful, professional and friendly. We were excited about the results."
"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 experience was wonderful; Juan, the lead technician, explained the entire job before carrying it out, and we were very pleased with the result. I also received excellent service at the office. I would always recommend a Shamrock fireplace."
Professionally done brick repointing can last 20 to 30 years, sometimes longer. However, the exact lifespan depends on several factors, including the quality of the mortar, the skill of the mason, and exposure to weather. If you live in an area with harsh weather or frequent freeze-thaw cycles, you may need to repoint more often. Repointing that is done as a DIY project may only last 10 to 15 years. It's time to repoint when you notice signs of mortar failure, such as crumbling or missing mortar, holes, or vines growing between the bricks. Regular inspections can help you catch these issues early.
Drilling into brick or mortar requires the use of a masonry drill bit. Masonry drill bits appear similar to standard drill bits except for the leading tip of the bit. The tip has a bulky carbide arrow-shaped end slightly larger than the rest of the bit shaft. Standard or high-speed drill bits designed for making holes in wood or metal don’t have the ruggedness or design shape you need to drill into brick. They may not go through the brick at all, and if they do, they’re more likely to overheat, crack, or dull before you finish drilling.
On average, a well-built brick mailbox can last between 30 and 100 years. The insert that holds mail inside the mailbox may last 15 to 25 years before it needs to be replaced. If a mailbox needs to be fixed due to damage, make sure you know who to hire for brick repair.
You can use normal bricks as cladding for a concrete or clay pizza oven or as a base underneath one. Fire bricks or solid clay bricks are necessary for an outdoor pizza oven’s floor, and you can use clay bricks for the rest of the oven.
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 Mineral, 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.
