BUDGET MASONRY

Work started and ended in the time line expected including inspections from the town. Issues were raised about the contracted length of my retaining wall and materials used, among other things. The first inspection revealed the rebar was too close to the ground, which they corrected. Contract called for 40 ft of retaining wall 2 ft high. Rick decided only to build 32 ft of retaining wall at that height without communicating to me. Only after I questioned the situation did he offer to correct it. The spec called for concrete in the footing; he used grout. I did not ask for that to be corrected. The operation of the mortar mixer on my driveway left permanent stains. I asked why not use a tarp and he said it would wash off. It did not. I asked for a 6 ft high wall and some areas are as short as 5' 2". I felt I was deceived because the contract also stated OR 8 courses high. Now I know 8 courses high does not equal 6 ft. I asked for a 4 ft gate and received a smaller gate. I take blame for not getting clarification on what the OR's meant in the contract. We also agreed he would haul away the debris for $300.00. He convinced me he could haul "most if not all" of it away. When, in fact, he has a small trailer and could not meet his word. Among a list of other things, when I said the final inspection needed to be done before final payment, he stated he never had to wait on that before and that he'd get lawyers involved if need be and that my non-payment was preventing him from making his house payment and paying his staff. I paid promptly after the final inspection with an agreement of a $300 discount. Frankly, it wasn't enough of a discount for all of the problems, but I just wanted to be done with it all.

HE DID START THE JOB LATE BECAUSE HE GOT TIED UP ON ANOTHER JOB, BUT OVERALL HE DID OKAY.