OLD WORLD BRICK PAVING

Excellent job!! From the drought last year, the front stoop pulled away from our porch and sunk. The apron likewise sunk. Greg from Old World came out to Lake Zurich, spend about 75 minutes going over what needed to be done, informed us completely of everything, and scheduled the job. He could not have been more professional, courteous, or friendly. The job started about 6 weeks later (due to all the rains). First order was to remove all of the old concrete and establish the foundation. This is what set OWBP apart from the others. Their work in preparing the ground for the pavers is unequaled. Please read from their website how they do it - I would not do it justice. Just like a house is only as good as the foundation - which no one sees - same for a paving job. On the first day, Frank the owner came out and also surveyed the job. Given Lake Zurich is ~40 miles from the OWBP home base, this was quite unexpected, especially considering this was a relatively small job. Frank even added in some accent brick at no additional charge which provided an extra nice look. Frank, like Greg, knows how to service a customer and make them happy. As for the finished product, we couldn't be more pleased. The guys cleaned up nicely each day and we're left with a brand new entry way that added more value to our home than the $4,500 spent. Trust me, if you are seeking a brick paving job, save yourself the due diligence - I've done it all for you. Choose Old World.

The paper works we saw what we're dealing with was very nice. The haven't look at the project yet probably because it's been raining and they have to lay brick. Just talking with him over the phone, he seem like a really nice person, and the company itself I would say. The estimate was fine, we were very fast. We've seen the things that he did, he brought photos of different jobs and different things, it was very impressive. Their website in general was very impressive. They haven't gone here yet, he kept on contacting us but I'm thinking because of the rain we have, he can't do that work in the rain, it's got to be dry. So he's probably behind in some of his other jobs.

Was looking to install backyard patio. Called Old World and left a message. Was contactad back very shortly afterwords directly by owner. He was very knowledgable and professional. Also very good at follow up. My plans changed so I never got a quote, but I would consider them in the future.

We chose Old World Brick Paving (OWBP) to build a large new patio and to replace our driveway borders and front walkway, as well as repour our concrete garage floor. We are completely satisfied with their work and would absolutely recommend them. When we planned our project, we solicited bids from a number of other reputable brick paver companies from Angie's List. We ultimately chose OWBP, not because they were the absolute cheapest, but because they offered the most compelling "package," including: 1. Expert Knowledge - The owner Frank has been in this business for over 20 years and has been focused on brick paving. He is an absolute pro and is happy to invest the extra time to educate you about the whole process, the relevant considerations for your project, and where to not cut corners for the sake of short-term cost savings. We tend to appreciate more detail than less, especially on big investments like this, so we got a lot of value from this. 2. Transparency - OWBP's proposal clearly described the work that would be done as well as the cost for each piece of work. Their bid was much more granular and detailed -- which allowed us to know the cost impact of increasing our sf (which we did) and adding 2 more ft of seatwall (which we did). The other bids we received lumped in various pieces of work together into one price, so if you made a change during the build out, you would have to ask them what it would cost and hope for a fair price. 3. Responsiveness - OWBP's bid was not only the most detailed, but also had the shortest turnaround time. We bid out our project during early spring before the weather had warmed up so it was not like other vendors were busy on other jobs. Frank was just more responsive. I took it as a sign that he would be more responsive during the job as well and he did not disappoint. Very easy to reach and always helpful. As well, during the process, if we had any concerns about details in the work, or instructions on how we'd like things to look, the team was very quick to respond. 4. Reputation - As I mentioned, OWBP had great reviews on Angie's List and good testimonials on their website. 5. Value - They were not the cheapest but they were still very competitive on price. We also wanted the peace of mind that it would be done right and Frank just seemed more knowledgeable than the others. To make our final brick selection, we made a trip out to Unilock in Aurora to see some of the pavers in person. We would strongly recommend this as we ended up changing our selections after the visit and are completely happy with the result. The project itself took a little longer than expected because of heavy rains during the period. The OWBP team, led by Gilberto, was very friendly, professional, and hard working. They tried to keep the project as close to the original schedule as possible despite the unexpected weather, even working a full day on a Saturday to make up for lost time. A few times, the weather was particularly harsh and compromised some of the prep work from the prior day. I obviously would not have noticed but Frank's team would always double check and invest the time to redo or reprep anything they needed to ensure a high quality outcome. While they are conscious of the schedule, this team does not take short cuts. They take pride in the quality and longevity of their work and it shows in their process and attention to detail. Finally, no real surprises on the final bill except where we made changes to the scope (which came in as expected). We are so excited about our new patio and have received many compliments from our friends and family. We would highly recommend OWBP to anyone. John L.

They work appears very professional. I had no doubt about their ability to do an excellent job. We requested that the existing bricks be re-used, which Old World Brick did not want to do. That drove up the estimate cost.

We had a great experience with Old World. Frank came out and met with us about are project. He was very detailed and explained the extra steps they use to make sure it is a top of the line install. I met with approximately 6 different patio companies and I was very comfortable with Old World. His crew (Damian and company) were very prompt. They came around 7:30 in the morning and worked all day. At the end of each day, they cleaned up. I was very happy with the way the patio turned out and can't wait to use it this summer.

The owner Frank quoted our job and checked frequently on the installation. The work is high quality and the installers were courteous and pleasant. This company did everything we asked as expected. Our new patio is beautiful and we will enjoy it for years to come!

This was a very pleasant experience. I believed when interviewing him that this was a guy who was really knowledgeable and experienced. He took the time to explain not only my options, but to show in detail the steps that he was going to take to insure that his work would last and to point out the shortcuts that a contractor could take. He implied that his prices might not be the cheapest, although I found them to be comparable to other quotes received. The result is beautiful - very tight paver fit with elegant brick cuts. They say a good contractor is gold. Here you go.

An old, front yard entrance, concrete sidewalk adjacent to our 90-year old home had settled unevenly (allowing water to puddle) and cracked-up in some areas making it was hazzardous to walk on in winter. We (the owners) wanted to replace the walk with a brick sidewalk matching an owner-construcce garden walkways in our rear yard. We had originally considered installng the new walkway by simply covering the olld walk with a brick top layer, and that is what we originally requested of Old World Brick Paving. However, after a review of the project with Old World Brick's representative and a follow-up check of recommended industry standards (with aid of the internet), we decided to perform the worlk according procedures recommended by Old World Brick. This involved removing the existing concrete walk, excavation and provision of a proper gravel and sand foundation for the brick walk. The contractor also recommended new roof downspouts with below-grade pvc pipe drains for run-off water. All work was performed within a week and inspected by city building department. Over-all we are impressed with this contractor, the quality of their workmanship and professionalism of their staff. We would recommend Old World Brick to others interested in construction adding to the long-term value of their home.

They are quite good but their prices are also quite high for our budget. We may consider concrete for our project instead & may contact them for another quote.

We had done thorough research, here on Angie's List and in visiting sites where they had done similar work, so our expectations were very high when we signed this contract. Frank Calistro and his team at Old World Brick Paving exceeded those expectations. Their paver brick patios are the best constructed that we have seen. As Frank explained clearly when he came to provide his estimate, Old World makes sure not to skimp on materials in putting down a good base. Then they use top-grade pavers and other materials. I would encourage you to visit their website, which details the process they use, and I think you will find they go far beyond many, if not all, competitors. Frank's team on site, led by Damian, executed our plan to perfection. Damian and the other work crew members communicated with us professionally, and Damian also dealt expertly with village inspectors. The crew always arrived right on time at 7, and on some days they worked until 6. Whenever we needed to speak with Frank, we could reach him easily -- I don't think we ever waited more than 30 minutes for a call back from him at any point in the entire process. To make sure the project was finished on schedule, Frank himself came out to the site to complete some of the water-proofing work, at a moment's notice on a Saturday. Our only concern was that some oil from their machinery accidentally dripped on our existing concrete sidewalk and driveway, creating stains, but Damian and Frank both went to great lengths to remediate that problem. The real test, of course, is how well the patio endures. Having seen a driveway that Old World constructed five years ago, and which remains in perfect condition, we are confident that we will enjoy this investment for a long time to come.

Frank came and gave us an estimate, and listened carefully to our concerns. He explained how the work would be done and promised us a written estimate which we received the next day. We then got 2 other estimates that were all in the same range. We signed the contract with Old World because they impressed us as the most knowledgeable. After we obtained the building permit we informed Frank who put us in line for the work to begin. They started the work the day after they had promised (it rained all day the day they were going to begin) and worked continually until they finished. Damien was the crew foreman and he went out of his way to make sure we were happy with the job. Simply cannot say enough good things about the company, the crew and the finished product.

Frank explained the process and materials he uses. They are top quality. This, combined with his honesty and integrity, sold me on hiring him. There was always great communication about when the project would start, getting my input, etc. No surprises, just excellent work and experienced nice people to work with. They cleaned up well. I will definitely hire them again when needed and would recommend them highly.

The project began and finished ahead of schedule and within the budget we were quoted. Frank was responsive and professional. His team was prompt, worked quickly and was respectful of our home and our neighbors. The design Frank recommended and completed was beyond our expectations - we could not be more satisfied.

Everything went very, very well. Ended up choosing Frank because he was very highly recommended from a neighbor and co-worker. He is not the cheapest, but for something like a patio where quality and longevity really matter, I think the extra you pay is worth it. He was very easy to work with and demonstrated all the traits I think are critical (and so hard to find) when doing a job of this size: * Honest and proactive in identifying unknowns at the time of the estimate that could affect final cost and/or quality * Proactive in identifying design and esthetic decisions that need to be make (and able to provide a perspective when asked for it) * Struck the right balance between letting client make decisions, bringing up the consequences of certain decisions (e.g., cost or functional trade-offs), and voicing when he didn't think something was a good idea -- a balance not easy to strike * Was very willing to discuss project as much as was need to make all parties (i.e., husband and wife) comfortable * In general, communicated very well throughout the process Overall, I was extremely satisfied with the experience in working with Frank and, most importantly, the resulting work.

Prompt, professional workers. Pleasant to do business with; explained the process and was very willing to work with us to our satisfaction.

Frank was wonderful to deal with. Very knowledgeable. Even though this was a small job he took the time to explain the process to me.

I called Old World today and left a message with the receptionist. Frank called me back within 2 hours. That was great. I have emailed and/or called about 10 companies looking for a quote. Only 3 even called me back and they were not as prompt as Frank. Frank was completely upfront with me and let me know that I am located too far away for him to do the job at the best price. He gave me a ton of useful information (which he didn't have to do). Thanks Frank!

The house we bought last August is brick construction, but had a wooden deck attached off the kitchen door into the small backyard. The deck must have been at least fifteen years old and was in bad shape. We decided to have it torn down and replaced with a brick patio to open up the small backyard space and complement better the construction of the house itself. The concrete sidewalks to the alley and garage were crumbling, so we added those to the job too. We got two estimates before choosing Old World. Not only was Frank's estimate lower than the other contractor's, but his included tearing out the deck and hauling it away, which the competing bid did not. Frank spelled out exactly what his process entailed, taking his time so we understood everything. Immediately after securing the building permits (we needed to have a landing and staircase built as well, as the kitchen door is five steps above grade) from our village, Frank's crew started on the job. They ran into a problem regarding the electric service to the garage, but Frank provided an elegant solution at a very low additional cost. In less than a week and a half, the patio and sidewalks were installed, and are beautiful. The stairs are great, too, and we owe thanks for that to Frank as well; he recommended the carpenters who did the work.

The job was very professionally done from start to finish. Frank always answered his own phone or called back right away. He explained the whole process. He was here when his team started and the team worked hard, long days to get the job done before it was expected to rain. The head of the work crew kept us up to date on what was happening and answered all our questions patiently. They cleaned up the site afterward and made sure the lawn was undamaged by the large equipment. Frank steered us in the right direction and made sure we went to the unilock facility to eyeball the bricks which was crucial as the color we picked was mis-labeled in the unilock catalog. Thanks Frank and all the crew for a beautiful job.

This project went very well. Frank was always professional and prompt. We really appreciated all the insights and recommendations he had when we'd ask. We had never owned a patio before, so there were many aspects we were unfamiliar with and many ideas we had that we weren't sure about. So, Frank's years of experience were very valuable since he knew what would look good and what might not work as well as what the cost differences would be. Work on the project began very shortly after we obtained a permit from our village. Old World seems to have all the equipment necessary to make a job go quickly and efficiently. The first day of work was very busy with multiple machines and men, and much of the job was done after just two days of work. Frank asked us to assess the result of each stage of work to before collecting each portion of payment to make sure we were satisfied each step of the way. We had many questions after each stage, and some concerns, but Frank was always available for discussion. For example, mid-project, after seeing the base of the patio, we were concerned that the size of the patio was going to be too large compared to the house. Frank spoke with us about this at some length and we ended up going with his recommendation to proceed with the original larger size. As Frank foretold, the finished product looks just the right size and will allow enough space for the activities we look forward to. Here are some pointers if you plan to hire someone to put in a paver patio (I'd definitely recommend Old World): 1) Decide beforehand what size is practical given what you want to use the patio for and the size of your house. You can use a garden hose to mark out the outline of the patio and use furniture inside the outline to give a sense of how much space you'll need. We didn't do all this, but we should have. 2) Make sure the contract with the paver company contains all the important details. The bricks on the edges of our patio are of a different sort that the kind that makes up the inside of the patio. This wasn't in our contract, so Frank's crew began the "edging" with the wrong bricks until we said something. Frank switched the bricks at no extra charge, but it would not have even been an issue if that detail was stated in our contract) Make sure you have a village permit in hand when scheduling work to begin on the project so no delays will happen.

I met with Frank March 30th. I chose his company and that started the ball rolling. I got the building permit Monday, April 9th and as agreed since they were between jobs, they started on Tuesday April 10th. They excavated and put in the base on Tuesday. On Wednesday, April 11th they laid the pavers. When I came home, the building inspector was here to sign off and stated that there was no problem with any of the construction and that the company had exceeded minimum code for a brick paver patio.

Excellent. Super professional. From the minute they came out they were very descriptive of what needed to get done, why the problem existed and how they were going to fix it.

I hired Frank from Old World Brick Paving on two occasions for brick paver work. I had a patio installed in 2009 and a driveway and walkways done in 2011. We are completely happy with how the projects turned out and would recommend him to anyone looking for a quality brick paver installation. While Old World may not be the cheapest, they are also not the most expensive. You get what you pay for. Frank will not skimp on materials and makes sure the base is done properly to ensure years and years of use. Our patio still looks great after a few years and I plan to have Old World apply a sealant this summer to ensure many more years of beauty. After a year of driving on the brick paver driveway, I have not noticed any signs of issues. A lot of companies will try to cheat you on the materials by cutting down on the stone used in the base, not Frank. If you want to have the peace of mind that the project will get done right, hire him

Aside from the weather not cooperating with our schedule, it was done in a very efficient, thorough and professional manner.