Front Entry Landing and Stairs
We hired Andrew’s Restoration in October of 2017 to grind the existing mortar and replace it with new mortar (grind and repoint) at our front entry stairs. In addition, we hired them to grind and parge the wall on the along the side of the stairs. This work was assessed in person and scoped by an employee of the company who then completed the actual work. At the time of the assessment, he said that he could do the job and we would be very happy with the outcome. Employees of Andrew’s Restoration came at the end of November of 2017 to complete the work. Initially, the work completed looked great. However, soon after the work was completed, we noticed deterioration in the work.
With respect to the parged wall, we noticed some cracks by February 2018. We had the cracks in the parged wall reviewed by an independent competent mason who agreed with us that these were cracks and would only worsen over time which they have. We also noticed the mortar beginning to crack in areas. The employee who completed the work had said, at the time of completion, that this mortar should be good for four years.
It is now March 2019 and the mortar has cracked everywhere – at the entry landing and the steps. Large sections of mortar have crumbled out and some of the stones are now loose. This poses a hazard to anyone using the stairs. It has only been 15 months since the work was completed. The front entry looks considerably worse now than before they began the work. The original work was completed 10 years ago.
We approached Andrew’s Restoration in the spring of 2018 to discuss the issues with the work completed. The owner gave many reasons why the work had deteriorated and many reasons why any remedial work would not be worthwhile. We paid for their services promptly at completion of work. We waited patiently last spring and summer for them to do the reparations. Nothing was done and we will now have the work redone by another company.
Overall, our impression of Andrew’s restoration: nice employees who can give a convincing sales pitch, but deliver very poor quality work. We do not recommend them.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $5,500.00
- Company Response
.
Dear,Andrew's Restoration Ltd. was incepted in 1996, We have not only met customer expectations but have often exceeded them.
First and foremost it must be understood that pre existing conditions are beyond our control.
Let me review where you have put blame on us that is unjustified:
* we performed the work specified in our written agreement in full.
* we attended the site upon your request regarding your concerns, namely that one of cracks in the stair treads had re cracked in the spring. Inspection revealed that your front entrance installation had a second portion added to it, and this section had separated from the original. At the time you agreed with my assessment and the direction that would be required to remedy the situation (work that we do not do).
* in spite of your agreement regarding the content of our meeting you later became insistent that we reeturn and redo the work in this location.
* you unreasonably expect us to assume responsibility for work of poor integrity that was performed by another company.
* when you contacted us the second season after the repairs were completed with a concern that the parging "looked like it would fail", I offered to come and perform a definitive test to establish whether or not this was likely and you did not respond.
* your statement that the repairs have further deteriorated (beyond the original crack that had re opened) are simply not truthful, as photo documentation of my original site visit and a second one after you wrote your review clearly show.Repairs of another company's work are not necessarily warrantable, especially when some of the work cannot be seen. Having stated this, we have always extended good will beyond what we should. However, to redo the repair in the location of concern would yield no better results and is therefore a wasted effort.