GENERAL BRICK DESIGNS

He was reliable knowledgeable

see review entered on 4-17-2012

His number one priority was to make sure we were happy with his work. I would highly recommend.

I had my cement stoop widened and covered with paving stones but I was left with, among many other things, a stoop with a bottom step that was almost 4 inches out of code and no footing or rebar to hold the addition to the stoop. The stoop was too dangerous to use and I wanted it fixed as soon as possible. I found Ed and General Brick Designs on Angie's List. He is a master mason and served as an engineer in the Army Corp of Engineers. Ed saw the problems right away and found a big problem that I was not aware of. When the extension was added to the stoop I was told that a footing was to be put in. Ed brought a piece of equipment that can see through the stones to the original stoop. There was no footing, only an inch or two of what looked like troweled cement and no rebar. This could potentially crack and fail as the ground heaved from freezing and cold. He dug out below and showed me the pieces of cement that should have been a footing. He then underpinned the stoop with a 10 inch footing. Ed then gave much thought to the grading of the walkway because there was slope up to the stoop and also to the lawn. He crowned it perfectly with a gentle rise up to the stoop from the side and from the lawn. While this was being done, he would walk back and forth from the street to make sure that this looked right from the street as well. Ed explained everything he was going to do and consulted us each time there was a question or a choice to be made. He removed the blacktop,and installed a beautiful walkway of dark and light gray pavers in a herring bone pattern and angled it to meet existing blacktop. All of this work came with a ten year guarantee. I cannot begin to say enough good things about Ed. He made a spot for me in his schedule and the job was done in less than a week of my call. As well as being a truly nice guy, Ed's work ethics are the highest. He loves what he does and it shows. He's passionate about doing a job that he himself can be proud of as well as the client. His men have been with him many years. They work quietly and consistently, and they are the only ones that I can remember that did not stop and take out their cell phones as soon as the boss turned around. The cleanup was impeccable? and Ed, Ed should be cloned!!!

The elevated patio on the rear of our home was developing serious structural issues. After the past few winters we noticed sinking blue stone surface area and bulges in our red brick retaining wall. It became obvious to even UN-trained eyes that a major repair was in order. We interviewed several contractors during this past summer. Ed Costanzo of General Brick Design struck us as a unique and honest contractor. His suggestions were creative and helpful and his interest in seeing the project done correctly seemed sincere. Ed encouraged us to get other estimates and to listen to other contractor's ideas. Throughout this process Ed maintained contact with us, it was obvious that he wanted the job and wanted to see it done the right way. My wife and I educated ourselves as to the different types of material that were available visiting a handful of masonry yards and listening to other mason's ideas. Again, Ed was encouraging and made helpful suggestions. Ed is a trained Army Corps of Engineers engineer. His skill as an engineer enters into every phase of his planning, our new retaining wall is re-enforced with steel "dead men" anchored in cement. He uses an engineer's transept to configure pitch for proper drainage and supervises every detail of the construction. Being retired, my wife and I were home for each and every day of this project. The real story here is Ed's crew. Master mason Oscar is meticulous with each and every step of the construction. Wilson and Tony, masons in their own right, work diligently and almost silently from 8:15 am to 4:30 or later in the afternoon. They are no nonsense, pleasant and hard working guys. The work area was always left clean, they were respectful of our property and made every attempt to not damage our lawn or our irrigation system. I am confident that you will not find a more professional crew! The project involved using Cambridge English wall stone and Cambridge pavers. The result is spectacular! We could not be happier. We now have an estate quality patio and we love it! Ed's initial estimate overlooked that the new patio would be larger than anticipated. While Ed's facial expression upon realization of this fact was interesting....he assured us that his word was good and he would honor his original estimate. You need look no further for a high quality, honest, caring and sincere masonry contractor. Ed Costanzo and General Brick Designs are the real deal. You will not regret choosing Ed and his crew for any masonry project!

I wish there was a higher rating than an "A", Ed would get it!!!! Ed Costanza, owner of General Brick Designs, was referred to us by one of our family members who also had a wonderful experience with cosmetic stone work and waterproofing. We were looking to finish our basement, but had some water issues that we wanted to be resolved prior to moving forward with the renovation. My brother, who referred us, has a crawl space that would always flood with the slightest rainfall. His crawl space has been bone dry ever since Ed and his wonderful crew completed the waterproofing ...while his neighbors are forever pumping out!!! Ed is a former army corp engineer. He is a brilliant man! His knowledge goes well beyond masonry. He and his crew were always punctual and extremely friendly when coming to our home. Oscar, Ed's foreman always had a smile on his face and did amazing work. Ed would answer his phone at any time, prior to, during and now after the job to address any questions that we or our contractor may have. He and his crew were unobtrusive, kind and CLEAN! When Ed and his crew are around you feel like you are their only priority!! Ed did not rush the job, he discovered some structural issues with our home which he fixed without asking for compensation. We call him our "Mike Holmes". We would highly recommend Ed to a friend or family member with absolute confidence that they will be receiving the best work possible.

Second generation master mason & former Army Corp of Engineers -Ed Constanzo is the real deal. I'm sure he's really, really great with run of the mill masonry jobs but where his experience and expertise come into play is when the going gets tough. We had extensive water damage to our chimney, fireplace and roof due to another contractors negligence. Ed did a thorough investigation using high tech equipment and quoted us a price. Half of the chimney needed to be taken down, rebuilt and he had to open a 4x5 foot hole in a low slope roof to repair structural interior water damage that was more extensive than anticipated. Ed was a total gentleman and completed all of the extra work necessary to make triple sure that the problem was taken care of for the original price quoted. Ed and his crew did an excellent, excellent job. Neat, clean, punctual, informative, experienced, skilled......there are not enough nice things to say about this guy.

We looked for Masons on Angie's List and called Ed Costanzo at General Brick Design. He called us back immediately and came way out to the East End to assess the job. Ed is the kind of guy anyone would like to have around, and he's very easy to deal with. They came early and stayed late until the job was done. They were one of the cleanest crews we've ever had around, extremely hard working guys and they are all excellent craftsmen. Ed worked out a major upgrade in a problem area at a very reasonable price. The garage area of my house now looks very upscale and brand new. If I ever need masonry work again, I will gladly call Ed!

Because of the glowing reviews we read here, we decided to go with Ed Costanzo & his crew. He did not disappoint. Ed is very knowledgeable and rightly proud of his work. His crew was polite, hard-working and careful of our property. They quietly worked though the day - no loud music or loud talking. Ed spent a good deal of time here while his crew was at work. Ed is so easy to work with; my wife & I enjoyed chatting with him. No kidding - it was a pleasure to have them here during the 4 day job. The job started & finished on time and clean-up was superb. We will not hesitate to call on them again.

From start to finish Ed was great. He was on the job site every day and was extremely responsive to any issue I brought up. All too frequently I find that I hire someone and then never see that person again. A crew is sent and work that is done may or may not be what I wanted and there is really nobody to talk to about what is happening. In my experience any construction project requires decisions and adjustments along the way and I want to be part of that. My experience with General Brick what just the opposite. I was aware of exactly what was happening every step of the way and everything was done exactly when I was told it would be done. I don't think I have ever met a contractor who cares more about service than Ed. I don't comment on pricing because it is very hard for me to judge this. I only had one stone patio done and it was done by one contractor. Hard for me to say if this job was expensive or cheap. I know that I got cheaper bids, but I also know quality work when it is done. The work Ed did could not be better. That patio will be there for a long time and I will enjoy it for years to come. I highly recommend General Brick Design.

Outstanding. From my first call to inquire if he would be able to reface my home to the completed work I am happy to say that Ed Constanza and his staff did a professional job. Ed took the time to go over every aspect of the work down to color choice and repairing work that another mason had done prior to Hurricane Sandy. As promised he was on the job everyday and did not rush to leave until the work was completed as per our contract. Let me assure anyone that is reading this you will not go wrong having General Brick Design do you work for you.

Ed and his crew are the best advertisement for Angie's List! Ed explained and substantiated every action and step of his plan. His state of the art equipment and A1 crew completed the project on time and within budget. The outer wall supports the massive platform of the stoop; had it collapsed, it could have pulled the foundation, to which it is attached, down along with the outer wall of the house! Ed and his master brick layer crew have set my mind at ease by providing a solution beyond my expectations. Too bad I'm limited to merely assigning an 'A'; I would much prefer a rating of 'A++'. I cannot recommend General Brick Designs highly enough.

To Whom it May Concern, I have owned three (3) homes in the past 22 years. I have had numerous contractors perform work at them, from brick and stone, to in-ground sprinklers to tree-removal and much, much more. I can honestly say that working with General Brick Design has been the best experience I have had, ever! Let me point out the priorities for me when I have work being performed: - On time for the day of the estimate (a phone call if running late) - An estimate that is not under/over priced. A fair market value estimate for materials/labor - Starting the job at the time/date agreed upon, finishing on/close to scheduled time - Respecting my neighbors and surrounding property, noise levels, etc. - Respecting my home/valuables/family members - Keeping the work areas clean, straightening up at day's end - Keeping me informed on the job's progress, any/all issues that may arise - Keeping the cost at the price agreed upon with no hidden fees/extras - Respectful/neat/clean/prompt workers/workforce - Meticulous, w/attention to detail - Contractor on-site for the majority of the job, top-notch foreman when not - Contractor's/worker's willingness to do the little extras during the job - Contractor that stands behind all of his/her work, true to his/her word - Contractor that is an expect in his/her field - Licensed and insured for the work being performed If you are considering getting work/estimates from Edward Costanzo, owner and operator of General Brick Design, as well as an Army Core Engineer (the best, most decorated, knowledgeable and experienced engineers in the world), please note the following: I have worked with dozens of contractors, Eddy Costanzo (and is crew) have the highest levels of integrity that I have seen in the past 22 years. He/they are trustworthy, knowledgeable and respectful, are on-time, hard-working and go above and beyond the traditional work crew! I had such a wonderful experience and feeling of comfort during the entire job that I have never had with a contractor prior to this. Eddie (and his crew) truly get A+'s on all the bullet points I have mentioned above and you just don't seen that anymore these days. Too many contractors are trying to finish the job quickly to get the next job, using sub-par equipment and/or supplies to save a dollar, and it's quite discouraging. Not General Brick Design! You get what you pay for the majority of the time. Eddie and his crew are worth it. You don't hear of too many meticulous masons/brick-layers that pay close attention to small details.... until Eddie! I would trust Eddie (the owner) more than some of my friends. If you are looking to get work done (once, the right way), call Eddie and speak with him directly. He is awesome, a true gentleman!

It was a day and a half job. They arrived on time as scheduled and were meticulous about their craft. They also cleaned up after they were done so it was spotless. I can't rave enough about the quality and professionalism performed by these master brick layers. The job was performed as if it was their own home. Everything looks FANTASTIC!, it makes the whole right side of the yard look great. We will definitely be using Ed's services again. Price was more than fair & the work speaks for itself. Some contractors act like they are doing you a favor when you hire them, not Ed, he is a master at his craft & he lets you know he appreciates that you hired him. They are our favorite contractors of all time : )

We contacted General Brick Design and Ed Constanza came over promptly to assess our situation. I was impressed by his expertise being a master brick layer and that he was an engineer in the army, building runways and roads. With his expertise I knew our driveway would be fixed once and for all. He gave us an estimate and suggestions on design, and in the end there were no surprises. The crew arrived promptly every day and straightened up before they left. Ed was on the job every day measuring and tweaking to make sure everything was level; the job was completed on time. We have had neighbors come by and ask for the contractor's phone number. My husband and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. Ed and his crew were the most reliable and pleasant people to have working on your home. We have owned a home for many years and have had a lot of work done and we have never dealt with such a honest man and someone who takes such pride in his work. He called us the other day to see if everything was alright. I would like to thank Angie's list and General Brick Design for a pleasant experience.

Eddie and his crew did a wonderful job! He is extremely knowledgeable and explained in detail the work that would be done. Once the job was completed he again went over everything with me. You can see he takes such pride in his work and it shows. We will definately hire Eddie again!

Everything about the experience was positive, from Eddie the owner arriving on time to provide an estimate until completion of the job. The project was started a little earlier than originally scheduled, which was excellent, and Eddie explained he would rather give a later starting date so that customers are not disappointed if another job does not finish at the time he expected. The one day we had visitors and did not want construction going on, Eddie readily agreed to not have any work done that day. We were introduced to the four men who would be working on the project on the morning they started. They arrived promptly each day, went about their work, and straightened up the area each day before they left. The project was completed on time. When the work was completed, neighbors came over to tell us they were impressed with both the work done and the manner in which the workers conducted themselves. Three neighbors asked for the phone number. About one week after the work was completed, Eddie called to see if we were still pleased and was there anything we felt needed to be corrected. As of today, everything is terrific.Eddie is easy to work with. He listened to what we had in mind, then told us what he felt would work well and what he would not recommend. As the work progressed, Eddie would constantly be making other suggestions (different materials, colors, change in pattern), never for an additional charge. It appeared Eddie and those working with him take pride in what they do. It was a delight having him complete the job.

Just when you think there's nothing left but unscrupulous, money hungry contractors, masons, etc. in this economy, along comes a ray of sunshine in the form of Ed Constanzo and his crew. Ed's not just the doctor of masonry, he's the surgeon. He's an army engineer who still uses a transit on all his jobs to get just the right heights and measurements and he's got a crew who's been working with him for 32 years collectively. He must be treating them right because that's dedication. When I called Ed and explained what my husband and I would like to have done and that we needed an estimate, he called us back the same day and we met the next day. Upon meeting with Ed, my husband and I got the feeling that this guy's the real deal. He took time explaining each and every step and exactly what materials would be used. We had picked out a paver that we had liked but Ed gave us the option of looking at another paver that was similar but dyed with powder instead of liquid, explaining that the powder dye retains it's color and the other paver fades and is sealed and that you should never seal pavers because they need to breathe. After a lengthy meeting, we decided to hire Ed. A detailed contract was written up including approximate start and finish times depending on the weather and was agreed upon. The crew started on April 2, and arrived at our house every day at the same time give or take a minute or two. Ed arrived shortly thereafter. Ed was a constant presence on the job every day, all day, measuring, tweaking and making sure the the overall job went smoothly. This guy is old school, where it isn't just about the money, it's about honesty, integrity and taking pride in a job well done. His motto is one job at a time. Almost every day one of our neighbors would come by and ask for his card. We've gotten so many compliments on this beautiful job. My husband and I couldn't be more pleased with the dedication, reliability and a job well done and we believe is second to none! You may never be rich Ed, but you'll always have work and your solid, sterling reputation. Money can't buy that. Note to Angie's list and it's customers- Thanks a million. We found Ed through you.

I was completely satisfied with the entire experience and would recommend General Brick Designs any day.

I called Ed on a Saturday evening about 5PM, left a message , and hoped for a return call on Monday. I was surprised that my call was returned within a half hour. I described my fireplace problem to Ed, set up an appointment for the next afternoon, and was pleasantly surprised when Ed arrived on time! He evaluated the fireplace, went up in the roof, checked it out from top to bottom and told us that he'd get back to us the next day with his plans and costs. True to his word, we met the following evening and he presented his proposal, what he would do and how. After a little negotiation, we arrived at a price that worked for both of us. From start to finish, Ed was present while his experienced crew worked diligently, with obvious expertise. They arrived each day on-time (8:30AM), worked neatly, and always cleaned up when they left. The project began and ended in a timely fashion without being rushed. As the fireplace had become porous over the years, we were concerned about leaking water. After the first rainstorm following the work, Ed called to inquire if there had been any issues with the rain. Happily there were none, and it was comforting to know that both the workmanship and the craftsmen were of top notch quality. We could not be more pleased!

I am very pleased with the job done. There were changes along the way, that I asked for, where some portions of the work had to be undone to make the changes and these changes were completed perfectly.

Mr. Costanzo and his crew came at 8:30 AM as promised. He walked around to each site where work was to be done with his crew. When the work was completed Mr. Costanzo went to each location to make sure that the work met his standards. He finished the cement work on the steps at the side entrance. All the debris was removed from the steps and driveway areas. I was impressed with Mr. Costanzo's knowledge of masonry. His crew did an excellent job. I will use his firm for any brick repair work to be done in the future. Mr. Costanzo also looked at our archway brickwork and suggested that we look to see if any changes occur after this winter.

Ed was quick to get back to me and he scheduled an estimate within the next week. He gave us a lot of information of what we needed to do and had some very good solutions for a problematic area of our yard. Friendly and VERY knowledgeable - Ed and his crew designed and built a walkway patio type area that was esthetically beautiful and fit perfectly with the landscape of our house and connected it to the garden and garage. The communication skills were brilliant, he listened attentively and was careful to work with us. Ed's crew were super neat/ sweet and worked amazingly hard. I was very pleased with the result as the project was completed in less than two days and was more than I could have expected. The details and finishing work was wonderful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Ed was a gentleman from the initial estimate through completion of the job. He made suggestions where appropriate, pointed out the positives and negatives of each aspect of the job as we defined it. We started out to repair the front and back concrete stoops and wound up with the project as outlined above. This was not due to Ed's salesmanship, but the confidence we gained in his abilities as we discussed our plans with him. His crew was a pleasure to have around, friendly, conscientious and all-around nice guys. Each evening, they left the construction area extremely neat and clean. The driveway is great, the walk is great and the stoops are great. In fact, his work looks so good that we are having the front of the house re-sided so it looks up to par with the stone-work.

The unpaved road had been a problem for many years. Water from the adjacent paved road washed away the dirt and deposited it on mine and my neighbor's driveway. Four homeowners got together and hired Ed Costanzo who used a method called a Gravel Run which he learned while working in the Army Corps of Engineers. It took care of the water and allowed it to drain down through the pits and trenches he built. Ed was so concerned about the final outcome that he provided Belgian block along the curb even though it was not part of the contract. I had originally met Ed when he fixed some stucco that was allowing water to leak into my house. He is experienced in all kinds of masonry and waterproofing.