First Call Masonry & Foundation

First Call Masonry & Foundation, a family-run outfit based in Westwood, gets called for the problems that show up as water where it shouldn't be — a chimney that won't draft right, a foundation crack letting rain into the basement, drainage that needs a French drain or a sump pump to actually fix it. The company says its owner trained under his father's masonry business and through five years at a trade school, and puts its family history in the trade at over 30 years, serving Westwood, Norwood, Dedham, Canton and nearby towns. Recent reviews keep naming Pat specifically — walking a homeowner through a chimney venting problem with before-and-after photos, and giving a flat, fair estimate on a basement waterproofing job. In 2025 reviews, customers describe French-drain installs for settling foundations, a bulkhead foundation repair with no-pressure options explained up front, a retaining wall tied into an existing structure, a custom stone mailbox pillar, and rebuilt front steps — each with the same notes: prompt response, explained scope, and a clean site at day's end. Angi's seven reviews (2024) echo the same praise on responsiveness and quality with no complaints logged, and Google shows a 5-star average across 32 ratings. One thing worth asking about directly: the company's Better Business Bureau listing shows just one year in business, which sits oddly next to its own 30-year family-tradition claim — worth a quick question about which entity you'd actually be contracting with. For chimney draft problems, foundation cracks, or drainage work needing a French drain or sump pump, this is a deep, consistently positive body of reviews to call from — just clear up the business-history discrepancy before signing anything long-term.