MASONRY LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Harold?s work was a failure on many levels. First, he laid outside brick for an add-on fireplace insert and pieced in a brick water table where an exterior door was removed. He picked out a brick which was supposed to match the house which is 70% brick. When the fireplace was partially complete it did not look like the brick matched. I asked him to check the brick again. He insisted the brick was a match and seemed to take offense to my concerns. He said it needed to dry more. I wanted any mistake corrected before the water table brick was applied. He assured me there was no better brick match. Wrong! Second, he laid the exterior fireplace brick without the bottom soldier course which is on the remainder of the house. I asked him why he failed to match the house and he gave two excuses. When I pointed out how ridiculous his excused were he did not have any further response to his obvious mistake. Third, he finished the fireplace exterior and water table and prep work for interior fireplace and wanted to apply the cultured stone for the interior fireplace. He wanted to start this earlier than he had originally discussed and before other contractors had the site ready (drywall and insulation). He was irritated when I wanted him to wait his turn. I now understand why. It was because he it would become clearer to me that he used the wrong brick and he wanted his work complete and himself paid before this error was clearer to me. He kept saying the brick would match when it dried out more. After these incidents, plus two other incidents that I am not taking the time to outline, I had enough and wanted to settle up the bill without him completing the inside cultured stone portion of his agreed upon work. I no longer trusted him to do a good job. He still would not admit to any mistakes and tried to deflect his own failures with excuses and complaints about me. He had put in 3 ? to 4 days work. He wanted $4800 out of the initially agreed $5000 despite having 1 to 2 more days work. I thought $4000 was appropriate (this was before I was painfully told that the brick was not the correct match for which drying would not correct). After 1 hour of arguing, to get him to leave, I paid him $4600. In retrospect he should have received much less. I have confirmed thru another mason that the brick was wrong. It does not match and it would need to be ripped out and redone if I want it done right vs staining the original brick. Also, I have to pay another mason $1200 to finish interior which Harold (aka Ed) was supposed to do. I have no regrets getting another mason. I am just sorry I paid for Ed?s mistakes. In my experience, I?ve never had any contractor even come close to this combination of shortcomings: making multiple errors to this degree, making excuses for obvious mistakes, expecting payment for bad work and work not done, and making no attempt to address my concerns.

Mr. Hill and his employee spent an entire day from early morning to late evening restoring a large flagstone patio. I was extremely satisfied with their workmanship and with there suggestions on how to maintain it for future years. Their estimate was very fair.

Wonderful! On time, professional from start to finish. Work area kept neat and lawn damage kept to minimum. Repaired what little damage was done to yard. Mr. Hill is a real craftsman. We did need to buy the pavers, sand and brixment ourselves as he does not include the price in his fee. He did pick up the materials for us. Also, he was right on with the estimate of how much materials to purchase, so no waste. We will hire him again.

He does have to come back about some concrete work that he did, but he is always available when we call. He came out to look at it and is willing to fix it if we want him to. We are waiting to see how it weathers, but overall the quality of work is good. I would hire him again. He was very professional.

HAROLD WAS WORTH THE PREMIUM PRICE CHARGED. HE WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE, PROMPT AND THROUGH. HE WAS CAREFUL NOT TO LEAVE A MESS, AND DID AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH CLEAN UP.