Paying The Stone Mason Update

kermmonk

Hey guys,

Give me some more advice on dealing with stone masons. I want to be fair, but not overcharged.

My deal with the stone mason was 12.00 per sq. ft. He tells me today that he counts windows and doors in the square footage because he has to lay corner stones around them. This adds a lot of extra sq. footage. Is this the norm or is this creative measuring? If this is the norm, what about garage doors. They would add lots of square footage!

Thanks,
Kermmonk in TN

6stringmason

Once again should have gotten something in writing. But I would NOT pay for the sq footage of windows and doors. Is he putting stone over them? No. Therefore no sq footage should be added.

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kermmonk

My thoughts exactly 6 string!

Should have had a contract, but the subs here run for the hills if you bring out anything for them to sign! They all have more work than they can do. Still, should have asked more questions. I just assumed a price per square ft. would be simple. Measure it when it was done and pay the guy, no conflict. Boy was I wrong

RobertF

That'd scare me, I'd want a contract for my own protection!

To heck with the customer, I gotta cover my butt!

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-Robert F

Tscarborough

I would tell him thanks for what he has done, pay him off and get a contract with the next mason.

kermmonk

would you pay for the windows and doors or no way?

Tscarborough

Of course not. Did he look at the plans before he bid the job? Did he state that he would run through the windows and doors in his contract? Oh wait, you don't have a contract.

Pay him off, wish him well and hire a mason with a contract, not an understanding.

tkle

I've made the mistake of giving square foot pricing.Though it's normal to count small openings due to the extra expense,by not telling the customer before hand I've had to eat it a bit and take them off the bill.My fault.I don't do that anymore.

Anybody that runs at the mention of a contract,I wouldn't hire in the first place.Are there requirements for masonry contractors in your state?Many people are willing to bypass the neccessary credentials so they can get a better price.I'm underbid by these scabs constantly.In that case I feel the customer deserves what they get.

Twelve bucks a square is cheap for just the labor.If he's paying for any of the material,he's losing money.That's his fault.
Bottom line,it sounds like you're getting a good deal.If the guy's legitimate and doing good work,pay him and keep going.Just get it in writing.If he's not,send him down the road.

Brickie

No way, pay him off & get rid of him.

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Brickie

Tkle,

I won't take any job (the only exception is my mother) unless we have a signed contract. This really helps when dealing with the "selective amnesia" types.

__________________
“Ron Paul is one of the outstanding leaders fighting for a stronger national defense. As a former Air Force officer, he knows well the needs of our armed forces, and he always puts them first. We need to keep him fighting for our country.” – Ronald Reagan

Glasshousebltr

I'd have a contract with my mother before any other. She's a freekin crook.

Sorry Mom

Also, if it fits the contract, and the work is good, I'd pay right threw the windows and doors.

Bob

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Bob

stacker

id tell the man that you are not raising his family here.like tkle i have charged for small openings,but never for doors and windows.if you have an opening of say 1 ft by 1 ft i would charge for that sq ft.but now lets say an opening of 3x4,no way.i wouldnt be able to face my customer.it sounds to me like this dude is tring to get every last nickel from you that he can,and that reeks.i have only been accused of over charging one time,and that was when a lady wanted me to brick her add on to her house.when the final bill came in about 500 brick more than she ordered she wanted to know why.i told her that on some cuts we were able to use one brick for two cuts,and on the sill we used half brick.btw i charge full price for any cut,no matter the size.also if a customer hires me to brick their house and they tell me there is 10,000 brick.and when we are done,if i only laid 9000 brick,they get charged for 10,000.unless i measured the house.very seldom do i use a contract,unless you would consider my bid a contract.most time,my terms are spelled out on the bid.

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jvcstone

Once again, in my opinion, this is why I would not offer a set sq.ft price. Normally, the door and window footage would be subtracted from the wall footage. However, if there were to be special treatments such as jack arches, roll-locks, quoined jambs etc, then that footage would stay in, and an add on would be figured into the bid (contract) proposal. Once again, what the customer gets from me is a dollar amount that I'll do the job for, not a SQ foot price. No surprises down the road.

As an aside, I quess it depends on the part of the country one is in as to what is a fair labor rate. Around here, if 12 bucks a sq ft was normal, I might still be contracting masonry work. Work is being bid for less per sq foot today than I was getting 15 years ago, with labor sand and masonry going for less than 3.00 a foot.
Thank god there are other things one can do with rock besides stack it up on veneer walls.

JVC

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John VanCamp
www.jvcstoneworks.com

tkle

http://www.maconline.org/tech/estima...veneers_0.html


http://www.maconline.org/tech/estima...stonecost.html


These are a few dollars less than we charge locally.

kermmonk

Hey guys,
Some clarification. The agreed price was 12.00 sq.ft. All stone was drystack style (no joint). Most of the stone was thick fieldstone 5 1/2 inches. The chimney was thin fieldstone also drystack style. I provided all materials including sand and cement.

Brickman

I think you are paying good for a lobor only price! how much sq is there on the job all together. I would only charge for small openings 2x2 max doors and windows not in the sq price.