Texas Brick Lady

Texas Brick Lady™ — Built on experience. Focused on education. Grounded in craft.

Construction Consultant | Owner-Buider Consultant | Trades Advocacy

I’m Tiffany “Brick Lady” Tillema — mason, mentor, and founder of 4T Studios, The Successful Tradeswoman, and Owner-Builder Blueprint.
I help homeowners, contractors, and tradeswomen master their craft, manage their builds, and grow their businesses with confidence.

Texas Brick Lady™ is not a typical construction company.

Founded by Tiffany Tillema—known across the trades as The Brick Lady—this brand exists at the intersection of craft, education, and advocacy. With decades of hands‑on masonry experience, Texas Brick Lady focuses on historic restoration, homeowner and owner‑builder education, and advancing women in the trades.

This platform was built to answer the questions most contractors won’t—or can’t—take the time to explain.

What Makes Texas Brick Lady Different

Most construction websites sell services.

Texas Brick Lady builds understanding.

Our specialties:

Teaching homeowners how to protect their investment
Helping owner‑builders avoid costly mistakes
Teaching Contractors how to build a profitable business
Advocating for skilled trades and transparency in construction with a focus on women of the trades

Services may come from experience, but education is the mission.

Who This Is For

Texas Brick Lady is built for:

Homeowners who want to understand what they’re paying for
Owner‑builders managing their own construction or restoration projects
Preservation‑minded property owners
Tradespeople seeking insight, mentorship, or industry truth
Anyone tired of vague answers and surface‑level explanations

Old worn hard Hat sitting in a truck bed

Your Hard Hat Has an Expiration Date (Yes, Really)

Let’s start with a confession. Most of us treat our hard hats like trusty old trucks. If it still starts, we keep driving it. If it still fits, we keep wearing it. And if it’s covered in stickers from jobs we’re proud of? Even better. But here’s the thing nobody tells you early enough in the trades: Hard hats expire. And no, that’s not a suggestion.

Tiffany Tillema

6 days ago3 min read

What Survives the Cold: Lessons from 32 Years in Business

At the end of 2025, both my shrimp and I were on the edge of disaster. Now, at the beginning of 2026, I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel (and hopefully it's not a train.) There is hope. Clearer, warmer waters are ahead. Sometimes those of us who have been in business a long time get complacent. We think we’ve seen it all. We think nothing can take us down. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Tiffany Tillema

Jan 93 min read

What’s Ahead for the Construction Industry in 2026

Construction site -Texas Insights from the field — what builders, contractors, and owner‑builders should be paying attention to now The construction industry is heading into 2026 with momentum and pressure. Rising costs, ongoing labor shortages, tighter schedules, and higher expectations for safety and quality are forcing everyone in the industry to build smarter, not just faster. From my perspective in masonry, restoration, and jobsite operations across Texas, the changes a

Tiffany Tillema

Jan 33 min read

Why Painting Brick Is a Costly Mistake (And How It Damages Buildings Over Time)

Most people don’t regret painting brick right away. That’s the problem. The damage doesn’t show up while the paint is fresh and the compliments are rolling in. It shows up years later—when paint begins to bubble, when brick faces start popping off, or when moisture appears inside a building with no obvious source. By the time it’s visible, the brick has already been compromised.

Tiffany Tillema

Dec 25, 20254 min read

When History Burns: The Loss of Thee Hubbell House and Why Historic Preservation Matters

There are moments when a town loses more than a building.On the night of December 19, my hometown of Winnsboro, Texas, lost a piece of its soul. Thee Hubbell House is gone.

Tiffany Tillema

Dec 22, 20255 min read

The Communication Game: Why Two Sets of Eyes (and Ears) Can Save a Bid

As Pete started reading the building (his superpower, truly), she leaned in with: “Why would you do that?” “Are you 100% sure?” “How would that work?” Perfectly reasonable questions… unless you’re a contractor who’s been burned by know-it-all homeowners armed with Google and YouTube. I saw it instantly. She asked a question → Pete interpreted it as a challenge → he drifted as far away from us as possible to go inspect the other side of the building.

Tiffany Tillema

Dec 4, 20253 min read

The information and advice provided on this website by The Building Business, 4T Studios, Tiffany "Bricklady" Tillema, producers, writers, affiliates, their families, employees, heirs, etc., cannot be held liable to any party direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental, or other damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the material and information within which is supplied as is and without warranties.

Readers should not take any information at face value, do their due diligence on any viewed material, and use their judgment. It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain professional advice regarding any issues or concerns that you may have.

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