First let me say I didn't hire this company and let me tell you why:
I bought my house 2 years ago, which the home inspector noticed the concrete chimney cap needed to be replaced (in was cracked). At the time, I found out Dover Masonry had either recently rebuilt the chimney or restored it and agreed to come back and fix it (charged the home owner $750.00 + tax for the repair. They also offered me a free chimney check every two years!
(Sounds amazing so far right?)
Fast forward two years later, I can hear water dripping behind my fireplace insert. I pull it out to find mold, rust, and standing water (which was dripping down by ash pit and down behind my basement wall where more damage occurred. I climb up on my roof to check my flashing and the cap thinking it might be cracked again. Flashing looks good and the cap looks beautiful. BUT after a closer look at my cap, I realize that although it looks great, it was extremely poorly constructed. It's lips are higher than the middle, so it acts like a swimming pool on the top of my chimney. There is no caulking around the metal flue that comes up through it, so water can seep down in between, and I can't remove the metal rain cap because the connection point is either underneath or inside of the concrete cap.
So I call Glen from Dover who tells me he'll come take a look as soon as he can (hopefully that day). Needless to say he doesn't show. So I call him back and follow up the next day, and he tells me all about how busy he is and how water in a chimney is normal. I offer to send him pictures to save him some time. He agrees and I send him some really good pictures of the cap. I get no response, so the next day I call him and here's what he tells me.
1. The metal rain cap blew off (There metal raincap is clearly there).
2. Then he tells me he didn't make the cap (he didn't have time), another company did it, but he'll fix it for me for a case of beer and cost of materials. (I have a reciept from the previous owner saying he replaced it and it was paid for).
I sent him the picture of the receipt and explain to him that I am aware that the cap wasn't made properly and that his company made it and installed it. Then I get no response.
It's very clear that the company tried to fool me twice. They did poor quality work the first time and the cap cracked, they did poor quality work (although it looked good) the second time and charged the previous owner for it, and then he tried to fool me TWICE!
Unfortunately, as a homeowner it's up to you to do your research even if you're not a DIY person to make sure you know how things are supposed to be done, Contractors will take advantage of you every step of the way. Including this one. Please stay clear of this company or at least be REALLY careful. read more