Congratulations! You have decided to take a big step in improving both, the appearance and the value of your home. You have already undertaken the task of locating, interviewing, and selecting a masonry contractor and you are now ready to prepare your home for the task at hand. Many do not realize that there is a bit of work on their part required for the work to begin smoothly, so we have some pointers for you.
If you are having work done on the back or front yard, you will want to consider the following:
- Move all obstacles from the surrounding area (such as picnic tables, patio furniture, and basketball hoops)
- Remove the dog from the area so that he will not be barking, growling, or sniffing at the workers
- Be sure to keep your kids out of the area
- Keep your neighbors out of the area (no matter how interested and envious they may be)
- If you are having your driveway paved, you will certainly need to find a new place to park your car; you will most likely need to move it for any project as they will need to park in your driveway
- Provide water, if need be, and any sort of snacks of requested
When work is being done inside the home, here are some other things to consider:
- Limit the amount of people and "movement" around the work area (i.e. restrain dog, cat and children and/or keep them out of the area
- Take all objects you need from that room out before the contractor and his crew arrive
- Do not "hover" and harass the contractor (you may think you're being helpful, though realize that the contractor has been doing this job a lot longer than you have been!)
- Remove any breakable, irreplaceable and/or valuable, from the room to prevent the chance of them being broken
- Ensure that there is a designated "clean-up" spot
For any work that is "attached" to the home, such as steps or the patio, you will want to:
- Restrict or completely block any access to the door that is in front of the area until the area is safe and dry
- Wait for instructions from the mason him or herself, advising you that it is now safe to use the area
Once the job is done, be sure to inspect the area, and be sure that both the job and the clean-up are finished as per your expectations. If not, do not shy away from pointing out any imperfections; remember, it is your hard earned money that is paying for this job, so do not be shy if you are unhappy with something!
