"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."
"Rigo was fantastic. His price was perfect, he was in and out in two days, and he had a very clear idea of what needed to be completely replaced, and what could just be repaired. That helped with both cost and time. He was able to replace bricks in a way that unified the front, and gave us the curb appeal we had been lacking for years. I look forward to relying on International Brick & Concrete again in the future for my concrete and masonry needs."
"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."
"Goldy Brick Construction did an excellent job installing a patio in my back yard and brick repair on my front steps. Very professional from quote to completion of the job. They arrived when they said they would in the afternoon to prep the area and arrived 1/2 early on the morning of the pour. They worked swiftly, and carefully and all of the work was completed in one day as they said it would be. I would certainly recommend them for any concrete and masonry work and would hire them again for any future work needed."
"Thanks to Fabian and his crew for an amazing flag stone back patio, newly built stone fireplace, and area for our new swim spa. They crew was on time every day and kept us up to date on progress. The owners were very easy to work with and made the experience great. I would call them again for a large or small job. Highly recommend."
"Great service from start to finish. We needed a large and tricky retaining wall building. Lazaro came in and advised on the best approach, and worked within our budgetary constraints. The work was completed on time and as agreed, and the crew were very careful and considerate in protecting the neighbor’s garden. We are very happy and will definitely be using Horizon for part 2 later this year !!!"
"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."
"I originally contacted J&F to have them repair my brick wall. I expanded the project to build a flagstone patio and to repair and reroof my garden shed. They did an outstanding job in completing all 3 projects quickly and with no surprises. I feel very good about the price I paid for the work, the quality of materials used, and the professional knowledge Jesus and Francisco brought to the project. What a pleasure they are to work with! I would enthusiastically work with them again."
"After some discussion we decided to have all of it repointed as well just the necessary repairs. I must say that was the right choice as it looks great. All of the mortar joints were redone, a few cracked bricks were replaced, and the steps are once again complete and solid. Great work."
"Max is very professional, excellent communications skills and coordination during the entire job. His staff are as well to include an excellent job cleaning up after the work was completed. The work was performed was on time, at the cost quoted. If youâ re looking for masonry work to be performed one of the quotes must be MCI"
Yes, as long as the cut is clean and the brick remains structurally sound, you can reuse it. Reusing brick is especially common for landscaping, edging, and small masonry repairs. Just make sure to file down any sharp edges before handling or installing it.
On average, a quality exterior brick stain can last between 10 and 20 years, and sometimes even longer. While it will look its best for a minimum of three to five years, its total lifespan depends on several factors. These include the quality and type of stain used, the condition of the brick, and the thoroughness of the surface preparation, such as proper cleaning. Following the manufacturer's application instructions and applying a sealant as a final step is also crucial. The stain's longevity can be affected by your location, climate, and the brick's exposure to harsh weather, high traffic, and other elements. Over time, the stain may begin to fade or look dingy due to weathering, erosion, dirt, and debris. Compared to paint, brick stain generally has a longer lifespan.
Yes, depending on the type of pavers you have, you may need a specific type of sealant. For example, concrete pavers will bond differently than clay pavers or faux stone pavers and will demand a different type of sealer. If you’re unsure of the material and what type of sealant you need, you can contact the company that laid your pavers down for you.
No, you shouldn’t lay bricks directly on dirt. While it might seem like a shortcut, it leads to a patio that shifts, sinks, and becomes a maintenance headache. Dirt expands, contracts, and erodes—none of which mix well with long-term stability. To build something that lasts, excavate the topsoil, compact a layer of crushed gravel, and add a coarse sand-setting bed. This layered base gives your bricks proper support, allows drainage, and helps block weeds from creeping through. Cutting corners here just means you’ll spend more time—and money—repairing your brick patio later.
To stain brick, you should use a product specifically formulated for brick, concrete, or other masonry surfaces. These stains are designed to penetrate the porous surface of the brick and bond with it. This is different from paint, which sits on the surface and is prone to peeling, flaking, and trapping moisture that can cause damage. Water-based brick stains are often recommended because they are easy to apply, even for DIYers, and they allow the brick to breathe. Avoid using regular paint on brick, as it will not adhere properly and can lead to future maintenance problems.
The Tysons, VA homeowners’ guide to masonry services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Find out the average raise a house cost in Washington, DC. Learn what you can expect to pay for local foundation lifting and get your project started today.
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.
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.