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Masonry & stone: questions to ask before you hire

Stone and retaining walls are heavy and hold back soil, so how they're built matters more than how they look.

For masonry & stone

  1. Does my wall need an engineer's design or a permit because of its height?
  2. How do you deal with water behind the wall (drain rock, drain pipe)?
  3. What's the base made of, and how deep is it?
  4. Natural stone, manufactured stone or block: what do you recommend here?
  5. What warranty do you give on the wall?

Ask every contractor

  1. Do you have a business licence that covers my city? Can I see it?
  2. Can you send me a WorkSafeBC clearance letter? It means I'm not on the hook if one of your crew is hurt on my property.
  3. Do you have liability insurance? Can I see the certificate?
  4. Can I get the quote in writing, broken down into materials and labour?
  5. How much is the deposit, and when are the other payments due? (Be wary of a big payment up front.)
  6. When can you start, and how long will the job take?
  7. Who will actually do the work: your own crew or subcontractors?
  8. Does the job need a permit, and who gets it?
  9. What warranty do you give, on materials and on your work? Can I have it in writing?
  10. Can I see photos of similar jobs you've done recently, or talk to a past customer?
  11. How do you leave the site at the end of each day, and when the job's done?