Is Your Stone Hearth Wasting Heat or Saving It?
Every winter, heating bills rise and families start worrying about the electric meter spinning faster than usual. This year feels different because prices are expected to increase even more than last year. Right now, many homeowners are asking what they can do to lower their costs while staying warm. If your home has a stone […]
Is Painted Brick Allowed in HOA Communities?
Homeowners across Madison love the fresh look of painted brick. It feels modern, clean, and different from the classic red brick many neighborhoods were built with. Recently, though, homeowners have been shocked by a wave of HOA crackdowns around the country. Several viral stories showed HOAs fighting homeowners over exterior changes, and the internet reacted […]
Can a Brick Mailbox Really Protect You From Mail Theft?
Mail theft isn’t something most people think about every day. However, recent videos of thieves using master keys to open entire cluster mailbox units have changed that. Homeowners across the country are worried, and many in North Alabama feel the same. Because of this, more families are choosing a brick mailbox instead of a thin […]
Are AI Patio Designs Safe for Stone Pavers on Red Clay?
AI is suddenly everywhere, even in home improvement. In the past few days, design apps and websites have been going viral for showing homeowners how to “fix” or redesign their patios. Many people upload a photo of their backyard and—like magic—the tool creates a full makeover with new lighting, seating, and stone pavers. It feels […]
How Small Leaks Become Big Fireplace Repair Jobs
When most people think about fireplace repair, they picture cracks inside the firebox or loose bricks around the hearth. But in Huntsville, the biggest fireplace issues don’t start where you can see them. They often begin inside the chimney, along the roofline, or even in the attic. These leaks stay hidden until the damage becomes […]
What Tornado Damage Teaches About Brick Fireplace Strength
When news broke about tornado-damaged schools in St. Louis, many people stopped and paid attention. Photos showed brick walls ripped apart, classrooms exposed, and entire sections of masonry pulled away from the buildings. It was a shocking reminder of how powerful storms can be—and it also raised an important question for homeowners: What does this […]
The Real Reason Your Stone Patio Holds Water and the Fix
A stone patio should make your backyard more relaxing, not more frustrating. Yet in Madison, many homeowners step outside after a rainstorm and find the same thing every time—puddles sitting on the patio long after the rest of the yard has dried. At first, it looks like a small nuisance, but standing water becomes a […]
Small Brick Cracks? Why Early Brick Repair Is Important
Tiny cracks in your brick wall can be easy to ignore. You see a thin line near a corner or above a window and think, “It’s probably nothing.” But small cracks often tell you that your home is shifting, settling, or under stress. When movement starts, it rarely stops on its own. That’s why early […]
Soft Walls vs. Brick Masonry: What the Viral Video Missed
A video went viral this week showing a man pushing a pencil straight into his wall. The pencil slid in like he was poking a sponge. People all over the world felt shocked, confused, and even angry. Many of them asked, “How can an expensive home have walls that are soft?” Moments like this make […]
How to Keep Your Brick Patio From Heaving
When the cold season hits, homeowners often start seeing their patios shift, crack, or lift in strange ways. What looked perfect in summer suddenly becomes uneven after a few hard freezes. If you have a brick patio, you’ve probably noticed this before — bricks rising at the edges, mortar lines splitting, or puddles forming where […]