Good masonry work can do wonders for your home. There are countless flawless ways to upgrade your home with all kinds of masonry projects. At Flawless Masonry, we’ve been giving Long Island homeowners the upgrades of their dreams for years. However, every homeowner knows very well that finding a reliable contractor can sometimes be, well, kind of a nightmare.

Unfortunately, there are tons of homeowners with horror stories about a contractor. Incomplete or subpar work, price gouging and even illegal activities are just some of the issues a bad contractor will give you. However, there are a few questions you can ask prospective contractors to see whether or not they’re reliable. In this post, we’ll break down the three questions you should be asking your masonry contractor.
 

1. “Are You Licensed & Insured?”

This is a fantastic way to test a masonry contractor. Basically, any masonry contractor who’s efficient and reliable will be fully licensed and insured. To obtain a license, a contractor must receive a full evaluation from the state. In essence, this means that they fulfill the necessary requirements to be a legitimate contractor. Therefore, they most likely have the necessary experience and expertise under their belt to do the job well.

Also, a masonry contractor with insurance is a fantastic asset. This means they’ll protect your home and property throughout construction. In addition, it’s just a great way to make sure a contractor is professional and legitimate. A prospective contractor with no insurance is a huge red flag. If they can’t produce proof of insurance, you should run in the opposite direction.
 

2. “What Kind of Aggregates Do You Use?”

Undoubtedly, this may seem a strange question. However, once you learn the difference between aggregates, you’ll understand why it’s important. This question helps you determine which masonry contractors use quality materials and which don’t.

For example, at Flawless Masonry, we use only state-approved RCA. This stands for “Recycled Concrete Aggregate.” RCA is made of 95% concrete and is the material preferred by leading industry experts. It provides exceptional drainage, compaction and resistance to settling. Also, it gives your masonry work an upgrade and much longer life. And it keeps it beautiful for years to come. Basically, RCA is the superior material.

However, the alternative material is “R-Mix-RCA.” This is mix composed of dirt, clay, brick, asphalt and less than 50% concrete. This mixture is a way for recycling plants to dispose of poor quality aggregates. R-Mix-RCA is extremely low in cost and is prone to settling, buckling, water retention and unsightly weed growth between joints, especially in driveways. It’s cheap, it’s faulty, and we wouldn’t use it in a million years. Therefore, a contractor using it isn’t your best option.
 

3. “What is Your Cost & Payment Schedule?”

Usually, contracts require a portion of the payment up front. Then, the following payments will be scheduled. This really all depends on the contractor. However, if a masonry contractor requires most or all of the payment directly up front, this can be a red flag.

Many contractor horror stories often begin with an enormous payment up front, and failure to deliver service afterwards. So if they require you to pay everything in advance, this can be a sign to call someone else. Most financial agreements are estimates. In addition, you should ask them about limits on potential cost overruns. And they should be able to provide you with a detailed and satisfactory answer.
 

Flawless Masonry – Your Trusting Long Island Masonry Company

At Flawless Masonry, we’re proud of the work we do and love giving Suffolk County residents the homes of their dreams. Our licenses, insurance, quality materials and payment options are all products of our desire to be the very best masonry contractor on Long Island. We want to give our clients an incomparable service they can’t find elsewhere.