Dogwood Quarries

Dogwood Quarries is a one-man outfit and I wish I could remember the man's name but I can't, so for purposes of this review I'll call him Bob. I found Bob on Angie's List and contacted him by phone. The first thing I asked him is would he consider taking a job in PG County (Laurel) given the fact that he's in Manassas -- many contractors won't want to travel that far. He responded that he does work all over the metro area and he goes where the job takes him. We agreed to meet on a Sunday morning at my home. I gave him directions (well over an hour's drive) and he arrived promptly at the appointed time. My project is fairly simple and as we walked the ground that the patio would cover, Bob explained how the ground would be excavated, and how the concrete would be poured, colored and stamped. We discussed the technical details -- drainage, run-off, downspout tie-ins, grading, half-steps, etc. He answered my questions readily and agreed to build in details (like a drainage field) that I thought were needed but he assured me were not. Bob had an easy manor and the confidence that set me at ease in the knowledge that he knows what he's talking about and can perform the work. Afterward we went inside where he showed me photos of projects he's done in the past. This guy is old-school master-craftsman, so he can show you work that he did as a stone mason years ago. Not only that he performs as a sub on larger commercial projects where he's done large retaining walls and storm drains. Most of his work is for private homes though and his jobs run the gamut -- from multi-million dollar estates in horse country to tract homes in no-name subdivisions. He's also a fascinating guy to talk to -- easy going, low key and plainspoken but worldly and cultivated at the same time. In his youth he flew jets off a carrier. He quoted a ballpark price and while it was more than I wanted to spend, I was willing to pay if I was going to end up with the kind of workmanship I saw in the photos. I told him as much and asked him again if the job wasn't too small for him to travel so far. He assured me it was not and agreed to mail me a detailed estimate in a week or so. Then ... nothing. He disappeared. Now admittedly I didn't call him back. I just assumed that he changed his mind for whatever reason. I've had this problem before though. Contractors will come out and once they see the project -- either it's beyond their capabilities and they don't want to say so, or it's too far to travel, or it's PG County, or the chemistry's not right -- whatever, but that's the last I'll hear from them. I figured the same with Bob. But your mileage may vary. If you need a pool deck, driveway, retaining wall or just a garden path -- give him a call. Your home may end up the pride of the neighborhood. I could have rated Bob an F in Overall Experience. He probably deserves it, but I dialed it back to a D simply because the guy is so d*** likeable. I couldn't have imagined a better way to while away a lazy Sunday morning. And Bob! If the dog ate the estimate and you need the work, send me another. My back yard is still in want of a patio.

Superior design and workmanship. Master craftsman with a creative flair. Provides good initial options and allows client to participate in the design process. Very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. Work is done right the first time and stands up with time. No problems experienced with other major jobs performed five and twenty years ago.

He is very knowledgeable, neat and thorough. He is careful, explains things well and good at analyzing situations. He is professional, responsive and punctual. His price was completive and we are satisfied with his service.