MASONARY SOLUTIONS

Contract signed 5/31/07 and work promised by Mike Ray to start in about three weeks. Called his phone 6/18 and no reply. 6/19 Mike called and said captions are coming from Minneapolis. I called 6/26 as to status of job. Mike called 6/27 and said captions are in transit. Called 7/9,no answer. Called 7/10 and Mike called back. He was in Texas attending a funeral. Said he would call back later in day, which he did not. Called 7/11 on pager and said I need a definite date or want my money returned. No answer. Mike called 7/12 said work starts 7/18. 7/18 his helper came and covered area with "mud". 7/23 Mike came with bricks and laid bricks. 8/8 we noticed a sloppy job done on one of the risers in that half bricks were not used as in rest. Also one or two bricks on porch seem to have cracks which could allow water to enter. Only after constant phone calls was I able to get the job finished. A very trying experience.

They did a good job. They were quick and efficient and very reasonable.

WHILE THIS WAS A LOT OF WORK, IT SEEMED TO ME TO BE PERHAPS OVER-PRICED, AND IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THOUGH THE PAINT JOB IS GOING TO HOLD UP WELL. SOME PEELING OF PAINT IS OCCURRING. ALSO, WHILE THE EXISTING COLORS WERE MATCHED, AGING OF THE COLORS WAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION SO THAT THE NEW PAINT WAS AS DULL AS THE OLD RATHER THAN FRESH AND BRIGHT-LOOKING AS IT HAD BEEN WHEN IT WAS FIRST APPLIED. SOME OF THE PATCH WORK ON THE PORCH STEPS IS WASHING AWAY.

VERY NICE AND PROMPT, AND THEY DID GOOD WORK.