Replacement of deteriorated brick and chimneys on 100 year old building
I asked for an estimate from Quality Restorations on removing the top of a crumbling facade on my building and replacing two old chimneys. Company owner Doug Pearce called me and we discussed what needed to be done. he clearly had experience and knowledge, and knew what the best course of action would be, and also, what red tape would need to be dealt with (my home is on a busy artery). Once I signed off on a detailed three page quote, Quality Restorations got the permits and dealt with disposal issues. Doug has been in business long enough that he knew the roofing company I had hired for the next phase of this job, and called them to make sure the masonry work on the building edge and the roof work would tie together properly.
It took a few weeks to get the job done, due to Quality being in high demand, and some delays with permits. Once the crew arrived, they were in and out of the job in two days. They cleaned the site up, hauled away the bricks, it was as if they had never been there, except the building looked great.
I have dealt with many different types of contractors in the past six months, and the sort that I have grown to resent are the ones who expect the client to repeatedly explain the job to the workers, talk to the city, dispose of material - all things that the client has no experience with. Quality Restorations were in control from the moment I signed up with them. If I did have questions, I called the head office and they would page Doug for me right away.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $8,000.00
- Any advice to offer fellow homeowners facing a similar project?
- Go with professionals with plenty of experience, particularly if you have an older building. There are places in your house where you can hire the local handyman, but not the external walls and chimneys. Use a company that does the job safely with proper ladders and scaffolding, as you don't want an injured passerby on your conscience.
- Company Response
Thanks very much Rob for this review - we take all this for granted (dealing with permits, pedestrian safety etc ) but you are right. We have seen a number of incidents this year in Toronto - one where the facade of a building collapsed into the street and another where men fell to their death simply because basic permits and fall safe regulations were not followed. I am glad that you are happy with the final results.