Get matched with top stone and gravel pros in Thetford, VT

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.

Typically, a brick mason will repair a brick mailbox. They can provide an estimate for repairs, which may include sourcing replacement brick, mortar, and other materials. If your brick mailbox has been completely destroyed, you should check with your local building code enforcement office to confirm that a brick mailbox is allowed in your location as some areas do not allow brick mailboxes because of the potential hazard for drivers who may hit them.

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.

Choosing the right paint color for a major investment like painting the exterior brick on your house can be a daunting task. Perhaps the most important thing is to find painted brick houses that you like and replicate the look by researching their colors and asking the homeowners for the paint color code. If all else fails, white-painted brick is a timeless, classic look that is unlikely to go out of style.