Olde World Masonry, in West Burke, VT was hired to replace existing stone stairs, install two new handrails, and regrade, add topsoil and seed parts of our property. We were originally quoted a price of $18,800. When we received the final bill, the price had jumped to $24,100, an increase of $5,300 (almost 30%). Part of the difference was due to pricing for the railings, which were not included in the original quote. However, the railings were made of simple 2x4s nailed to 4x4 posts, so the materials would have cost a maximum of a few hundred dollars, and the workmanship was basic and subpar. For example, 2x4s were supposed to be sanded, and were not; there were big gaps at the 2x4 joints and where they were attached to 4x4s; adding topsoil and reseeding of the grass was supposed to be completed in the spring and was not; stonework is not well secured; details were not provided for the difference between the quoted and final price, etc. Unfortunately, since it's only a summer home, none of us were there to see the finished work when it was completed late in the Fall, and we were too trusting in paying in full without seeing the end product.
Once we arrived this summer, and saw the quality of the work firsthand, my sister and I made numerous attempts via text and phone to reach Dylan Eustace, the Olde World Masonry owner, to discuss our concerns. He did not respond to our messages for weeks. After ignoring us, we were FINALLY successful at separate times getting him on the phone. In both cases, as soon as we started to detail some of our issues, he abruptly hung up on us.
It is amazing that this business can operate given the lack of professionalism, the quality of the work, and not remotely adhering to the originally quoted price. We would strongly recommend taking your business elsewhere. read more
