Brixstone Masonry

If you have a masonry project you want done right the first time, this is the place to go. Don't even bother looking elsewhere.

Our fireplace had fake fieldstone installed over its original brick by the previous homeowner. Unfortunately the mortar from the fieldstone caused damage when it was removed and we decided to have the fireplace refaced with thin brick.

Craig was the second mason to work on our fireplace. We originally went with another mason in Grand Rapids and were dismayed by the results. We were embarrassed to have guests over to our home or even share pictures that had the fireplace in the background because of how bad it looked! There were numerous legitimate issues with the work that was done. When we raised our concerns with the first mason, we got the runaround and everything was explained away like there was nothing that could have been done differently to achieve different results. It was clear that our satisfaction was not important to them. The real kicker is that this was a reputable mason and was not at all cheap.

After some time of being disappointed whenever we looked at our fireplace, we finally decided to have all the thin brick tore off and find someone else to redo it and get it done right. We were very apprehensive after our first experience and did not want to repeat it. We found Craig through a Google search, and are so glad we did. I hope my review will help others find him as well.

We were very clear about our expectations and Craig never shied away from committing to achieve those results. He was able to show us photos of his work from projects he had previously completed using a similar product to what we wanted. He took the time to explain to us the steps he would take to ensure the job was done correctly, and he even visited our home on two occasions after finishing up long days at another job site to talk the project over with us because we were so nervous to risk spending money on our fireplace again. We decided to move forward with him and were confident he would do a good job, yet truthfully still unsure we were making the right decision after our first experience.

We were impressed right from the beginning. Craig built a tent around the work area and there was zero dust in our home while he worked. We really appreciated the photo updates of his daily progress documenting each step he took, showing us he was doing the job exactly as he said he would with no shortcuts taken whatsoever. The prep work he did before laying a single brick was extensive. He was meticulous laying the brick and used lasers to ensure each course was perfectly level and the mortar joints perfectly straight (we went with a stack bond to match the original brickwork, a style that is unforgiving to imprecise work).

The finished product far exceeded our expectations, and photos don't do it justice. Our fireplace is now a work of art and the centerpiece of our home. We sat on our couch this morning drinking coffee and admiring the work Craig had done. He's a master craftsman, and we recommend him without hesitation!

Craig did a great job on repair of our chimney, he explained the process and keeping us informed thru repair. He answered any questions and concerns we had , making us feel at ease.
He made sure everything was protected and cleaned up the site daily, looks like he wasn't even there. Would not hesitate to hire Craig again or recommend Craig for anyone looking for masonry work.

Craig did an excellent job on my chimney repair. He is extremely talented and his craftsmanship is of the highest quality. Craig is a great communicator throughout the protect including before and after pictures, which I found very helpful. I would definitely recommend him to anyone needing masonry work!