"The result was beautiful. He is easy to work with, a very nice man. He was prompt, the work was great. Communication was excellent. A pleasure to work with. Very reasonably priced. A real gem."
"We needed a short retaining wall and, based previous ratings and estimate, we hired Magical Forest General Contractor & Landscaping LLC to do the work. Not only did they do an excellent job, they gave me a great suggestion for installing stone stairs. He did an awesome job with that as well! We will definitely hire Ricardo and his team again for our landscaping needs."
"Our project was a paver patio with a retaining wall and a connecting walkway. The entire project went very well and the results are terrific. Scott was on hand daily with advice and explanations which made us feel confident in what turned out to be a very attractive and upscale addition to our backyard. We will definitely use Sta-Built for a future project."
"I have a 1906 cottage in N Seattle, with an old porous foundation. Water came into the basement for the first time in 20 years. Another contractor bid the job at $12,000 after 3 site visits and almost a month. Andy came out to the house the same day I talked to him, and estimated the same job at half that price. He followed up with questions, asked about making another visit, came out again and saw that the drainpipe was disconnected at the top of the area being flooded. 75% of the roof's water was pooling against the house. He found a ladder and fixed it and isn't charging me a dime. So, no French drain, no Delta drain, no foundation treatment, no 50' of trenching, no $$$. Andy was timely, reliable, did what he said, and knows his stuff. He was a great communicator, and I feel so so lucky to have found him."
Eli's Paver Patios is your go-to for high-quality paver patios and outdoor spaces. As a Belgard® Master Craftsman and ICPI-certified company, we provide high-quality paver installations with a 25-year workmanship guarantee. Plus, our partnership with Belgard® means lifetime product protection.\n\nWith 100+ years of combined experience, our team ensures top-quality patios, driveways, and outdoor spaces at competitive prices.
"We hired Magical Forest Landscaping to install a wood privacy fence to contain our two large dogs. The project was approximately 25 linear feet of fence with a double gate that extended across a concrete driveway; part of which was sloped. They poured concrete footings, built the fence from scratch to match elevation, and drilled into concrete for a security drop rod. Ricardo and his team exceeded expectations on every dimension: affordability, quality, and professionalism. His bid was highly competitive and his team was able to show up within 1-2 days of estimate acceptance. They were extremely professional, showing up on-time and with comprehensive material clean up. The fence is sturdy and secure and looks even better than I had imagined. I would 100% recommend them to anyone. I will certainly keep them in mind for any future projects we have."
Brick spalling—which refers to the crumbly, flaky, or pitted appearance that can develop over time—is caused by a few different conditions. These include:
Climates with constant freeze-thaw cycles
Use of non-breathable sealants
High-pressure water cleaning
Improper installation
While you can’t do anything about the weather, you can preserve your bricks by cleaning them with soapy water and a good old-fashioned scrubbing. Pressure washers may be satisfying to use, but they can eventually wear away the surface of your bricks. If you don’t have advanced-level DIY skills in masonry, you can hire a reputable masonry contractor in your area for your project.
Mortar is a mixture of sand and cement that binds materials, such as bricks, stones, and concrete blocks, together. Think of it as the glue that fills in the gaps between bricks and stones, then seals them in place to prevent damage or deterioration. Mortar also helps spread the load across a wall or structure, keeping cracks and shifting at bay.
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.
Use fire bricks for a brick pizza oven. These bricks are typically used for fireplaces and chimneys as they can withstand high temperatures from heat sources. If you attempt to use any other kind of bricks, it’s likely that this material will crack from such high heat exposure in the best case—and potentially explode and cause serious harm in the worst case.
Handbuilt masonry fireplaces are likely what comes to mind when we think about curling up by the fire at the end of the day. But bricks in the firebox and chimney tend to be heavy, which is not ideal for homes with weak or damaged foundations.
Prefabricated fireboxes come with a full flue and chimney system, significantly reducing the price and installation time. However, if you need to replace the panels down the line, you are locked into the same model or something very similar.
The Tahuya, WA 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 brick and stone repair cost in Seattle, WA. Learn what to expect to pay for local masonry services and restore your home's exterior.
Find out the average brick or stone fireplace installation cost in Seattle, WA. Learn what you can expect to pay for local masonry and fireplace installers.
Find out the average brick or stone fireplace repair cost in Seattle, WA. Learn what you can expect to pay for local masonry repairs to keep your home safe.
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.