AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc

Masonry, Chimney Repair, Chimney Caps,

About us

Specialists in masonry restoration and building preservation since 1954. Licensed masons. Thousands of references. Fully Insured. Free written quotation for work in writing. Extensive knowledge of all aspects of masonry restoration work: mortar repair; parapet wall rebuilding; lintel replacement; chimneys; cleaning, caulking and sealing; and terra cotta/GFRC work. We are just as comfortable fixing your landmarked 100-year-old home as we are grinding, tuckpointing and sealing your 50-unit condominium building. Cost is determined by the job. No travel charges. No extra charge for after-hours service. 65 years of continuous service. Preferred mason contractor of architects and structural engineers. Very informative website found at www.AAA1Masonry.com. Send all inquiries to Info@AAA1Masonry or Robert@AAA1Masonry.com

Business highlights

71 years of trusted experience
Emergency Services Offered

Services we offer

Masonry - preservation & restoration, grinding & tuckpointing, brick, concrete block & stone, brick replacement & rebuilding, chimneys, terra cotta restoration, caulking, critical facade inspections. Pressure washing, sandblasting. Glass block installation. City code violation correction.

Services we don't offer

Concrete driveways & sidewalks, concrete foundation work, carpentry.

Amenities

Free Estimates
Yes
Warranties
Yes
Senior Discount

5%

Emergency Services
Yes


Accepted payment methods

Check
Discover
MasterCard
Visa

Photos of past projects

Reviews

4.6290 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
68%
4
8%
3
5%
2
5%
1
14%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.9
value
4.6
professionalism
4.7
responsiveness
4.6
punctuality
4.8

Filter reviews by category

Showing 76-100 of 290 reviews

Pam L.
08/2012
5.0
masonry, foundation repair
  + 0 more
They did a terrific job of finding brick that matched the legacy bricks, looks seamless and wonderful. Project was completed in just a few days- a day shorter than anticipated. They left the area clean and spotless. We have been complemented on the quality of the work by many other service providers who have since done work on our home. They are extraordinarily professional and Rob, who heads the firm, does a terrific job in consult ahead of the project. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Description of Work: We have a four story brick home in Lincoln Park. AAA1 replaced the lower level of brick which had eroded from 120 years of wear.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$30,000

Kirke R M.
07/2012
5.0
masonry
  + -1 more
Our roofing contractor recommended that we have some masonry work done to prevent water from getting inside our building. He recommended AAA1 Masonry & Tuckpointing, and I am glad that he did. Rob Reese, the owner, came out to our building and thoroughly inspected our situation before providng me with a detailed proposal for several different things that needed to be done. We agreed on a scope of work, his employees showed up on the agreed upon day, they completed the work in the agreed upon amount of time, and they left the site spotless. It was a very pleasant experience!
Description of Work: Parapet wall capstones were removed, several layers of parapet wall bricks were dismantled and re-layed, stainless steel drip edhing was installed, flashing was installed and the capstones were reinstalled in a new bed of mortar.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000

Joanne C.
05/2012
5.0
masonry
  + -1 more
We had no issues from start to finish. They kept us informed on the timing and completed the work as expected.
Description of Work: They did tuckpointing and applied sealant to the north wall of our condo building. We have had water issues for 10 years and the issue is finally resolved. They were professional and told us exactly what we needed to take care of the problems, which no other company who did work in the past was able to do. We have several times tried to address the problems without success. We have been without issues since AAA did the work. We are very happy with the job they did.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,000

KATHERINE P.
03/2012
5.0
masonry, pavers, gravel, chimney repair
  + 1 more
They took the chimney down to the roof line. They went down about ten bricks into the building. We picked them because of Angie's List reviews. Someone had recommended them to us. Initially, when I called the office, they didn't call me back. I just let it go. I few months later I called the actual person whose name is Brent. I told him that I really needed the work done. He came out the same day and looked at the building. He gave me a quote the next day. Within a week they were starting the work. Brent was very professional. He was very thorough in what they were going to do. They came on time. They put up scaffolding. They put down tarps to protect the shrubs. I think they got the job done in two days. The cleaned up after themselves. He followed up to see if we were satisfied. It looks good. I'm happy with the work.
Description of Work: They reconstructed our brick chimney.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,696

Martin J.
11/2011
5.0
masonry, chimney caps, chimney repair, fireplaces
  + 2 more
They came when they said they would. They took great pains to protect the shrubs and they sealed off the fireplace inside the house to ensure no dust was generated in the house. They were very careful on the roof. Robert Reese kept in touch with us prior to and when the work was being done. He had a great group of craftsmen who did the work. They did everything they said on the quote and the price we paid was what they quoted. What was amazing is that they were able to match the brick used so that you would not know that the work was done. We could not be more pleased with the quality of the work performed.
Description of Work: We had the chimney rebuilt from the roof line up. A new cap installed and mortar was repaired on the lower half of the chimney.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$7,200

Amy F.
10/2011
4.0
masonry
  + -1 more
Overall experience was above average but getting things scheduled and call backs were a challenge. Quality of the work was very good, if they would call back when they say they will and be a bit more focused on customer service the rating would be all A's.
Description of Work: Tuckpointing various areas of the home.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$500

Tracy N.
09/2011
5.0
masonry, hardscaping
  + 0 more
They did an excellent job. They were very professional and successfully diagnosed the issue.
Description of Work: They relayed limestones and cleaned up masonry joints. They fixed masonry on house and garage.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$8,000

M S.
08/2011
2.0
masonry, chimney repair
  + 0 more
We are under contract with a closing date and need to arrange for tuckpointing to be done immediately after closing. In addition, I asked to have the person check out whether the chimney will need work so we can plan for it. Was told that since we hadn't closed yet, they would charge $150 to "inspect" the place. It doesn't take any special tools or much time to provide the quote, but they were not willing to do it. If the company nickles and dimes for something like this, then I have concerns over whether they would take care of me as a customer if we had hired them for the job. Other contractors with high ratings are more than willing to take a look and provide a quote for what we need. Poor service.
Description of Work: Needed quote for tuckpointing and chimney repair.
Rating CategoryRating out of 5

Response from AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc
Dear Member, Thank you for your comments. I have read them carefully and can understand from where you are coming. Many, many times every week, calls come in to my office requesting the inspection of a property (or properties) during the "due diligence" period of a real estate transaction. Usually the call is from a potential buyer who wants to know how much it costs to fix something that was flagged in an inspection report. The proposal generated by my staff are used to educate the buyer about the extent of the issues found and to help the buyer negotiate the final sales price. It has been the policy of this company for decades to charge a fee for the inspection of a property that is not owned by the client requesting the inspection (there is never a charge to a client if s/he own the property). The purpose of this charge is not to profit mercilessly from a prospective client in need of assistance. If that were the case, then we would not credit back to the client the cost of the inspection fee should any of our recommended work be performed. (As an example, if $2500 of brick rebuilding were required to bring your chimney back to its sound and plumb condition, then the price charged to you after execution of the proposal and completion of the work would be $2350.) And remember, too, that as an Angie's List member you also would be eligible for a 10% discount on work selected. The fee-for-inspection policy was instituted decades ago because my project managers were running their tails off to meet the heavy demand for proposals from prospective buyers only to learn later that the buyers had no intention of performing the work but rather only wanted to negotiate a better price prior to closing. To be certain, there is nothing wrong with buyers electing not to perform the work we recommend or wanting the best price possible for their purchase. But if you or anyone you know has read a proposal from my company, then you know how detailed it is. Our proposals serve not only to explain what work will be done but why the work is needed. If options are provided, then the pros and cons of each option is either printed in the document or has been discussed thoroughly with the client at the site during the inspection. Recently, someone I respect remarked that my company's strength was the depth of knowledge my 8 project managers and 83 masons bring to a restoration job. The average tenure of my crew chiefs is over 25 years. Most of them started as laborers and tuckpointers decades ago. Project managers, crew chiefs and masons are licensed, have extensive training in masonry restoration work and safety, and take their job very, very seriously. When the job requires it, we work on Sundays. Our work lasts and lasts. And we are here when you need us again...even if it is decades later. I regret we were not able to assist you with the purchase of your property this time, but hope we may be able to do so the next time around. If you wish to discuss this further, I would welcome the opportunity. Thank you, Robert Reese Licensed Mason Contractor

Curt C.
08/2011
4.0
masonry
  + -1 more
Company came out with two guys (Jonathan) on 7/26. They spent more than an hour here analyzing situation, making a lot of recommendations, and telling me how the project would be managed. Since the job was going to require several craftsmen, they promised me two quotes, one for sealing and one for tuckpointing (new caps) as well as a referral on carpentry. It sounded expensive, but they seemed knowledgable. I have not completed the projsct yet or hired a roofer.
Description of Work: I have water damage in the ceiling of my great room, exterior cladding, and floor of master bedroom. It has been repaired once.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
2.0
responsiveness
2.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Karen N.
07/2011
5.0
masonry, roofing
  + 0 more
The top floor apartment in a building I own had water leaking from the ceiling. I called my roofer who said the problem was that the parapet was crumbling and letting in water. He referred me to AAA-1 Masonry. The owner, Robert Reese, came out in October 2008 and said that most of the parapet needed to be removed and rebuilt. The facade in front of the building was actually leaning forward slightly. I was quoted a price of $18,500.00. I did not have the money so Robert had his crew put a tarp over the part of the parapet that was leaking. We finally got the money this year and AAA-1 rebuilt the roof parapet. It was a major undertaking. The parapet had deteriorated further since 2008 and when they removed the front part they found that the bricks were resting on rotting wood. They had to actually go below the roof line to take out the wood and install a metal bar. This added another $4,500.00 to the project. I contacted a friend of mine who is a contractor and he verified that this was a legitimate problem that had to be fixed. Robert was very helpful; he took photos of the damage and emailed them to me so I could see what was happening. When I came back to the building after they were finished I saw that they had done an excellent job. My building is a 125 year old greystone and they had matched the parapet to the original bricks on the side. The front facade of the building is straight and looks great. When it was time to pay the bill I explained that we weren't able to pay the full amount because it was much higher than we anticipated. Robert said we could pay in installments. I really appreciate his helpfulness with this. The only complaint I have about this whole experience was that I had to pay the City of Chicago a $700.00 permit fee that I was not informed of originally. It was another expense I hadn't planned for. But it's a good feeling to have the parapet fixed and no more leaks.
Description of Work: Parapet needed to be removed and a new one installed.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$24,600

Allan F.
06/2011
4.0
masonry
  + -1 more
Contact was prompt as was inspection of job to be done. Estimate was given and in line with subsequent estimate by others. Work was delayed by weather and by repairer's busy schedule. It took several weeks for the job to start. Work consisted of repairing age and weather worn mortar joints on a 55 yr old dwelling following foundation repair by others which included installation of two piers to stop the sinking of a corner of the house. The work was finished in a day by three masons who complied with my request for 'tooled' joints to match the original brick laying style.The only negative seems to be some chips recently discovered on the concrete patio (perhaps 5 or 6 in number and no bigger than a silver dollar). I feel the job was done in a workmanlike manner and to the requirements of the repair with the exception of some damage to the concrete slab patio.
Description of Work: Repair of worn mortar joints and cracked mortar joints following foundation repair by others. Tuckpointing.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$700

JoAnne D.
04/2011
5.0
masonry, replacement windows, chimney caps, chimney repair, glass block
  + 3 more
Work crew came when scheduled - had a full crew of 4-5 men. They worked constantly thru the day stopping only for a 1/2 hour lunch break. The project was in November so the weather got pretty cold - crew declined offers to come in to warm up and kept on working. Completed entire tuckpointing on three walls of a two story home, rebuilt top half of chimney, installed chimney cap and sealed inside block windows and repaired cracks (caused by previous shoddy installation) in two days. Foreman even came in with suggestions of a different grout color than what we originally chose - went with his suggestion and we're happy that we did because the color matches our brick much better than what we first decided on. This crew's work was neat and professional - they cleaned up everything after job was complete. Had to call back later for minor touch ups on the window sealing.- receieved the same courteous reply and response time as when initial job was contracted. All calls with inquiries before contracted and after were responded to politely, timely and all work was done when promised and... price was the best of three other estimates! Would definitely recommend this company & will use again if the need arises. Sales rep met all committments as stated and responded to all calls before during and after job completed. Good job!
Description of Work: Called for estimate on tuckpointing, partial chimney rebuild and block window resealing. Estimate came in a almost 1/2 of previous estimates. Was skeptical to take on the "most reasonable price" since we're a believer of you get what you pay for but did go with AAA-1. Scheduled service and weather did not cooperate with scheduled start date - Estimator called to explain job would have to be rescheduled and work was able to start on the next promised work dates.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,500

William C.
12/2010
1.0
masonry
  + -1 more
I didn't realize these guys were on Angies List so when I saw them on here I had to comment. Two years ago we had some roof issues and we had these guys come out to do an estimate. The guy (I believe it was Robert) was punctual and very nice and we planned to go with them since they seemed knowledgeable and friendly. Well they never sent an estimate even after repeated, non-confrontational phone calls. I think they promised it at least 3-4 times. They'd do things like promise to fax it over that day and then just ignore us. We held off on doing the work because we really liked them at first, but finally we gave up and went with another company over a month after the initial visit and they never ended up sending the estimate. They were wholly unprofessional and if they can't get their act together to put an estimate in the mail or fax it over, I wouldn't trust them with my roof/masonry. If you like to get strung along for weeks on end, these guys are for you. UPDATE: So after their response, I gave them my exact information, address, and dates that they came out. The owner said he'd find out what happened and let me know what happened within a week. That was about a month ago and true to form they never responded again. AVOID.
Description of Work: None, these guys were completely unprofessional and never ended up providing an estimate.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
4.0


Response from AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc
Dear Member, I read your comments today and wanted to respond immediately. I am looking for your earlier request for a proposal, and will get back to you today--if possible--to respond to your concerns. Because your name and address do not immediately appear in my database I will require some additional time to determine what happened, the nature of the work requested, etc. In the meantime, let me apologize for any delay you experienced by me or my company and immediately offer a 25% discount on any work you would have us perform going forward. Please know that every customer who calls for an estimate is valued, and I hope we are able to restore the good experience you reported to have had with me back in 2008. We would appreciate the member reaching out to me at Robert@AAAmasonry.net because he did not include his phone number in his comments. Thank you, Robert Reese, President AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing, Inc.

Carl V.
09/2010
5.0
concrete repair, decks, masonry, chimney repair
  + 2 more
Each project has been completed successfully and on budget.
Description of Work: We have used AAA-1 Masonry for approximately 5 years. We tend to schedule a project a year on our 100 year old home. In that time Robert Reese and his crew have rebuilt the parapet walls on our house, rebuilt the stoop walls on the front porch, rebuilt the chimney completely and have done various other brick replacement work in the exterior walls and around windows, for a total of over $20,000. They have been careful to reuse the brick where possible and to match it where replacements have been necessary.This is a family business. Robert is in his early 30's and his father is also involved in the business. Don't let Robert's youth take you aback. He is extremely knowledgable about masonry and vintage homes and he is passionate about his work. His enthusiasm sets him apart from most contractors I have dealt with. His crews are very skilled, they leave the work site very clean at the end of the day, and the work progresses as planned barring a weather problem. Robert does the estimates himself and they are correct to the penny. He is not a proponent of the "quick and dirty" type repair that some masonry companies are so fond of, i.e. parging over the defective brick with a thin layer of cement. That said, he will work with you and your budget, help you prioritize the work and offer alternatives. As noted above, you can depend on his estimates and if something changes, he will inform you immediately and tell you why.The one time he found a water problem at the base of one of the parapet walls, which required additional work to remedy, he notified us the same day and even took a video of the damage to show us so we didn't have to climb on the roof or take his word for it. The revised estimate was given to us immediately and again, he kept it to that price exactly. We have never had a problem with any of the work AAA-1 has done but if we did, I know that Robert Reese would make it right. He is honest and forthright, provides excellent work at a fair price and I wish there were more companies of this caliber.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$6,000

Cheryl M.
09/2010
1.0
masonry, chimney repair
  + 0 more
The receptionist did not even ask for my information. I did not like the way it felt. I tried to call the Chicago line as well and the receptionist had the same response. She got my address and did not take any information for follow-up. She said they were busy and weren't sure when they would be able to come out.
Description of Work: Called twice for an estimate.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0


Response from AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc
Thank you for taking the time to read my response. We strive for perfection with each interaction. We apologize for any inconveniences, and we will give you an additional discount if you present us with another opportunity to give you an estimate! Thank you for your time, and sorry for the error.

Michael H.
08/2010
2.0
masonry, chimney repair
  + 0 more
I had been using this company for years but their work doesn't last. I don't believe they do everything they promise to do, such as sealing the brick, which they charge extra for. They also aren't very responsive or nice to deal with. I am changing to a new tuckpointer for my buildings at this point. They also don't like to come back for any small repairs.
Description of Work: Tuckpointing & Brick Repair Work

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
1.0
value
2.0
professionalism
2.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
3.0

$4,800

BARRY A.
04/2010
1.0
masonry
  + -1 more
"Frank" refused to bid, so they didn't do any work.
Description of Work: 2 years ago, AAA quoted on rebuilding our parapet wall and a separate quote for lintel replacement. We went with another company for the parapet wall work, but waited until now for the lintel work. I called AAA, and 3 other companies, to rebid the lintel replacement. When "Frank" got here and I told him the parapet work had been done already, he became very hostile and repeatedly called me a liar for not telling him the parapet work had been done already. He accused me of just using AAA to get a price comparison to use against the company that did the parapet work (but, isn't that the reason you get multiple bids?). If you want to avoid an ugly confrontation and personal attacks, I would suggest not calling AAA.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0


Response from AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc
Thank you for taking the time to read my response. We strive for perfection with each interaction. We apologize for any inconveniences and our reps behavior; we will give you an additional discount if you present us with another opportunity to give you an estimate! Thank you for your time, and sorry the interaction was not favorable, we will certainly correct this!

Ron P.
03/2010
5.0
masonry
  + -1 more
Overall the job went very well. Brent the representative from AAA is a very cordial, professional and detail oriented guy. He is an asset to the company. We had a parapet wall that was in a very serious state of decay made worse by the unscrupulous developer who did the conversion of our building into condos. This malfeasance included but was not limited to the developer covering the interior common brick of the parapet wall with roofing material to conceal it's and the capstones horrible condition. After experiencing a lot of water entering some of the 2nd floor units during heavy rains a professional inspection yielded the bad news. Needless to say, this was a very upsetting situation for the residents of our building. Brent worked very closely with me in explaining the corrective measures we should undertake to correct the problems. He was very understanding of our situation and was always open to me asking as many questions as I felt I needed to ask in comprehending what was happening. The job unfortunately did wind up having significant overages (approximately 12%) to the original contract but I do believe they were necessary additions to the original scope of work and most likely could not have been foreseen as much of the trouble was intentionally obfuscated or hidden by the original developer. The work AAA did was inspected upon completion of the job and I was very happy when the inspector reported that the masonry work was some of the best he's seen. The daily clean-up during the two weeks the work was ongoing was very good however the final clean-up after the work was completed should have been more thorough. This is my only complaint and I would not hesitate to recommend Brent and AAA-Masonry to anyone who needs this type of work done.
Description of Work: Rebuilding of approximately 80 linear feet of free standing parapet wall, face brick and lintel replacement.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$34,000

Giselle H.
02/2010
5.0
decks, masonry
  + 0 more
My quest for a masonry solution began when I noticed a vertical crack on the east wall of my house. This discovery was compounded by the revelation that the wooden sillplate supporting the east side of my house was rotting and compromising the integrity of the east wall. To the rescue came AAA-1 Masonry. They worked effectively with my structural engineer finding the most cost effective approach to solve the problem. Every step of the way, AAA-1 Masonry worked smart, from planning to execution. The estimate was very clear, specific and precise.The masonry team worked expertly on all aspects of the job, adding expansion joints,replacing bricks,tuck pointing, matching mortar to the existing mortar color, changing out lintels, replacing a leaky threshold, replacing stone copings, installing a new limestone entryway. The crew was efficient, friendly, helpful and very skilled.
Description of Work: AAA-1 Masonry evaluated the entire exterior and interior of my brick home and provided a clear and accurate assessment of the work that needed to be done. With years of expertise ,it is a though Howard Reese uses x-ray vision to pinpoint problems and the appropriate solutions. He is very careful to recommend what is absolutely necessary. The AAA-1 work crew is superb. They are very precise, making sure that their work is structurally sound as well as aesthetically pleasing. They are a team of professional masons and they readily make field adjustments on site as needed. It has been six months and a winter since their work was completed and the results and benefits of the excellent work done by AAA-1 Masonry is readily apparent.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$12,000

Erik M.
01/2010
4.0
masonry
  + -1 more
The experience with them was fine. They were good and professional. They quality of the work is good. The price was a little expensive.
Description of Work: AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc did some repairs for us. We had a hole in our exterior wall. They did some tuck pointing.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
3.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,400

SHARON S.
01/2010
3.0
masonry
  + -1 more
We had contacted him late in the season. He accepted the deposit check and never really got back with us. He neglected to tell us that he does not work through the winter. He never called us to let us know. He never mentioned that they stop work for the season around December 15, 2009 until I got a hold of him. He stated they are really backed up and was not sure he could get to it. He had already accepted the down payment. I thought it was really strange that he suggested he keep the check for four months and he would start in early spring.
Description of Work: They gave an estimate for some tuck pointing work.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
5.0


Response from AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc
We greatly appreciate you selecting AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing for your masonry restoration needs. Like farmers we are restricted by the weather. Ethically, we cannot work when the nighttime temperatures drop below 32 degrees because the water in the mortar would freeze or we would be required to add anti-freeze to the mortar (and admixtures in general greatly compromise the longevity of the mortar work). As you know, this year was one of the wettest in history and we found ourselves falling many weeks and then many months behind schedule simply due to inclement weather. (Even more frustrating we would wake up to rain at 5am, evaluate the job at 8am, determine the masonry was too wet for work, cancel the work day and send the masons home, only to see it get sunny and dry by the mid-afternoon!) The purpose of a deposit -- like the purpose of an executed contract -- is to demonstrate your commitment to the job, and to allow us to procure the materials needed to get the job going until you pay your final bill. The executed contract and deposit also serve as a place holder on our work schedule. As of today, we have approximately 6 weeks of work on our work board scheduled for 2010, which we will tackle once the weather turns for the better. Many of these jobs, like yours, were supposed to be completed in 2009 if the weather had been more favorable. If you would like your deposit back, please let us know; we have no interest in keeping your money if it is needed. When you are ready to have the work scheduled, simply send us a new deposit check and we will get you back in the work queue. We greatly appreciate your patronage and hope this explanation helps. Please let me know if you would like your deposit returned. I checked our company files and saw that your deposit was received at my office on November 13, 2009, and that a refund check was sent to you on December 18, 2009. If you have not received this refund check or if you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

David N.
12/2009
4.0
masonry
  + -1 more
Their prices were the best of the estimates I received. They came when they said they were going to come, but I did have some issues with their work. They did resolve those issues and fixed the problems right away. I would consider using them again, but I would check with other providers first.
Description of Work: They did some masonry work for me.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
3.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

JOHN S.
10/2009
1.0
masonry
  + -1 more
I had approximately $12,000 of work done on my 4-flat building in 2008. Problems persisted (not their fault) and Rob returned several times (brought additional workmen once), opened my living room wall, and waited to see what the problem was. After last visit I waited for the estimate and never heard from him. Called several times and never received a response. Extremely difficult for me to understand since he had invested so much time without charging me for the diagnostic work. I found their estimates to be extremely high and couldn't have afforded his work probably anyway--which may be the reason he didn't return the calls. But I found it very unsatisfactory and unprofessional to be left dangling while I needed to proceed. Never again. Found another company through Angies List and couldn't have been more satisfied.
Description of Work: Did work for me a year ago but didn't follow through on additional work.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
3.0

$12,000

Lula and Joseph E.
09/2009
3.0
masonry
  + -1 more
They advised they could not do any work for me until the Spring and this didn't work for me.
Description of Work: I called them for an estimate.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
3.0


Response from AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc
Thank you for taking the time to read my response. We strive for perfection with each interaction. We apologize for any inconveniences, and we will give you an additional discount if you present us with another opportunity to give you an estimate! Thank you for your time.

Claire S.
09/2009
5.0
masonry, chimney repair, fireplaces
  + 1 more
Everything was perfect. They were very responsive and very polite. They are clean and neat, and it is usually a messy job. They were here for three days, and they made sure everything was put away. They were meticulous, and they were able to match the brick exactly, which was something we did not expect. They did a fabulous job, and they worked extremely hard. There is no such thing as a break with these guys. The prices were the lowest of the estimates, and it was entirely reasonable, especially considering the amount and quality of work they did. They actually inspected the chimney before they gave us an estimate, while the other companies just did a drive-by. They had to use our neighbor's driveway, which we were worried about, but each night they thoroughly swept the driveway so there was not a crumb left for my neighbor. We were very, very happy with them and would certainly use them again.
Description of Work: They did a rebuild on our chimney from below the gutter all the way up. We have two fireplaces so it is trickier than most. They did it all piecemeal as well--the took out each brick individually and lowered them down, and just did an incredible amount of difficult work.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,200

Contact information

6479 N. Avondale Ave, Chicago, IL 60631

http://www.AAA1Masonry.com

Service hours

Monday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM


Licensing

Bonded

Insured

Licensed*

Trade License Number
MC6093
State Contractor License Requirements

All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

*Contact business to see additional licenses.


Service Categories

Masonry,
Chimney Repair,
Chimney Caps,
Foundation Repair,
Concrete Pouring and Repair,
Basement Waterproofing,
Roofing,
Decks and Porches,
Glass Block,
Fireplaces,
Windows,
Pavers and Hardscaping

FAQ

AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc is currently rated 4.6 overall out of 5.

Monday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc accepts the following forms of payment: Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
Yes, AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc offers free project estimates.
No, AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
Yes, AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc offers a 5% senior discount.
Yes, AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc offers emergency services.
Yes, AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc offers warranties.
AAA-1 Masonry & Tuckpointing Inc offers the following services: Masonry - preservation & restoration, grinding & tuckpointing, brick, concrete block & stone, brick replacement & rebuilding, chimneys, terra cotta restoration, caulking, critical facade inspections. Pressure washing, sandblasting. Glass block installation. City code violation correction.
Concrete driveways & sidewalks, concrete foundation work, carpentry.

Contact information

6479 N. Avondale Ave, Chicago, IL 60631

http://www.AAA1Masonry.com

Service hours

Monday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday:
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM