We needed to assemble and install an in-ground basketball hoop. I saw Nick's name after searching for mailbox installers on a popular rating site. I set up an appointment for an estimate based off the pictures of mailboxes he installed. I figured it was basically the same process on a slightly bigger scale.
Nick showed up, on-time and ready to work. After a little background on the project, he said he would be able to do it by his hourly rate. Cool. Before he left, he took some 2x4s and cut and nailed a concrete form for us to use as we dug the hole. He included that in the estimate and used his own materials to make it. Wow, I'm already impressed. I told him we'd have it done in a weekend and he scheduled phase 1 (concrete) for a week after that.
So the concrete day came and Nick was on-time again, ready to mix and pour. I rented a mixer and we got to it. Nick was very professional, funny and smart. He had some tricks he used to get the rebar to stand still in the hole as the concrete was poured. The rebar added strength to the concrete and he not only knew how to place it, but he also cut it to size for us. So after about 5 hours, the concrete was mixed, poured and smoothed out. He even gave us the idea to put coins with our birth years, into the concrete. Awesome idea! The concrete needed at least 72 hours to cure, so Nick scheduled phase 2 (hoop assembly and install) for 2 weeks out. Cool.
2 weeks come and it looks like the weather is not going to cooperate. Horrible storms aren't really conducive to hoop installs, so I'm back and forth with Nick over email and texts. I'll take this time out to tell you that Nick is great at communicating. Emails, text, phone calls. He's very responsive and works late hours like myself, so that was a definite plus! So back to the hoop...we cancelled for the original date(Thursday) because the weather sucked. Nick said he'd be able to make it out on Saturday and we agreed to that. So, Friday on my drive home from work, I get a call from Nick asking if we could finish Friday night. Sure, why not? So, he came over Friday evening, and with the help of my son in law and myself, we were able to get the hoop pole up with medium effort. Nick also mixed some more concrete, by hand, and filled the pole to reduce wobbling of the rim. The glass backboard was a beast, but they got it up, just fine. The sun was down by the time we were ready to hoist the backboard, but Nick was very prepared and brought out his giant work light to allow to him to finish.
I must say, all in all, it was a great experience. For roughly $500, we got the hoop install we were looking for. Looks great, very level, very sturdy and secured and the kids love the personalized concrete base with embedded coins. I would hire Nick again, in a heartbeat. He was very fair, honest and professional. He already told me, that he can only take jobs, he knows he can complete and I appreciate his honesty.
I would definitely recommend Schober Repair Services again. 100% satisfied with the decision. read more